Discussion: Q2 Volume 42

Things and stuff. It's been a tough month so far. Huddled under a table trying to work up some inspiration. Laptop open, cursor blinking. Shell shocked. Relieved that things weren't worse. Still recovering from a traumatic event that happened during the first week of February [and trust me, you don't want to know other than the danger has passed, and I'm left dealing with the emotional aftermath].  

Interesting lesson from Michael Hauge: all writers "have a single goal: to elicit emotion in an audience".

Got two different responses to my sample from two different editors. Now I'm just confused.

"I'd recommend a developmental edit for this and will provide a quote shortly."

"My schedule is pretty jammed for the next month, so depending on when the competition deadline was, that may well be an issue. Looking at the sample, I don't know that there'd be much heavy editing to do. It's a fun setup, and I can see where a bunch of story branches might run, your writing is very fluid, and there weren't any line/copyediting mistakes that jumped out to me on a quick read-through. The closest thing I'd have would be to suggest watching for occasional cliches like "(removed by me)" - but otherwise, on balance, I suspect in all likelihood any advice I'd offer would be light if it carries on in this vein; this looks good. Obviously there's always a chance that the narrative goes completely off the rails in the later stages, and you do say it was redrafted after that initial beta feedback, so maybe there'd be a lot more to unpick there, but as a first impression, I definitely don't think it needs anything more than editorial assessment - and to be honest, even that might well be "this is fine; send it"."

I have no idea if the one wanting to do a full-on developmental edit has seen something the other editor hasn't and it sent up red flags or if she just wants more money and work.

Posted by: @shounenbat

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Got two different responses to my sample from two different editor's. Now I'm just confused.

Putting those two responses side by side, I'd take the first editor's comment as essentially, "Well, I don't see much text editing to do here. If you're asking for editing, must be a dev edit you're looking for, so I can give you a quote for that." 

Posted by: @physa

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Things and stuff. It's been a tough month so far. Huddled under a table trying to work up some inspiration. Laptop open, cursor blinking. Shell shocked. Relieved that things weren't worse. Still recovering from a traumatic event that happened during the first week of February [and trust me, you don't want to know other than the danger has passed, and I'm left dealing with the emotional aftermath].  

Sorry to hear lifes been challenging Amy - but also thrilled to hear that challenge is in the past now. Keep moving forward We're here to support.

I will say you're comment about the flashing cursor made me think "Wait, does the cursor still flash?" and sure enough it does. I think I had become immune to it as I don't usually look at the screen unless I'm typing and I remember the flashing cursors as these solid square blocks, and now they are just a line so I don't notice them so much. Anyway.... carry your momentum on forward, follow that cursor, even if it needs a little push and shove...I know you can do this!

Posted by: @shounenbat

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Got two different responses to my sample from two different editors. Now I'm just confused.

"I'd recommend a developmental edit for this and will provide a quote shortly."

"My schedule is pretty jammed for the next month, so depending on when the competition deadline was, that may well be an issue. Looking at the sample, I don't know that there'd be much heavy editing to do. It's a fun setup, and I can see where a bunch of story branches might run, your writing is very fluid, and there weren't any line/copyediting mistakes that jumped out to me on a quick read-through. The closest thing I'd have would be to suggest watching for occasional cliches like "(removed by me)" - but otherwise, on balance, I suspect in all likelihood any advice I'd offer would be light if it carries on in this vein; this looks good. Obviously there's always a chance that the narrative goes completely off the rails in the later stages, and you do say it was redrafted after that initial beta feedback, so maybe there'd be a lot more to unpick there, but as a first impression, I definitely don't think it needs anything more than editorial assessment - and to be honest, even that might well be "this is fine; send it"."

I have no idea if the one wanting to do a full-on developmental edit has seen something the other editor hasn't and it sent up red flags or if she just wants more money and work.

Well, I think its hard to say without context - is one editor more experienced than the other? is one more familiar with the competition than the other? it sounds like the first one must have read it to recommend a developmental edit, whereas the second has clearly only looked superficially as they comment on 'if it carries on this way'. That being said, both responses sound weird to me - they both sound like they are answering the question "can you help me with this?" or "how can you help me with this?" whereas I think the usual approach is more commonly you contact an editor and you tell them what you are looking for - a developmental edit or copyediting - and whether they have bandwidth and what their rate is. If they ask for a sample its usually to make sure you're not sending them elementary level writing and so would require too much time, rather than them pitching what service they think you need as to do that accurately I would think they would have to read too much/in depth and I can't imagine any editor reading through an entire manuscript before being taken under contract and paid.

That said (again) I have never hired an editor, so what do I know, but the above comments from me are based on talking to editors and being in forums/chatrooms where editors talk about what they do. So not based on actual experience, but second hand knowledge and I defer to anyone who has hired editors to comment more concretely.

That said (again) I personally think this contest is a training ground - and you are best served by using it to learn to write by writing and exchanging with people here. I (personally) think if you need an editor to win, perhaps you wouldn't then be ready to take advantage of the win as you may still be at a stage where you can't pull it off without external professional help. My opinion only, YMMV, and you should obv follow your own thoughts on that. 

so far I have two rough drafts for Q2 and neither is looking like a good entry 🙁 time to get serious!

@physa Sorry to hear you've had a rough month (and that's putting it very lightly). Keep on going - there's a ton of people here hoping you do and wishing you success.

Posted by: @joel-c-scoberg

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@physa Sorry to hear you've had a rough month (and that's putting it very lightly). Keep on going - there's a ton of people here hoping you do and wishing you success.

thanks Joel, :). That means a lot. Also, I'm so stoked about your success!

Not sure when it will start, but my husband and I will be getting much needed psychotherapy. My main emotion is relief followed by anger, but my husband's emotions are much more complex and the subject of the trauma is his own brother. We have been talking it out and that seems to help deflate its power. Anyway, it's something that I'd never thought would happen much less witness.

Posted by: @physa

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Things and stuff. It's been a tough month so far. Huddled under a table trying to work up some inspiration. Laptop open, cursor blinking. Shell shocked. Relieved that things weren't worse. Still recovering from a traumatic event that happened during the first week of February [and trust me, you don't want to know other than the danger has passed, and I'm left dealing with the emotional aftermath].  

Hugs and thoughts are with you. 

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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so far I have two rough drafts for Q2 and neither is looking like a good entry 🙁 time to get serious!

I've given up on my new story due to I'm interested in it and don't want to rush the thing.  I have a story that was for Q1 that I didn't finish that I'm starting to look at. It needs some holes filled in and an exciting transition from middle to end. That's the tough part for me. I tend to get the first scene nice and tight, then drift off in the middle and fail to stick the ending. On the bright side, I have a few good first scenes stored away on the hard-drive that when I'm skilled enough I can finish. /p>

Just need to focus now on Q2 story and stop getting distracted.  

So, I second the phrase, "time to get serious!"

Finished a draft for QTR2. May take a break tonight to read.

My first draft is complete. I'll try to let it breathe for a week or 2 and take another look.

still no progress on q2 - the road of life has been particularly curvy recently so not much bandwidth - so I said in my last post "time to get serioous' I guess now its "time to get REALLY serious' 😆 

Finished a draft of my Q2 story. I'm percolating on the comments received from 2 wise/peer readers. Going to let the manuscript breathe and rest before I return to it for one last go through before submitting. I'm so thankful that it's March. March has got to be better than February. Here's to a productive month of writing for all of us! I'm looking forward to writing my next story [whatever it winds up being].

Nearly finished revisions on my Q2 story. I have to get it submitted by the 15th as I'm going on holiday for a while after that.

Finished the final draft of this story. Working on the first draft of my next one and trying to make a stronger story than the one I just submitted. Let's go, people! We can crush this contest yet!

Where did this Q go? I've got several ideas but not even a first draft yet!! Time to strap in and punch it.  

@eyegor That happened to me last summer. It was a crappy summer and things went nuts, and with it went all of my writing. The one I just submitted was a rewrite of an earlier story because time got away from me!

@physa Hoping March is a better month for you.

Waiting for my last reader and then I’ll be in for QTR 2.

Wow. It's March already. But that's okay by me. I've been working on my Q2 submission for about two months now in various ways. Started out as a KYD for Wulf Moon, then fleshed out as a full story. I've gotten comments from nine people, all of them helping it get better at each step. I'm thinking it's already just about ready, but I'll take one more pass on it.

In the meantime, there are other stories in work, too, as well as half a dozen submitted to markets. No hiding in the panic tent for this quarter.

I am officially IN for Q2!

I'm in for QTR 2

I'm in. I think it's my best ever entry - but i usually think that.

Submitted last night, good luck to all  

I’ve always loved these cute stickers and emojis on the wotf forum. ❤️

@eyegor you can do it.

Does anyone remember when the results for Q2 were out last year? Thanks 

Posted by: @hermionelee

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Does anyone remember when the results for Q2 were out last year? Thanks 

Looks like the announcement for Q2 winners was posted on the blog on July 17 last year.

@morgan-broadhead thanks!