Editing: Don't Save It For Later

[rosehiptea]

To a specific writer:

Your story is good and I'm enjoying it, especially since you're focusing on one of my favorite minor characters. You do have some spelling and punctuation problems, but I'm willing to live with that in an otherwise good story.

But what I don't understand is that you post new chapters with a note at the end saying "I'll edit this later." Why? There's no due date on this fic. Edit it first. Your readers will appreciate it.

Comments

[annmarieri]

Oooo, that's annoying. I always check over my stories at least twice before posting them (as I am without a beta). I still miss things, but... at least it's better than nothing.

I can only assume that people do this to get feedback as quickly as possible, but... I dunno, that seems silly, because you're more likely to get negative feedback on mistakes.

That's just me, though.

Basically, word. :)

[rodo]

Some people use journals to post unedited and/or unfinished drafts, while they upload the edited version to archives. And other people don't know how to find a beta reader or are to shy to just randomly ask people and hope one of their readers will offer to help. Some people will only put effort into editing if they think enough readers like the story or when they feel like it.

I'm all for editing, but not everybody feels that way.

[rosehiptea]

This was on an archive, not in a journal.

I see your point though.

[rodo]

I know a lot of people on certain archives post unedited stuff in hopes of attracting beta readers. And a lot of people who just don't feel like they have the time to edit when they're working on five different stories that keep them busy.

Editing, as useful as it may be, is not a prerequisite to posting on most archives.

[nan]

Ugh, I agree so much. I'm much more likely to continue reading a story if it looks like the author actually attempted to edit.

[noracharles]

I edit as a write, but I can't let a fic lie and come back to it after a week or two to look at it with fresh eyes. If I try to do that, I just never post it. So I post my "good enough" version, and I come back later and edit it, sometimes several times.

I don't admit that in my author's notes, mind.

[ellia]

That's pretty much what i do, if i step away from a fic i find i lose all inspiration for it.

[rosehiptea]

I can't let a fic lie for a week or two either. But I do read it over when I'm done to try to catch mistakes.

I can't say no mistakes ever slip through anyway, though.