Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Editor

Okey dokey.  This is the hard part.  Now that I've walked you through exactly how to write a story (right? right?), you're going to need some help - some outside help.  This help comes in the form of an editor.  Now, I'm not talking some person in a tall office building who does this for a living.  I'm talking about your mom, dad, sibling, or good friend.  There are a few requirements for your editor.  See below:

1. He or she must have good grammar.
If he says 'they was' or 'used to could', he is not a candidate.

2. She must be someone who will use constructive criticism, and not just be mean.
Comments like 'what were you thinking!' and 'you need a lot of work' aren't helpful.  Make sure your editor will be specific in what you need to fix and how to do it.

3. He or she must be relatively available.
If you live in New York, someone in Oregon really isn't going to work.  Sorry.  ;)

Those are pretty much the guidelines for your editor.  Don't ever be pressured into giving your story to someone you don't trust.  A writer's story is a part of him or her and should never be taken by force.  Don't be bullied into sharing.  Once you find a person who fits the requirements, ask him if he'd be willing to edit it for you.  Most people would be thrilled.  Good luck!
May your pens stay sharp!
*Evyn

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