Argh... DX *vent session commence*
May 18, 2017 9:19:56 GMT -6
Post by Relairah on May 18, 2017 9:19:56 GMT -6
So, I'm partially putting this here to vent a little in a safe environment of fellow creative people without it being all over social media lol :3
As some or all of you may know, I write outside of this lovely place which is my true joy and passion in life (as far as work-ey things go).
My vent is more of a hurt/frustration because any time anyone puts anything into the universe, it's pretty accepted that someone - or more realistically lots of someones - aren't going to like it. There's always people that do, of course. But there's always the critics. That's fine, it's life, whatever. I can genuinely take criticism and I know how to apply it and make myself better.
What really sucks is when this harsh reality comes from someone you value and they don't know how to do it right. On one token, I prefer brutal honesty. If you don't like my work, just say so. If you feel like it has good to it but needs to be improved, that's great, tell me. If there's specifics in the story, share them so I can make them better.
It's just... I have one dear friend who I've known most of my life. She's more of a reader than I am and definitely knows her stuff. Granted, I'm no Stephen King, but I don't think that my writing is any less than some really good writers out there. I'm pretty realistic - I know I have flaws, weaknesses, things to work on. But every good writer has a great editor that makes their writing that much better. Because as much as I can see flaws in someone else's writing, it's like my sight fails when I'm looking at my own writing and I typically can't see all the things that would make it better. That's just the way it works.
So... this friend, instead of telling me, "Hey, this could've been better." Or, "I think this part was a little wonky..." she simply asks me, "How much do you pay your editor?"
Okay... first of all... what? She didn't even bother to ask, "Hey, are you happy with your editor? Do you feel they do a good job? Do you feel like you need a new editor?" Or even better, "I've noticed some things in the work that maybe your editor didn't notice. I'd like to share them with you and ask about them."
Because, you know, maybe my editor did notice and I chose to keep that in the writing for my own reasons.
But beyond all that... unless she was asking because she was looking for an editor, or was trying to compare prices, straight up asking something like that is... well it's rude in my opinion DX
But no. Instead, I find out she's asking so she can suggest another editor for me, who she simply says is "better". (What the hell does that mean?) I try to ask, well what makes you think said editor is "better"? She doesn't even give a reason! She says "I don't know but it's a friend."
This editor is a friend of hers who she's trying to set up with clients. Granted, I know this friend mutually... but we never really had a close friendship. This person is more of an acquaintance or something. Don't get me wrong, this person is nice and all that good jazz. And I'm sure that my friend suggesting a new editor in the first place has good intentions. But considering I have a professional editor, with tons of good reviews and experience, who works closely with an actual committee of editors, who also specifically works with my needs/schedule/budget and has developed a repoir... I'm very hesitant to just jump and choose a brand new editor looking for her first clients, even if it's a friend. I would be staking a lot on it. Aside from the fact that I don't have the money to pay both of them and simply dropping him like a dirty sock is not something I'd be okay with.
So I also come to find out that the friend who started all this in the first place was 'talking it up' with her editor friend, getting her all excited to work with me and telling her that I was needing another editor, when in fact, I'm not! So now I'm in this really awkward position. Of course, I try to let my friend know I don't think my editor is bad and get hesitant about the whole thing - but in her mind, I should help out a friend, regardless. (Again, don't get me wrong here. I'm all about supporting friends and all that. But this would be different because it'd be a business venture involving me paying for it in more ways that just $$).
To top it off... I have no idea what to do or how to approach the whole thing x.x;; I feel I can't just be like, "Nope, not changing." But at the same time, I'm not dropping my current editor. *pulls hair out*
Anywho, thanks for listening to my vent about things lol :3 I just hope it all is resolved soon o-o
As some or all of you may know, I write outside of this lovely place which is my true joy and passion in life (as far as work-ey things go).
My vent is more of a hurt/frustration because any time anyone puts anything into the universe, it's pretty accepted that someone - or more realistically lots of someones - aren't going to like it. There's always people that do, of course. But there's always the critics. That's fine, it's life, whatever. I can genuinely take criticism and I know how to apply it and make myself better.
What really sucks is when this harsh reality comes from someone you value and they don't know how to do it right. On one token, I prefer brutal honesty. If you don't like my work, just say so. If you feel like it has good to it but needs to be improved, that's great, tell me. If there's specifics in the story, share them so I can make them better.
It's just... I have one dear friend who I've known most of my life. She's more of a reader than I am and definitely knows her stuff. Granted, I'm no Stephen King, but I don't think that my writing is any less than some really good writers out there. I'm pretty realistic - I know I have flaws, weaknesses, things to work on. But every good writer has a great editor that makes their writing that much better. Because as much as I can see flaws in someone else's writing, it's like my sight fails when I'm looking at my own writing and I typically can't see all the things that would make it better. That's just the way it works.
So... this friend, instead of telling me, "Hey, this could've been better." Or, "I think this part was a little wonky..." she simply asks me, "How much do you pay your editor?"
Okay... first of all... what? She didn't even bother to ask, "Hey, are you happy with your editor? Do you feel they do a good job? Do you feel like you need a new editor?" Or even better, "I've noticed some things in the work that maybe your editor didn't notice. I'd like to share them with you and ask about them."
Because, you know, maybe my editor did notice and I chose to keep that in the writing for my own reasons.
But beyond all that... unless she was asking because she was looking for an editor, or was trying to compare prices, straight up asking something like that is... well it's rude in my opinion DX
But no. Instead, I find out she's asking so she can suggest another editor for me, who she simply says is "better". (What the hell does that mean?) I try to ask, well what makes you think said editor is "better"? She doesn't even give a reason! She says "I don't know but it's a friend."
This editor is a friend of hers who she's trying to set up with clients. Granted, I know this friend mutually... but we never really had a close friendship. This person is more of an acquaintance or something. Don't get me wrong, this person is nice and all that good jazz. And I'm sure that my friend suggesting a new editor in the first place has good intentions. But considering I have a professional editor, with tons of good reviews and experience, who works closely with an actual committee of editors, who also specifically works with my needs/schedule/budget and has developed a repoir... I'm very hesitant to just jump and choose a brand new editor looking for her first clients, even if it's a friend. I would be staking a lot on it. Aside from the fact that I don't have the money to pay both of them and simply dropping him like a dirty sock is not something I'd be okay with.
So I also come to find out that the friend who started all this in the first place was 'talking it up' with her editor friend, getting her all excited to work with me and telling her that I was needing another editor, when in fact, I'm not! So now I'm in this really awkward position. Of course, I try to let my friend know I don't think my editor is bad and get hesitant about the whole thing - but in her mind, I should help out a friend, regardless. (Again, don't get me wrong here. I'm all about supporting friends and all that. But this would be different because it'd be a business venture involving me paying for it in more ways that just $$).
To top it off... I have no idea what to do or how to approach the whole thing x.x;; I feel I can't just be like, "Nope, not changing." But at the same time, I'm not dropping my current editor. *pulls hair out*
Anywho, thanks for listening to my vent about things lol :3 I just hope it all is resolved soon o-o