The Editing Post!

[lacombe]

The chart and checklist is finally up! Sorry I couldn't get the editing stuff up last night! :-) We have a huge group this time around! If I overloaded anyone with edits, please let me know and I'll try to move things around. Thanks to all the editors! So many people stepped up to help that we had enough to give everyone edits - no one was assigned more than five! I'm so glad to be part of such a wonderful and supportive group!



The Editing Checklist

Click here for a Definition of the Editing Levels.

Click here to jump to the Editing Chart.

Click here to jump to the Bottom

*Note* - Everyone's edits are in alphabetical order, with the name of the editor first and the person receiving the edit second.

Edit the Checklist
Poll The Editing Checklist

The Editing Chart

Click here for a Definition of the Editing Levels.

Click here to jump to the Editing Checklist.

Click here to jump to the Bottom

LJ name

Grammar?

No Holds

Barred

Tough &

Polite

Yes

Gentle

Editor 1

Editor 2

Link to Entry

13_stories

X

X

.

.

.
balloonhat
watchclarewrite
http://13-stories.livejournal.com/5587.html

aisling87

X

X

.

.

.
desert_rose
past0rl-insanty
http://aisling87.livejournal.com/49272.html

awkward_ostrich

X

X

.

.

.
aisling87
jamais_toujours
http://awkward-ostrich.livejournal.com/1643.html

bridgetsfire

X

X

.

.

.
balloonhat
blackbird_xiii
http://bridgetsfire.livejournal.com/24514.html?format=light

bwh

X

X

.

.

.
desert_rose
mullvaney
http://bwh.livejournal.com/335662.html

cinieme

X

X

.

.

.
watchclarewrite
amri
http://cinieme.livejournal.com/216249.html

dreamy_idealist

X

X

.

.

.
pipisafoat
blackbird_xiii
http://dreamy-idealist.livejournal.com/2110.html

drippedonpaper

X

X

.

.

.
aisling87
past0rl-insanty
http://drippedonpaper.livejournal.com/16849.html

fairislandwhit

X

X

.

.

.
pipisafoat
balloonhat
http://fairislandwhit.livejournal.com/17890.html

freakishangel

X

X

.

.

.
lacombe
heartoftorment
http://freakishangel.livejournal.com/131154.html#cutid1

honourable_fool

X

X

.

.

.
aisling87
leyse
http://honourable-fool.livejournal.com/25555.html

hwango

X

X

.

.

.
lacombe
balloonhat
http://hwango.livejournal.com/198035.html

jamais_toujours

X

X

.

.

.
ofshootingstars
heartoftorment
http://jamais-toujours.livejournal.com/33517.html

lacruciverbiste

X

X

.

.

.
innana88
leyse
http://lacruciverbiste.livejournal.com/4415.html

lilcougar

X

X

.

.

.
heartoftorment
amri
http://lilcougar.livejournal.com/90564.html

past0rl_insanty

X

X

.

.

.
pipisafoat
dioscorea
http://past0rl-insanty.livejournal.com/20510.html

rucksackjack

X

X

.

.

.
insolentscrawl
past0rl-insanty
http://relatedmadness.livejournal.com/635.html#cutid1

satachan

X

X

.

.

.
amri
pipisafoat
http://satachan.livejournal.com/12898.html

seattlecsifan

X

X

.

.

.
pipisafoat
blackbird_xiii
http://seattlecsifan.livejournal.com/7581.html

silver_raven

X

X

.

.

.
jamais_toujours
dioscorea
http://silver-raven.livejournal.com/34819.html

slang_jockey

X

X

.

.

.
aisling87
dioscorea
http://slang-jockey.livejournal.com/24666.html

smz12231994

X

X

.

.

.
insolentscrawl
mullvaney
http://smz12231994.livejournal.com/20448.html

sporty502

X

X

.

.

.
amri
heartoftorment
http://sporty502.livejournal.com/1778.html

watchclarewrite

X

X

.

.

.
aisling87
jamais_toujours
http://watchclarewrite.livejournal.com/26599.html#cutid1

winsomewords

X

X

.

.

.
watchclarewrite
dioscorea
http://community.livejournal.com/gloriousbite/21838.html#cutid1

intermezzo_poet

.

X

.

.

.
mermaidbia
heartoftorment
http://intermezzo-poet.livejournal.com/89846.html

murphpolo13

.

X

.

.

.
mullvaney
dioscorea
http://murphpolo13.livejournal.com/220989.html

quantumckat

.

X

.

.

.
jamais_toujours
wierdauntie
http://quantumckat.livejournal.com/105214.html

bootler

X

.

X

.

.
mullvaney
ofshootingstars
http://bootler.livejournal.com/121594.html

cedarwolfsinger

X

.

X

.

.
attentionhoard
mullvaney
http://cedarwolfsinger.livejournal.com/26087.html

deuceloosely

X

.

X

.

.
attentionhoard
past0rl-insanty
http://deuceloosely.livejournal.com/643628.html

i_am_fusebox

X

.

X

.

.
wierdauntie
innana88
http://i-am-fusebox.livejournal.com/13141.html

kenderlord

X

.

X

.

.
ofshootingstars
watchclarewrite
http://kenderlord.livejournal.com/88421.html

outnorthern

X

.

X

.

.
jamais_toujours
cedarwolfsinger
http://outnorthern.livejournal.com/11165.html

selkie_queen

X

.

X

.

.
attentionhoard
cedarwolfsinger
http://selkie-queen.livejournal.com/113983.html#cutid1

jkabley

.

.

X

.

.
mermaidbia
cedarwolfsinger
http://jkabley.livejournal.com/2008/10/09/

giazz_40

X

.

.

X

.
cedarwolfsinger
past0rl-insanty
http://giazz-40.livejournal.com/10677.html

niliwen

X

.

.

X

.
attentionhoard
desert_rose
http://niliwen.livejournal.com/378837.html

tierfal

X

.

.

X

.
attentionhoard
leyse
http://tierfal.livejournal.com/63960.html

ladypoetess

.

.

.

X

.
mermaidbia
cedarwolfsinger
http://ladypoetess.livejournal.com/401407.html

chocolate_frog

X

.

.

.

X
wierdauntie
amri
http://chocolate-frog.livejournal.com/33193.html

renga_atama

X

.

.

.

X
watchclarewrite
innana88
http://renga-atama.livejournal.com/60580.html

southernbellakv

X

.

.

.

X
mermaidbia
libra_dragon
http://southernbellakv.livejournal.com/3280.html

dancingdiva1004

.

.

.

.

X
mermaidbia
libra_dragon
http://dancingdiva1004.livejournal.com/27611.html

The Editing Levels, Defined

Click here to jump to the Editing Checklist.

Click here to jump to the Editing Chart.

Click here to jump to the Bottom

Repeated content...

Due to multiple requests, e-mails, and comments, I thought I would try to clear up a lot of confusion and frustration. Bear in mind that I'm completely open to discussion on these in the comments below. If you have any requests for changes, additions, or omissions with these guidelines, I'm all ears.

I'd also like to point out that these examples I've dug up are what I considered exemplary edits. Practically speaking, not all our edits will be this long and detailed- some will be shorter, some will be much longer. These are here because I feel they help communicate exactly what I'm trying to get across. Each editor here has a unique approach to what they do, and I value and respect that.

No holds barred! I want opinions, content crit, the works!

Even though we say "No holds barred!", we need to be inoffensive. When we go to edit someone's work, we're a guest in their LJ. "No holds barred" means that we have the freedom to give as long and as detailed an edit as we like, and they're expected to have a thick skin about it. Any HELPFUL ideas we have should be put out there- we don't need to worry about hurting people by going overboard. We've been invited to share opinions and fair but tough editorial comments.

Here's an example of where I see the line. Take these two edits I did:

Good:
http://balloonhat.livejournal.com/10200.html

Not So Good:
http://bwh.livejournal.com/328119.html?thread=872631#t872631

The difference is this: The first one gave a great deal of constructive, helpful criticism. I had a TON to say, and this might be discouraging and too much for some people. However, this person took it very well and it worked out well. In the second one, I'm making crit seemingly JUST to make criticism. I said almost nothing complimentary about a very strong piece and ended up offending.

Pointing out strengths is just as important as identifying areas in need of improvement. We benefit from knowing what we're doing right. Please try to identify at least a few strengths.

Example:
http://i-am-fusebox.livejournal.com/8904.html?thread=11208#t11208

Example:
http://13-stories.livejournal.com/4340.html?thread=19956#t19956

I'd like a tough, courteous edit.

In this case, let's hold back a little. We should keep personal pronouns such as "I" and "You" out of the edits and focus most strongly on examples and evidence. Let's try to keep the number of filled comments in between 1 and 4 comments max unless the piece we're editing is extremely long. These people want tough criticism, so there's no need to hold back on details, structure, and in-depth analysis. However, be sure to throw in a few positives and encouraging words when you can and keep it potent. I think murpholo13 said it very well here. Let's start and end positive, and be tough as nails in the middle.

Example:
http://jellybeanchichi.livejournal.com/1627.html?thread=20827#t20827

Example:
http://aisling87.livejournal.com/47616.html?thread=61952#t61952

Yes, I'd like moderate content criticism.

Unless the entry is extremely long, let's try as hard as we can to keep this to 2-3 comments max. I think that these users appreciate about a 50/50 mix of positives and negatives. They didn't ask for an EASY edit, however, so let's make sure we leave in at least a few good pieces of criticism and that we give them something to chew on. Try to stay away from broad statements- let's get some quotes in there when we can and make sure they see exactly what we mean. I like to throw at least one general piece of writing wisdom in here as well- something that they can keep in mind when writing in the future.

Example:
http://firesign10.livejournal.com/499646.html?thread=1127358#t1127358

Example:
http://selkie-queen.livejournal.com/111558.html?thread=337862#t337862

Yes, but please be gentle!

For these, let's shoot for 65%/35% positive. People generally choose this when they're feeling a little shy, vulnerable or unconfident with their writing. They may be writing something very personal and would like someone to read it and share an opinion simply as a sounding board. We ARE here to edit, so we should do our best to give them some content criticism, but we need to be nice. Bring back the personal pronouns in force but use them in positive ways. "I loved..." "You really pulled me in with", etc. The examples really tell it all- we have some people on the editing team that are great at being kind. I'm not one of them.

Example:
http://cookie-pixie.livejournal.com/412723.html?thread=1269043#t1269043

Example:
http://firesign10.livejournal.com/499646.html?thread=1127102#t1127102

Example:
http://tide-scrolls.livejournal.com/4425.html?thread=10313#t10313

The Bottom

Click here for a Definition of the Editing Levels.

Click here to jump to the Editing Checklist

Click here to jump to the Editing Chart.