Olivia Langdon Clemens doesn't get nearly the kind of credit she should have for being Mark Twain's first reader and editor- he trusted her opinion more than many others. Consequently, when she died, his later writing became increasingly cold and out of focus.
I envy those who marry their editors. My husband is 1,000% supportive / proud of me & my writing, but he's a severely dyslexic welder who couldn't be my first reader without dying and being reborn again as a completely different person. Thinking back, I never dated any writers, and only one creative as I recall (a guitarist); to me it seemed a bit incestuous, oddly enough, and was drawn more strongly to those whose education and experience was far different from mine. We each have our own right path. But damn, an in-house editor. That's got to be sweet. :)
There are some amazing editors on Reedsy but yes they can be pricey. You might find a gem on Fiverr. I know of a couple who have done good work. Good luck!
Hi, Linda -- great article; thanks. Hemingway was right -- I recall some of my first drafts and want to cringe. But an important lesson I've learned along the way is this: Better to get it written down, no matter how bad. A creative writing teacher once said to us students: Writing is rewriting. True -- but you have to have something to rewrite first! Start. Get it written down. No matter how disjointed, illogical, or incomplete it is, you have something to start with. (I'm looking in the mirror as I write these words!)
This is what a LOT of people here don’t get. Some of them are good at promoting themselves and make far more money than I ever will, yet don’t know they aren’t good writers. They don’t even care if they are.
I’m still trying to be good. And yes, I need an editor!
Yes!! This is exactly how I feel. I know some of them. My writing is good and I know some of it is definitely not. But I struggle to have enough distance to figure it all out. And I think that’s why an editor is so valuable. I have a friend who is a writer and gives me some feedback which I find helpfuland she’s the one that’s encouraged me to keep writing which is also great. But having an editor, I’m sure would change everything.
Jack London's wife Charmain. Robert Louis Stevenson's wife Fanny. I'm sure there are more brilliant first readers we don't know about. Mine is my husband, who lets me read stuff aloud to him before I hit "publish" on any Substack or Medium pieces I write. God bless him.
So much great advice in here. Will be sharing this piece with my daughter who's a writer
I'm with you re: Me, I’m like that thing Kafka said about a non-writing writer being a monster courting insanity. Don’t write for too long and I start to go bananas.
so, so true, Linda, thanks. On MEdium were spoiled by being able to see ourselves in print instantly, but its also a disservice when we're publishing rough drafts. sometimes very rough drafts. Myself included. My best stories did wll by waiting, being edited and even run through AI for clarity. those ones got boosted. so waiting and editing pays. So does being an editor on a publication. I've learned so much by reading and editing others' work. including how to suggest and offer, without insisting. I'll say this is unclear. or if it were my piece I'd....and let the author decide. I like to honor theiir integrity and voice, whichi is a chalenge when it feels clunky to me. My hat's off to writers for whom english is a second language. We're so illogical and idiomatic, it has to be crazy making. So its a partneship for sure, one I'm honored to be a part of. thank you, LInda for your truth telling and inspiration always. xo, Marilyn Flower
PS I/m writing a nove, Man Pregnant! with a fantastic editor, Shaunta Grimes. Met her on Medium as well. thank you, Shaunta! You know my characters as well if not better than I do! you make my story sing! XOXO marilyn
We’re all better when we see the reflection of our chosen words reflected back in a question or better yet a curious person’s eyes.
The editor always tells me what I assumed without meaning to. Sometimes though they make me realize what I can’t afford to take out. It’s everything about how I framed it that makes the diamond in the story look like a dirty rock.
Peeling off layers is one of the toughest jobs there is in wrestling with a story.
Many times I need to have a dream to bring me to the heart of truth. That’s deep work and far beyond a first draft.
that didn’t go in the direction i expected it would, so i’m pleasantly surprised by that.
there isn’t anyone else. and given that i’ve had 16 years of being betrayed, bullied, outcast, shunned, criticized, etc etc (thanks to pluto in capricorn)…it sometimes feels hopeless to even look for a second set of eyes.
for now? it’s just me. i can’t take the risk again. 16 years of taking risk and being h&rmed for it was too much.
I found a small writing group to be the death of my going forward with their criticism: "cut about 1/3 of the story out". At that point, I couldn't survive that kind of advice. I stopped working on the memoir and couldn't pick it up again for nearly a year. Good advice might be great, but there's a lot of "unqualified critics" around. Usually people who have never been published themselves. The people I listened to when I was writing for magazines were the people who paid me. I guess what I'm saying is I've not found that magical "first pair of eyes" yet.
Was just thinking about this very topic before I read your piece. Almost typed a note: "Do you let someone read your work before you post?" I have to say, I love my writing group that meets once a week in person. We share & bounce words off each other--and it makes us better.
Olivia Langdon Clemens doesn't get nearly the kind of credit she should have for being Mark Twain's first reader and editor- he trusted her opinion more than many others. Consequently, when she died, his later writing became increasingly cold and out of focus.
Yes. Absolutely true, David. Absolutely
I envy those who marry their editors. My husband is 1,000% supportive / proud of me & my writing, but he's a severely dyslexic welder who couldn't be my first reader without dying and being reborn again as a completely different person. Thinking back, I never dated any writers, and only one creative as I recall (a guitarist); to me it seemed a bit incestuous, oddly enough, and was drawn more strongly to those whose education and experience was far different from mine. We each have our own right path. But damn, an in-house editor. That's got to be sweet. :)
Right? I so agree. Must be a deep down really nice feeling
Looking for suggestions about getting feedback. I definitely need an editor, but the costs are beyond my reach since I’m retired. Any ideas?
There are some amazing editors on Reedsy but yes they can be pricey. You might find a gem on Fiverr. I know of a couple who have done good work. Good luck!
Hi, Linda -- great article; thanks. Hemingway was right -- I recall some of my first drafts and want to cringe. But an important lesson I've learned along the way is this: Better to get it written down, no matter how bad. A creative writing teacher once said to us students: Writing is rewriting. True -- but you have to have something to rewrite first! Start. Get it written down. No matter how disjointed, illogical, or incomplete it is, you have something to start with. (I'm looking in the mirror as I write these words!)
I absolutely agree Lori. Pouring sand in the box first. Build the sand castle next.
Ooh, I like this. The sand and then the sand castle!
Good stuff.
This is what a LOT of people here don’t get. Some of them are good at promoting themselves and make far more money than I ever will, yet don’t know they aren’t good writers. They don’t even care if they are.
I’m still trying to be good. And yes, I need an editor!
I am sometimes good. Sometimes not. But I struggle to know which is which
I doubt any of us really recognizes our best work.
Yes!! This is exactly how I feel. I know some of them. My writing is good and I know some of it is definitely not. But I struggle to have enough distance to figure it all out. And I think that’s why an editor is so valuable. I have a friend who is a writer and gives me some feedback which I find helpfuland she’s the one that’s encouraged me to keep writing which is also great. But having an editor, I’m sure would change everything.
Jack London's wife Charmain. Robert Louis Stevenson's wife Fanny. I'm sure there are more brilliant first readers we don't know about. Mine is my husband, who lets me read stuff aloud to him before I hit "publish" on any Substack or Medium pieces I write. God bless him.
So much great advice in here. Will be sharing this piece with my daughter who's a writer
I'm with you re: Me, I’m like that thing Kafka said about a non-writing writer being a monster courting insanity. Don’t write for too long and I start to go bananas.
so, so true, Linda, thanks. On MEdium were spoiled by being able to see ourselves in print instantly, but its also a disservice when we're publishing rough drafts. sometimes very rough drafts. Myself included. My best stories did wll by waiting, being edited and even run through AI for clarity. those ones got boosted. so waiting and editing pays. So does being an editor on a publication. I've learned so much by reading and editing others' work. including how to suggest and offer, without insisting. I'll say this is unclear. or if it were my piece I'd....and let the author decide. I like to honor theiir integrity and voice, whichi is a chalenge when it feels clunky to me. My hat's off to writers for whom english is a second language. We're so illogical and idiomatic, it has to be crazy making. So its a partneship for sure, one I'm honored to be a part of. thank you, LInda for your truth telling and inspiration always. xo, Marilyn Flower
PS I/m writing a nove, Man Pregnant! with a fantastic editor, Shaunta Grimes. Met her on Medium as well. thank you, Shaunta! You know my characters as well if not better than I do! you make my story sing! XOXO marilyn
We’re all better when we see the reflection of our chosen words reflected back in a question or better yet a curious person’s eyes.
The editor always tells me what I assumed without meaning to. Sometimes though they make me realize what I can’t afford to take out. It’s everything about how I framed it that makes the diamond in the story look like a dirty rock.
Peeling off layers is one of the toughest jobs there is in wrestling with a story.
Many times I need to have a dream to bring me to the heart of truth. That’s deep work and far beyond a first draft.
I agree. Having a writing community is important.
that didn’t go in the direction i expected it would, so i’m pleasantly surprised by that.
there isn’t anyone else. and given that i’ve had 16 years of being betrayed, bullied, outcast, shunned, criticized, etc etc (thanks to pluto in capricorn)…it sometimes feels hopeless to even look for a second set of eyes.
for now? it’s just me. i can’t take the risk again. 16 years of taking risk and being h&rmed for it was too much.
Yes, read my experience. Took me a year to recover.
I found a small writing group to be the death of my going forward with their criticism: "cut about 1/3 of the story out". At that point, I couldn't survive that kind of advice. I stopped working on the memoir and couldn't pick it up again for nearly a year. Good advice might be great, but there's a lot of "unqualified critics" around. Usually people who have never been published themselves. The people I listened to when I was writing for magazines were the people who paid me. I guess what I'm saying is I've not found that magical "first pair of eyes" yet.
Insightful and honest. Thank you for this idea. Haven't thought about this earlier and it makes perfect sense. Thank you
Great piece. Spot on. Learned about some of the invisible hands (or voices if they respected the writer’s voice) that I didn’t know about. Thank you
Was just thinking about this very topic before I read your piece. Almost typed a note: "Do you let someone read your work before you post?" I have to say, I love my writing group that meets once a week in person. We share & bounce words off each other--and it makes us better.