When a writer yanks a submission I sometimes feel like it's a relief. One less thing for me to worry about.
I'm happy to tell writers my thoughts on whether something is "Boost worthy" but I always preface it by saying that, ultimately, I don't make the decision on what is selected. The curators surprise me quite often. We're all learning. Great post!
I worked in newsrooms for 30 years, so I have edited thousands of pieces by good and poor writers. I have also had thousands of my pieces edited by others, some better than others. I know how to edit, and I appreciate it when a good editor improves my copy -- whether it's fixing a typo or pointing out something that doesn't quite work. I especially appreciate it if a good editor on Medium tells me my piece would be more Boostable if I did A or B. That's gold!
If you're not in the Boost program, it's difficult to get a sense of this. Every nommer I've read says something about how they've learned over time to get a sense of what Medium is looking for. It's something that will take a while for a writer to learn, because we don't have the information a nommer has by working within the program.
The only thing I object to is the nommer trying to get me to pay them to tell me what might make me more Boostable.
I love working with editors. That's all I knew for many years as I was only working for print magazines. Some editors are certainly far better than others. One I had an awful experience with and never sent him anything again. On Medium there are some editors that are just as professional and great to work with as in the magazine world. I'm really enjoying The Narrative Arc's professionalism. You're another editor I'd place in the "fantastic to work with" list, Linda! Good editors bring out our best writing. We need to appreciate them more.
All writers have their blind spots, their tics, their schtick — so true. That's only one of the reasons we need editors, but it's a big one. I always appreciate it when a Medium editor, who as you point out isn't being paid and is in no way obligated to do so, takes the time to edit or offer suggestions on one of my stories. There are a few occasions when I realize after submitting that either my story isn't ready or isn't right for that particular publications, so I've removed the draft. I've done that with one of your pubs, Linda, and I hope you didn't see that as my "yoinking" the story: just trying to respect your time.
I like the idea of being able to send a piece I’m working on but think I don’t have eyes in the back of my head that can feel how it lands for the reader without ever seeing how I got started writing the story.
I don’t think it would be bad to know what confused, or never landed the way I expected. I don’t think I need an editor to tell me they don’t really agree with the premise of a story. I need them to tell me when I sound like a little kid clomping around in Mama’s high heels.
I think it can happen when I’m fully in love with what I’m writing and it can make it impossible to be objective.
Having a third eye that tells me - you walked off the ledge here - is useful. I know readers click on by for many reasons, but I like to write something good enough that if it was left lying on your desk, you’d startle yourself because you ended up reading the whole thing.
Short take: I’d jump at the chance of a honest take from you about why one of my stories is not boost-able. I’d even co- write a story where you edit what I send you and then I write about what I learned.
I recently had a chance to submit something for a journal, and it was great to have an editor again. A second set of eyes is always refreshing--and he tweaked a sentence here, and some punctuation there- but the best part was how he delivered his feedback. He didn't give me a map, he gave me a compass.
As for Boost: I never tell people I'm nominating their work, either. The last thing I want is someone trying to bend their style toward what they think I'm looking for. But if someone asked why a story made the cut (or didn't)? I'd definitely share my thoughts.
Linda, this was a great article. I'm also someone who doesn't love being edited, and have encountered all sorts of editors on the M. platform. Once I submitted a story, and the editor wrote me back a terse note and said she didn't understand where I was going with it. She removed it (declined!), but noted if I fixed it, I could submit it again. I wrote her back and mentioned the publisher there had invited me to submit a story. I then resubmitted it with an [overly, in my opinion] obvious topic sentence in the first paragraph, which she liked. The piece went on to earn about 700 dollars. I admit I felt a little smug. Not all my stories do that well, that's for sure. Mostly, I'm grateful to be edited these days. On my editorial team at Parasol, we edit each other closely. Editors never just hit publish on their own work; we comb through each other's work as we do those who submit to us. It's a favor we do for each other, and I sure appreciate it (bc there's always that mistake you don't see). M. Teheux helped me fix a really big homonym error in the essay I just published! (I see her below commenting). Thx, M! <3 And thx Linda, for a great read.
“ I think that’s worth thinking about. Maybe even talking about.”
The entire piece gives great food for thought and learning opportunities. I plan on doing several reads.
Here’s a thought, off the top of my head and only half baked, sorry. I wish there was a way for Medium writers to pay a small amount for a small amount of feedback. Speaking for myself, the thought of hiring a “full service” editor at this point would be too costly even though I know it would really help my writing. Here’s what I would like; from time to time I would be able to activate a button to pay, I dunno, $25.00? $40.00? Other? for a page or half page of either general or some specific type of feedback…a one-off. I think I would do that, at least occasionally.
I am thinking specifically about various writing contests and along with their entry fee, the writer has the option to pay a small sum for a half or full page of general feedback. There is also the ability to ask and pay for a second or third round, but not a requirement. Tipping after receiving the paid for feedback is also permitted.
Just throwing this out there for a little rummaging through that kettle of fish. 😊
I have published one post with your pub On Reflection and it got a boost which is wonderful - I think I have mentioned from early on that you are one of the writers I look up to and truly value your suggestions so there is no question of me becoming defensive or hard feelings - one just has to know when to put ego aside and see this for what it is - a learning experience
I have no problem with constructive criticism and editing, but my experience on Medium was not that. I had one woman who thought we should all “tip” her monthly for her services, but she rarely did any real editing to my work.
Most editors just looked for grammar and spelling errors, which was never a problem.
Another editor completely rewrote my piece, content, structure, and all. He ruined my story, and I didn’t have a backup. He didn’t even discuss it with me, except to argue the whole point of my article. So, why not just reject it? You bet I pulled it! That was the end of my submitting anything to a publication.
Yes, there needs to be more communication, and it’s not really possible using private notes. In fact, it’s pretty impossible.
Loved this, especially this quote that you have mentioned before: “Neil Gaiman says a good editor can tell you what’s wrong, but they can’t tell you how to fix it. Because then it’s “their” voice, not yours. I agree. Not all editors do….”
I am a co-editor of a teeny-tiny publication on Medium that gets very little submissions. It’s a niche publication: Dog Tales (stories “written by dogs”). I rarely correct typos unless they are glaring because the writer is obviously an ESL writer who hasn’t mastered the (crazy) nuances of English word meanings. Sentence length should not matter, unless of course a sentence is way too long. I attempt to respect the writers voice. Rejection from Dog Tales happens when the writer fails to comply w/Medium’s rules OR w/this publication’s “voice.”
Noting the differences in editorial approach is good for your readership! Noting not to take feedback, personally is also important. Trying to help readers is obviously “in your bones.” I for one, appreciate that.
If you ever want to give me feedback on my drafts, I'm completely open to that! It's hard to find editors willing to help writers improve, because for every writer like me that would take it into consideration (sometimes I disagree with the opinion, but still appreciate the perspective), there are fifty that get upset. They don't want to write different. Or better. They're fine the way they are.
And I get that. I was like that too not so long ago.
But man, if there were a free place to get that feedback? To help hone me into a stronger writer, so I can improve my overall writing skills? Literally priceless.
As you said, editors have lives. They usually have jobs. And, they'd like to write sometimes, too. If only there were a better way to match up editors with writers based on willingness to give and receive feedback. 🤷♀️
When a writer yanks a submission I sometimes feel like it's a relief. One less thing for me to worry about.
I'm happy to tell writers my thoughts on whether something is "Boost worthy" but I always preface it by saying that, ultimately, I don't make the decision on what is selected. The curators surprise me quite often. We're all learning. Great post!
I worked in newsrooms for 30 years, so I have edited thousands of pieces by good and poor writers. I have also had thousands of my pieces edited by others, some better than others. I know how to edit, and I appreciate it when a good editor improves my copy -- whether it's fixing a typo or pointing out something that doesn't quite work. I especially appreciate it if a good editor on Medium tells me my piece would be more Boostable if I did A or B. That's gold!
If you're not in the Boost program, it's difficult to get a sense of this. Every nommer I've read says something about how they've learned over time to get a sense of what Medium is looking for. It's something that will take a while for a writer to learn, because we don't have the information a nommer has by working within the program.
The only thing I object to is the nommer trying to get me to pay them to tell me what might make me more Boostable.
Good overview of the topic Linda! 👏
I've been edited by pros. I do what they ask. Simple. I don't want to be edited on Medium, so I do my own thing there. Simple.
Your point that most writers (and editors) on Medium are novices at their job allows for a lot of "ego" to come into the mix. Never pretty.
I love working with editors. That's all I knew for many years as I was only working for print magazines. Some editors are certainly far better than others. One I had an awful experience with and never sent him anything again. On Medium there are some editors that are just as professional and great to work with as in the magazine world. I'm really enjoying The Narrative Arc's professionalism. You're another editor I'd place in the "fantastic to work with" list, Linda! Good editors bring out our best writing. We need to appreciate them more.
I listen to editors, tho sometimes I'll mutter under my breath. Then bitch-slap my ego.
All writers have their blind spots, their tics, their schtick — so true. That's only one of the reasons we need editors, but it's a big one. I always appreciate it when a Medium editor, who as you point out isn't being paid and is in no way obligated to do so, takes the time to edit or offer suggestions on one of my stories. There are a few occasions when I realize after submitting that either my story isn't ready or isn't right for that particular publications, so I've removed the draft. I've done that with one of your pubs, Linda, and I hope you didn't see that as my "yoinking" the story: just trying to respect your time.
I like the idea of being able to send a piece I’m working on but think I don’t have eyes in the back of my head that can feel how it lands for the reader without ever seeing how I got started writing the story.
I don’t think it would be bad to know what confused, or never landed the way I expected. I don’t think I need an editor to tell me they don’t really agree with the premise of a story. I need them to tell me when I sound like a little kid clomping around in Mama’s high heels.
I think it can happen when I’m fully in love with what I’m writing and it can make it impossible to be objective.
Having a third eye that tells me - you walked off the ledge here - is useful. I know readers click on by for many reasons, but I like to write something good enough that if it was left lying on your desk, you’d startle yourself because you ended up reading the whole thing.
Short take: I’d jump at the chance of a honest take from you about why one of my stories is not boost-able. I’d even co- write a story where you edit what I send you and then I write about what I learned.
I recently had a chance to submit something for a journal, and it was great to have an editor again. A second set of eyes is always refreshing--and he tweaked a sentence here, and some punctuation there- but the best part was how he delivered his feedback. He didn't give me a map, he gave me a compass.
As for Boost: I never tell people I'm nominating their work, either. The last thing I want is someone trying to bend their style toward what they think I'm looking for. But if someone asked why a story made the cut (or didn't)? I'd definitely share my thoughts.
Linda, this was a great article. I'm also someone who doesn't love being edited, and have encountered all sorts of editors on the M. platform. Once I submitted a story, and the editor wrote me back a terse note and said she didn't understand where I was going with it. She removed it (declined!), but noted if I fixed it, I could submit it again. I wrote her back and mentioned the publisher there had invited me to submit a story. I then resubmitted it with an [overly, in my opinion] obvious topic sentence in the first paragraph, which she liked. The piece went on to earn about 700 dollars. I admit I felt a little smug. Not all my stories do that well, that's for sure. Mostly, I'm grateful to be edited these days. On my editorial team at Parasol, we edit each other closely. Editors never just hit publish on their own work; we comb through each other's work as we do those who submit to us. It's a favor we do for each other, and I sure appreciate it (bc there's always that mistake you don't see). M. Teheux helped me fix a really big homonym error in the essay I just published! (I see her below commenting). Thx, M! <3 And thx Linda, for a great read.
“ I think that’s worth thinking about. Maybe even talking about.”
The entire piece gives great food for thought and learning opportunities. I plan on doing several reads.
Here’s a thought, off the top of my head and only half baked, sorry. I wish there was a way for Medium writers to pay a small amount for a small amount of feedback. Speaking for myself, the thought of hiring a “full service” editor at this point would be too costly even though I know it would really help my writing. Here’s what I would like; from time to time I would be able to activate a button to pay, I dunno, $25.00? $40.00? Other? for a page or half page of either general or some specific type of feedback…a one-off. I think I would do that, at least occasionally.
I am thinking specifically about various writing contests and along with their entry fee, the writer has the option to pay a small sum for a half or full page of general feedback. There is also the ability to ask and pay for a second or third round, but not a requirement. Tipping after receiving the paid for feedback is also permitted.
Just throwing this out there for a little rummaging through that kettle of fish. 😊
I have published one post with your pub On Reflection and it got a boost which is wonderful - I think I have mentioned from early on that you are one of the writers I look up to and truly value your suggestions so there is no question of me becoming defensive or hard feelings - one just has to know when to put ego aside and see this for what it is - a learning experience
I have no problem with constructive criticism and editing, but my experience on Medium was not that. I had one woman who thought we should all “tip” her monthly for her services, but she rarely did any real editing to my work.
Most editors just looked for grammar and spelling errors, which was never a problem.
Another editor completely rewrote my piece, content, structure, and all. He ruined my story, and I didn’t have a backup. He didn’t even discuss it with me, except to argue the whole point of my article. So, why not just reject it? You bet I pulled it! That was the end of my submitting anything to a publication.
Yes, there needs to be more communication, and it’s not really possible using private notes. In fact, it’s pretty impossible.
Loved this, especially this quote that you have mentioned before: “Neil Gaiman says a good editor can tell you what’s wrong, but they can’t tell you how to fix it. Because then it’s “their” voice, not yours. I agree. Not all editors do….”
I am a co-editor of a teeny-tiny publication on Medium that gets very little submissions. It’s a niche publication: Dog Tales (stories “written by dogs”). I rarely correct typos unless they are glaring because the writer is obviously an ESL writer who hasn’t mastered the (crazy) nuances of English word meanings. Sentence length should not matter, unless of course a sentence is way too long. I attempt to respect the writers voice. Rejection from Dog Tales happens when the writer fails to comply w/Medium’s rules OR w/this publication’s “voice.”
Noting the differences in editorial approach is good for your readership! Noting not to take feedback, personally is also important. Trying to help readers is obviously “in your bones.” I for one, appreciate that.
If you ever want to give me feedback on my drafts, I'm completely open to that! It's hard to find editors willing to help writers improve, because for every writer like me that would take it into consideration (sometimes I disagree with the opinion, but still appreciate the perspective), there are fifty that get upset. They don't want to write different. Or better. They're fine the way they are.
And I get that. I was like that too not so long ago.
But man, if there were a free place to get that feedback? To help hone me into a stronger writer, so I can improve my overall writing skills? Literally priceless.
As you said, editors have lives. They usually have jobs. And, they'd like to write sometimes, too. If only there were a better way to match up editors with writers based on willingness to give and receive feedback. 🤷♀️
This was a really interesting read, thankyou for sharing your experience.
Editing can really be a thankless job sometimes.