This is interesting to me. An editor is supposed to edit, to take a piece and help the writer make it better or more aligned with the voice of the publication. Any writer who publicly bitches out an editor for trying to help them is in the wrong business. Take your Prima Donna self somewhere else and then find things are no different. Your words are not sacred, not yet. We live in a society where useful criticism is a lost art because we’ve brought children up to believe they are never wrong.
Voice of the publication is a powerful part of the equation and a lot of writers don't understand that. But then, a lot of people confuse writing and typing. Thanks, Martin.
There is, unfortunately, a large sense of entitlement in the digital writing world. For every writer that appreciates the work, there are 10 that see it as a personal attack. And in my experience, the ones that protest the loudest are the ones that would benefit the most.
You brought up a valid point regarding writers' complaints. "Your writing has not adapted to changes on the platform." Professional, freelance writers must always adapt to the publication and editors to whom they are submitting. I also do not submit to any publication if I doubt the expertise or integrity of the editor(s). I learned that lesson early in my Medium journey. The lack of writing craft knowledge I saw and an attitude of "we accept everything" caused me to pull back from the platform.
You have given me hope and the desire to get back to Medium. But my approach and expectations will be no different than if I was sending my work to literary journals. And, just for the record, you are a knowledgeable and trustworthy editor. I will always remain open to your suggestions and guidance.
I have a handful of writers that are journalists and/or write for literary journals, print magazines and newspapers. They say much the same. And you know, it shows! Also, thank you for the last sentence. You always show up with an armful of kind, and I appreciate that. :)
Excellent and well-said. I've had to block writers who became extremely hostile over suggested edits. I love writers, but the level of entitlement out there can be astonishing. It's a sad state when you have to ask "are you open to edits?" Also, I wish the note feature on Medium gave us a few more characters. Sometimes it takes a long time to explain why I want to make a change and I'm fearful I'll provoke the writer if I don't have the space to express myself clearly. Maybe you should put it on the form for writers who apply to write for you, "Are you willing to accept edits, yes/no" and if they put no, then don't add them. Thanks for all the hard work you do Linda! I hope you feel free to send me suggestions when you see something that you think might make an article stronger!
Yeah, those 200 character boxes are something else. lol. Good point on my form -- maybe I'll go a step farther and say if you aren't open to edits, don't submit. lol. And yes, absolutely I know you won't bite my head off for suggestions but glad you said it anyway. :)
One of these days you'll write something I disagree with, but today is not that day. Once again, I find myself saying "yes!' to everything you've written.
As a fellow Booster, it can be hard to describe what makes a particular article work. Je ne sais quoi is probably as close as either of us can hope to get. Those complaining the lioudest about the new program are often the ones most resistant to adapting. And who could blame them? For years, paint-by-numbers articles about "health and wellness" or "productivity" delivered. Now they don't. That's just how it goes.
As an editor, I've found that those that bristle the most at you touching their work are often the ones that could most use the help. I have a few writers that, if I have to add a comma somewhere, that's something. Those people are a gift. They've also figured out how to navigate this new landscape, and tend to get boosted early and often.
I have a couple of those, too. I'm like -- why are you eating or sleeping? No, come write more! lol. I find it's not just the ones who had a paint by number of what worked. They're the top of the list for sure. But also people with journal entries. And sure, the people who know you, they want to read that. They want to know what's happening in your life because they know and like you. But that's not going to get distributed to thousands of strangers. It's just not. Fyi, the first sentence is pretty mutual. It makes me laugh. lol
Hating on an editor just because they suggested edits is a little extreme to me lol. Yes, writers are sensitive about their work but for me, it’s how I get feedback that counts. If an editor approaches me telling me they liked my work but made a few suggestions, I’m totally open to that.
I didn’t realise how important it was to get feedback until an editor suggested changes for my short story. It allowed me to see how someone else perceives my writing. That’s what makes us good writers.
Thank you for saying that some boosted stories have something special about them. Before, I used to think that I wouldn’t get boosted and lost a bit of confidence but I’m really grateful that three fiction pieces in my series got boosted recently.
It is me, one of your many fans. You have written quite a few articles, but one, in particular, was heartfelt, and your opinion was and is respected. It was regarding writers who were not sincere when they wrote about specific topics.
Maybe you were speaking to me, or perhaps you were not. However, you pushed me to better myself, and this is what I have done: I completed my bio, and (respectfully) I hope you can find the time to read it.
In brief, this is what I have accomplished thanks to you: I have received a certification in a Personal Financing Course, and my next step is to obtain a “Financial Counseling Certification” from AFCPE.
This is to you and any editor who will read my stories; “It would be a sincere honor to make the changes to my post when an editor feels that is required.”
I would love to have editors make suggestions or give feedback! I would welcome it. But, I’ve also had a lot of experience with writer’s workshops and getting feedback.
I take suggestions to edits a step further and feel honoured when a publisher takes the time to help me bring the story to become the best it can be. I'm surprised there are so many who get offended.
This is an excellent post, Linda. I love what some of the other people have said on here. I, too, would trust you as an editor. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to be leery of attack in today's environment, when you're only trying to help. I once knew a person who was in the film industry (sort of) and I could've seen him doing something like that. He had a great idea for a film, and when he presented it to some investors, they wanted him and his partner to provide a proof of concept, or short, essentially to prove they had what it takes and were willing to put in the work; very common. They refused an said they wanted the funding first, and they'd just have to trust the talent. Ridiculous. They were miffed they didn't get the funding. The rest of us wondered why they thought they would get it.
I would be grateful for a quality editor's feedback; it's meant to help a writer improve. Even bestsellers get feedback.
Excellent points, Joy. Most people have no idea how many times bestsellers were rewritten from front to back. Sometimes the issue is that writers need to give a piece time to breathe and they'd see some of the same things the editor sees.
I agree. And they're not always right for the writer, especially with books and fiction. But they do know their publication when it's medium publications or print publications. Thanks David. :)
I'm surprised by so-called "writers" who've had their little feelies hurt so bad that they responded negatively and/or blocked you. In my view, these folks aren't actual writers at all. Nothing screams amateur louder than someone who gets insulted when an editor suggests changes. Like others who commented, I am totally grateful for any suggestions an editor makes which will improve my story/article. When a reader catches a grammar mistake or typo, I LOVE that they point it out! I don't want to look like a dumb ass! Also, like others, I've been writing and editing professionally for many years but that doesn't mean my work doesn't need editing and changes. I'm glad you put that piece out there. If people want to improve their writing skills by creating content on Medium then they need to understand how good editors can help them!
Yeah....I know what you mean. But then, I put myself in the writer's shoes. I sure would want to know if someone points out that I spellled something incorrectly or had some cra#y tipo!
Some stories, I'd welcome the edits. Other stories (mostly personal ones written to get it out), not so much. But either way, the anger and calling out is unnecessary drama.
When I was new to Medium, I made some waves. The longer I wrote, though, the less comfortable it was to "back and forth" my articles. I never took it very far, but seeing how far others would take a personal gripe put me off the idea completely. I'll tag to call out positives, but the negatives don't need public attention like that. It's my problem, not the world's.
Receiving edit suggestions- even unsolicited ones- is a good thing to me. Even if I didn't want them. It shows that someone saw something special in my work. I can always politely decline- and later change my mind and update it. Or just factor those suggestions into the next article.
Or, I could ignore them completely and simply appreciate the spirit with which the suggestions were given.
With so many respectful options, I don't see the value in wasting my words, my times, or my emotional energy on being upset by well-meant suggestions. Sure, I have more words, but if I'm not choosing how they're used then my writing will suffer greatly overall. Some things are better left in a literal journal, hidden away where we can review and grow without public influence. (My humble opinion.)
Your humble opinion is a valid and insightful one. There are some things that are better in a literal journal hidden away. Because that's the thing about publications on Medium. Much like print magazines, they are getting distributed to the world basically. A boosted post can hit 10K people if it resonates and spreads. I've had a couple hit 30K. And not all writing is meant for that kind of widespread exposure. We would not write a heartrending post about something exceedingly personal and send it to a big magazine and say here, send this to 50K strangers but don't you dare edit it to fit your publication -- and we shouldn't do that on Medium either. And thank you for adding that, because it's an important thing for writers to think about. xoxo
It's important to note that I am all for requiring writer approval for changes- sometimes an edit can change the tone unintentionally, and the writer might have a better way of changing something to keep that tone. But that may mean the publication and tone don't match- and that's ok! I'd rather know that before publishing. There's always another publication. There's always self publish. There's always leaving it unpublished to review later. Writers have options, and taking them isn't a personal statement against editors or publications.
And I don't have to tell you, but there are always more writers. Publications have options, too, and aren't any more personal statements than a writer doing what they believe is best for their articles.
I trust editors to whom I submit or I wouldn’t submit there. You seem as trustworthy as one could imagine. I love ‘I have more words.’ Exactly.
Thanks Kathy, that's a nice thing to say. Sometimes people confuse their story with the words they used to tell it and they're not the same.
This is interesting to me. An editor is supposed to edit, to take a piece and help the writer make it better or more aligned with the voice of the publication. Any writer who publicly bitches out an editor for trying to help them is in the wrong business. Take your Prima Donna self somewhere else and then find things are no different. Your words are not sacred, not yet. We live in a society where useful criticism is a lost art because we’ve brought children up to believe they are never wrong.
Voice of the publication is a powerful part of the equation and a lot of writers don't understand that. But then, a lot of people confuse writing and typing. Thanks, Martin.
There is, unfortunately, a large sense of entitlement in the digital writing world. For every writer that appreciates the work, there are 10 that see it as a personal attack. And in my experience, the ones that protest the loudest are the ones that would benefit the most.
Last sentence nailed it Kevin.
You brought up a valid point regarding writers' complaints. "Your writing has not adapted to changes on the platform." Professional, freelance writers must always adapt to the publication and editors to whom they are submitting. I also do not submit to any publication if I doubt the expertise or integrity of the editor(s). I learned that lesson early in my Medium journey. The lack of writing craft knowledge I saw and an attitude of "we accept everything" caused me to pull back from the platform.
You have given me hope and the desire to get back to Medium. But my approach and expectations will be no different than if I was sending my work to literary journals. And, just for the record, you are a knowledgeable and trustworthy editor. I will always remain open to your suggestions and guidance.
I have a handful of writers that are journalists and/or write for literary journals, print magazines and newspapers. They say much the same. And you know, it shows! Also, thank you for the last sentence. You always show up with an armful of kind, and I appreciate that. :)
Thanks for all that you do for writers!
Thanks, Tree!
Excellent and well-said. I've had to block writers who became extremely hostile over suggested edits. I love writers, but the level of entitlement out there can be astonishing. It's a sad state when you have to ask "are you open to edits?" Also, I wish the note feature on Medium gave us a few more characters. Sometimes it takes a long time to explain why I want to make a change and I'm fearful I'll provoke the writer if I don't have the space to express myself clearly. Maybe you should put it on the form for writers who apply to write for you, "Are you willing to accept edits, yes/no" and if they put no, then don't add them. Thanks for all the hard work you do Linda! I hope you feel free to send me suggestions when you see something that you think might make an article stronger!
Yeah, those 200 character boxes are something else. lol. Good point on my form -- maybe I'll go a step farther and say if you aren't open to edits, don't submit. lol. And yes, absolutely I know you won't bite my head off for suggestions but glad you said it anyway. :)
One of these days you'll write something I disagree with, but today is not that day. Once again, I find myself saying "yes!' to everything you've written.
As a fellow Booster, it can be hard to describe what makes a particular article work. Je ne sais quoi is probably as close as either of us can hope to get. Those complaining the lioudest about the new program are often the ones most resistant to adapting. And who could blame them? For years, paint-by-numbers articles about "health and wellness" or "productivity" delivered. Now they don't. That's just how it goes.
As an editor, I've found that those that bristle the most at you touching their work are often the ones that could most use the help. I have a few writers that, if I have to add a comma somewhere, that's something. Those people are a gift. They've also figured out how to navigate this new landscape, and tend to get boosted early and often.
I have a couple of those, too. I'm like -- why are you eating or sleeping? No, come write more! lol. I find it's not just the ones who had a paint by number of what worked. They're the top of the list for sure. But also people with journal entries. And sure, the people who know you, they want to read that. They want to know what's happening in your life because they know and like you. But that's not going to get distributed to thousands of strangers. It's just not. Fyi, the first sentence is pretty mutual. It makes me laugh. lol
Hating on an editor just because they suggested edits is a little extreme to me lol. Yes, writers are sensitive about their work but for me, it’s how I get feedback that counts. If an editor approaches me telling me they liked my work but made a few suggestions, I’m totally open to that.
I didn’t realise how important it was to get feedback until an editor suggested changes for my short story. It allowed me to see how someone else perceives my writing. That’s what makes us good writers.
Thank you for saying that some boosted stories have something special about them. Before, I used to think that I wouldn’t get boosted and lost a bit of confidence but I’m really grateful that three fiction pieces in my series got boosted recently.
Hi Linda,
It is me, one of your many fans. You have written quite a few articles, but one, in particular, was heartfelt, and your opinion was and is respected. It was regarding writers who were not sincere when they wrote about specific topics.
Maybe you were speaking to me, or perhaps you were not. However, you pushed me to better myself, and this is what I have done: I completed my bio, and (respectfully) I hope you can find the time to read it.
Please follow the link: https://medium.com/@julioborroto/about
In brief, this is what I have accomplished thanks to you: I have received a certification in a Personal Financing Course, and my next step is to obtain a “Financial Counseling Certification” from AFCPE.
This is to you and any editor who will read my stories; “It would be a sincere honor to make the changes to my post when an editor feels that is required.”
Best regards and many thanks,
Julio
I would love to have editors make suggestions or give feedback! I would welcome it. But, I’ve also had a lot of experience with writer’s workshops and getting feedback.
I trust you as an editor/publisher - I am more than happy for you to make edits :)
These are absolutely my favorite writers, and they keep me engaged and interested in Medium. The others make me want to scream into the void.
100%
wish I could clap more than once here lol
I take suggestions to edits a step further and feel honoured when a publisher takes the time to help me bring the story to become the best it can be. I'm surprised there are so many who get offended.
This is an excellent post, Linda. I love what some of the other people have said on here. I, too, would trust you as an editor. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to be leery of attack in today's environment, when you're only trying to help. I once knew a person who was in the film industry (sort of) and I could've seen him doing something like that. He had a great idea for a film, and when he presented it to some investors, they wanted him and his partner to provide a proof of concept, or short, essentially to prove they had what it takes and were willing to put in the work; very common. They refused an said they wanted the funding first, and they'd just have to trust the talent. Ridiculous. They were miffed they didn't get the funding. The rest of us wondered why they thought they would get it.
I would be grateful for a quality editor's feedback; it's meant to help a writer improve. Even bestsellers get feedback.
Excellent points, Joy. Most people have no idea how many times bestsellers were rewritten from front to back. Sometimes the issue is that writers need to give a piece time to breathe and they'd see some of the same things the editor sees.
If I work with editors, I usually accept their feedback. They see my work differently than me and notice how it can be improved more than I can.
I agree. And they're not always right for the writer, especially with books and fiction. But they do know their publication when it's medium publications or print publications. Thanks David. :)
I'm surprised by so-called "writers" who've had their little feelies hurt so bad that they responded negatively and/or blocked you. In my view, these folks aren't actual writers at all. Nothing screams amateur louder than someone who gets insulted when an editor suggests changes. Like others who commented, I am totally grateful for any suggestions an editor makes which will improve my story/article. When a reader catches a grammar mistake or typo, I LOVE that they point it out! I don't want to look like a dumb ass! Also, like others, I've been writing and editing professionally for many years but that doesn't mean my work doesn't need editing and changes. I'm glad you put that piece out there. If people want to improve their writing skills by creating content on Medium then they need to understand how good editors can help them!
I had such a laugh -- I have been that dumbass with the typo NO ONE saw including me. And agree with all the rest, too.
It's funny; as a writer, I also LOVE when someone points these out to me. As a reader, I always feel awkward writing someone to tell them.
One of the pubs I write for, she says "did you mean (corrected word)" - I post back and say yes, I sure did. She's the best. lol
Yeah....I know what you mean. But then, I put myself in the writer's shoes. I sure would want to know if someone points out that I spellled something incorrectly or had some cra#y tipo!
Some stories, I'd welcome the edits. Other stories (mostly personal ones written to get it out), not so much. But either way, the anger and calling out is unnecessary drama.
When I was new to Medium, I made some waves. The longer I wrote, though, the less comfortable it was to "back and forth" my articles. I never took it very far, but seeing how far others would take a personal gripe put me off the idea completely. I'll tag to call out positives, but the negatives don't need public attention like that. It's my problem, not the world's.
Receiving edit suggestions- even unsolicited ones- is a good thing to me. Even if I didn't want them. It shows that someone saw something special in my work. I can always politely decline- and later change my mind and update it. Or just factor those suggestions into the next article.
Or, I could ignore them completely and simply appreciate the spirit with which the suggestions were given.
With so many respectful options, I don't see the value in wasting my words, my times, or my emotional energy on being upset by well-meant suggestions. Sure, I have more words, but if I'm not choosing how they're used then my writing will suffer greatly overall. Some things are better left in a literal journal, hidden away where we can review and grow without public influence. (My humble opinion.)
Your humble opinion is a valid and insightful one. There are some things that are better in a literal journal hidden away. Because that's the thing about publications on Medium. Much like print magazines, they are getting distributed to the world basically. A boosted post can hit 10K people if it resonates and spreads. I've had a couple hit 30K. And not all writing is meant for that kind of widespread exposure. We would not write a heartrending post about something exceedingly personal and send it to a big magazine and say here, send this to 50K strangers but don't you dare edit it to fit your publication -- and we shouldn't do that on Medium either. And thank you for adding that, because it's an important thing for writers to think about. xoxo
It's important to note that I am all for requiring writer approval for changes- sometimes an edit can change the tone unintentionally, and the writer might have a better way of changing something to keep that tone. But that may mean the publication and tone don't match- and that's ok! I'd rather know that before publishing. There's always another publication. There's always self publish. There's always leaving it unpublished to review later. Writers have options, and taking them isn't a personal statement against editors or publications.
And I don't have to tell you, but there are always more writers. Publications have options, too, and aren't any more personal statements than a writer doing what they believe is best for their articles.