Editor

On November 26, 2009, In Editor, Workshop, by Admin

Editor Position - Applications Open to July 15th, 2010

Updated: April 3rd, 2010

Fictionista Workshop editors work closely with writers and readers in the workshop environment, reviewing, analyzing, redacting, and sometimes even rewriting the work of writers.

There are two kinds of editors in the workshop: story editors and copy editors. Story editors look for plausibility in the work as a whole, evaluating plot, storyline, and character development, developing the material and clarifying ambiguities. They evaluate the manuscript and challenge the writer when they find faulty logic, inconsistencies, and vagueness. They also may rewrite, cut, clarify, and format the work as needed. Copy editors proofread a writer’s work, but also address stylistic issues to a limited degree, pointing out problems but not reworking them. Because of the nature of these different types of editors, workshop projects will be assigned at least one story editor and as many as two copy editors.

Key Qualities/Ethics/Code of Conduct

For our purposes, a good editor:

Understands and is sympathetic to the challenges writers face.
Recognizes and appreciates literary talent, and acts to foster and support it.
Open to many different styles of writing; treats them all respectfully.
Confident and secure in their judgment without imposing their own style on a writer.
Accepts that writers have final say on their own work, even when it goes against their editorial opinion.
Trustworthy; acts to protect the copyright and distribution of a writer’s work.
Has the moral and mental strength needed to resist pressure to create work aimed at earning a writer popularity and fitting in with community trends; protects the quality and integrity of the work.
Advocates for the needs of readers, even over the needs of publishers, agents, and sometimes writers themselves.
Energetic, enthusiastic, and resourceful in helping authors to discover the truth, purpose, and meaning in their writing.
Has great reserves of patience and tact; understands the difference between constructive criticism and negativity, opinion and fact, attending to the ways that their comments can affect a writer, their confidence, and quality of work.
Has the kind of character and generosity required to lend their time, energy, and all of their own creativity to projects for which they might never be recognized.
Supports writers through all the advantages and pitfalls of writing, including writer’s block, bad reviews, negativity from community members, popularity issues, and marketing ideas.
Likes writers and enjoys working with them.

Application Guidelines

This application is ONLY for the workshop.
The current workshop is in session and applications at this time are placed in queue for the Summer 2010-Fall 2010 workshop. This application must be completely filled out and submitted by the assigned deadline, which is by midnight CDT, July, 15th, 2010.
All participants will be contacted and notified of the status of their application being received by the aforementioned deadline. For more information, see the Calendar.
Any changes made to this application must be submitted in writing to the administration team no later than 24 hours after the deadline has closed.
No modifications will be accepted after that time.
Apply for only one workshop position at a time.

The editor application includes the following items:

I. Introduction

First and last name and contact information are required. DO NOT ENTER YOUR COMMUNITY PENNAME.

II. Application Process

A. Philosophy of Editing

11 questions

B. Workshop Experience

3 questions

Note: This section is meant to include ALL of your experience, including with professional, academic, and recreational reading and critical thinking. Please feel free to tell us about yourself when answering.

C. Editing and Writing Style and Experience

10 questions

D. Community Presence

9 questions

Note: If you are new to any type of community membership in general, please provide the answers as best you can. We are looking for the best fit for our workshop, not the most established community contributors.

E. Character Reference

III. Editing Test

Within 24 hours after we receive your application, FW will send you an editing test via email for completion and return within 72 hours. Any application for which a completed editing test is not submitted will not be considered.