Workshop Editors

July 18, 2011 Editor, Workshop Comments Off

Editor Positions

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

Editors in the workshop include 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, pointing out problems but not reworking them. Other participants in each workshop share some of the duties of the story editor, since they will be commenting on plot, storyline, character development and character during the course of the workshop.

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

Applications for the position of editor are accepted year round.
All applicants should have been contacted and notified of the status of their application shortly after being received.

Editing Test

Within 48 hours after we receive your application, FW will send you an editing test via email for completion and return within 72 hours.