OK, Ok, or Okay?

[Recidiva]

"Oh Lordy, professional writers often do that and infinitely worse."

Not after the first time they've had a screwup in important content in their printed work and it's pointed out that the publisher takes credit for whatever they fix but does not accept blame for anything that remained consistently incorrect from when the author first wrote it.

Been there/done that many times for the past decade.

I was dealing with stuff they'd care about. But also the throwaway stuff that involves Buffy Fanfic, Moesha fanfic, Dawson's Creek Fanfic, History of the WWF and otherwise...I'm afraid although they were "professional" writers, they weren't paid well and the expectation of what they churned out wasn't all that great.

Also, the guy who wrote the "Rogue Squadron" series made death threats in his margins. Fun guy. I didn't change the things he considered deathworthy. He seemed a totally insane and serious sort.

They can't all be gems. A lot of "professional" stuff is just churned out like toilet paper. No big names, no major authors, but lots and lots of ghost writers who get an assignment, fill in the blanks, and move on.

I had to fix the spelling for Jesse Ventura. I know much more about Justin Timberlake than I ever wanted to know. My time in professional publishing resulted more often in thinking I was ruining culture and the written word. I like the medical field better.

 

[sr71plt]

"If you're writing for pure fun, do what you want."

Why wouldn't you try to write one way--the way preferred for publishing? Especially since if you had to get it set in your mind at all, it makes sense to set it in the best way. If you try to learn two systems (apparently because you are stubborn and recalcitrant and think way highly of yourself), you'll muddle yourself up so you can't keep either straight (or consistent across your work). If you only learn what's fun, aren't you being defeatist about any chance at development of a talent?

And, if you are writing it to submit it to Literotica, you are writing it for publishing, because when your work is posted it, it had been published.

I really can't understand the undercurrent of wanting to be unprofessional about your writing here.

 

[Recidiva]

"If you're writing for pure fun, do what you want."

Why wouldn't you try to write one way--the way preferred for publishing? Especially since if you had to get it set in your mind at all, it makes sense to set it in the best way. If you try to learn two systems (apparently because you are stubborn and recalcitrant and think way highly of yourself), you'll muddle yourself up so you can't keep either straight (or consistent across your work). If you only learn what's fun, aren't you being defeatist about any chance at development of a talent?

And, if you are writing it to submit it to Literotica, you are writing it for publishing, because when your work is posted it, it had been published.

I really can't understand the undercurrent of wanting to be unprofessional about your writing here.

Because people here are writing for fun.

Being a prostitute is having sex professionally. It's not always the preferred way to do it.

 

[sr71plt]

"I was dealing with stuff they'd care about. But also the throwaway stuff that involves Buffy Fanfic, Moesha fanfic, Dawson's Creek Fanfic, History of the WWF and otherwise...I'm afraid although they were "professional" writers, they weren't paid well and the expectation of what they churned out wasn't all that great.

Also, the guy who wrote the "Rogue Squadron" series made death threats in his margins. Fun guy. I didn't change the things he considered deathworthy. He seemed a totally insane and serious sort.

They can't all be gems. A lot of "professional" stuff is just churned out like toilet paper. No big names, no major authors, but lots and lots of ghost writers who get an assignment, fill in the blanks, and move on.

I had to fix the spelling for Jesse Ventura. I know much more about Justin Timberlake than I ever wanted to know. My time in professional publishing resulted more often in thinking I was ruining culture and the written word. I like the medical field better."

Yes, all this happens. And there are publishers that knuckle under to their authors--most do at least in some instances, some do a lot--and there are author's quirks that don't matter all that much and might as well be kept. You don't want to lose the author's voice, unless it was a marginal author to begin with and you don't mind losing the author (which also happens when authors think they are more "special" than their publisher thinks they are).

None of this really argues against writers learning to do it the safest/most used way as long as they have to learn some way of doing it anyway.

Again, I marvel at the excuses that crop up just not to learn the standards to begin with (and, even more, to decide to ignore them when they've been fed to you)--or at least learn how to use the authorities so you don't have to spin wheels wondering what the best way to spell "vagina" is. lol.

 

[Recidiva]

"I was dealing with stuff they'd care about. But also the throwaway stuff that involves Buffy Fanfic, Moesha fanfic, Dawson's Creek Fanfic, History of the WWF and otherwise...I'm afraid although they were "professional" writers, they weren't paid well and the expectation of what they churned out wasn't all that great.

Also, the guy who wrote the "Rogue Squadron" series made death threats in his margins. Fun guy. I didn't change the things he considered deathworthy. He seemed a totally insane and serious sort.

They can't all be gems. A lot of "professional" stuff is just churned out like toilet paper. No big names, no major authors, but lots and lots of ghost writers who get an assignment, fill in the blanks, and move on.

I had to fix the spelling for Jesse Ventura. I know much more about Justin Timberlake than I ever wanted to know. My time in professional publishing resulted more often in thinking I was ruining culture and the written word. I like the medical field better."

Yes, all this happens. And there are publishers that knuckle under to their authors--most do at least in some instances, some do a lot--and there are author's quirks that don't matter all that much and might as well be kept. You don't want to lose the author's voice, unless it was a marginal author to begin with and you don't mind losing the author (which also happens when authors think they are more "special" than their publisher thinks they are).

None of this really argues against writers learning to do it the safest/most used way as long as they have learn some way of doing it.

Again, I marvel at the excuses that crop up just not to learn the standards to begin with (and, even more, to decide to ignore them when they've been fed to you)--or at least learn how to use the authorities so you don't have to spin wheels wondering what the best way to spell "vagina" is. lol.

Although you can write, I'm not sure you can read very well, so I'll just stop talking now and post a picture of a kittens instead 'cause they're cute.

 

[sr71plt]

"Although you can write"

I can also look things up in the authorities before giving advice here pulled out from where the sun don't shine.

 

[LadyCibelle]

"Although you can write"

I can also look things up in the authorities before giving advice here pulled out from where the sun don't shine.

Sorry to intrude in your discussion with everybody not agreeing with you, and your intent are probably pure and noble, but do you really need to sound like such a pontificating ass? I dunno but to me you sound like the guy who thinks he's always right (you might even be...right that is) and doesn't allow for anybody else's opinions to interfere into his way of thinking.

It becomes quickly tiresome and after a while all your good will and 'teaching' is lost because you've alienated everybody with your pontificating.

 

[sr71plt]

Sorry you think that way, Lady C.--especially when I'm the one saying "use the authorities" and not some stranger's half-baked personal, unresearched best-guess of the moment. And yours is the typical response of Internet chat boards where people don't mind shooting themselves in the foot on substantive issues and best practices that affect their development and likely future success as long as they can maintain friendships with strangers in cyberspace.

Both are so typical of chat rooms--that people go to strangers for wrong answers rather than researching answers that will actually serve them well.

And that those with common sense are censured for pointing to what is common sense.

Are you one of the "editors" supposedly helping people here? If so, that's certainly a pity. Because you obviously don't care all that much about their writing development.

What is flabbergasting is that even when told where they can find the information they are asking for from good sources, chat roomies are so lazy and mesmerized by "I heard it from a stranger on the Internet so it must be true" that they go after anyone who points out how dumb this is. Three times on this thread questions came up that could be answered by opening a dictionary. And three times someone gave the wrong answer without bothering to open a dictonary. And this is supposedly an editorial help thread. wow.

 

[snooper]

I have just four observations:

When Volunteer Editing (which is what this board is about) I give authors a lot of leeway on thinks like OK and T-shirt, because there is no "Literotica House Style".

The final thing really is: Who is paying for it? They usually get the say.

The readers are always the ones who pay, and they get no say at all. Publishers only move the money from reader to writer and a lump of it doesn't get passed on.

Is it really easier/better to go onto an Internet discussion board and ask a stranger (and usually get the wrong answer) than to buy a dictionary and use it?

Apparently it is, though I don't know about the "usually"; I think "often" might be better. Certainly we get it all the time on here, and the number of those queries that can be answered by a single free Google search is staggering.


Of course, as any scholar of English will tell you, colloquialisms like O.K. have no place in a work of literature, other than in direct speech.

 

[LadyCibelle]

Sorry you think that way, Lady C.--especially when I'm the one saying "use the authorities" and not some stranger's half-baked personal, unresearched best-guess of the moment. And yours is the typical response of Internet chat boards where people don't mind shooting themselves in the foot on substantive issues and best practices that affect their development and likely future success as long as they can maintain friendships with strangers in cyberspace.

And I totally agree with you. It's always better to consult authority on the matter....but.....who made YOU the authority on what is done or not in Literotica. Are you Laurel or Manu in disguise?? Didn't think so.

Both are so typical of chat rooms--that people go to strangers for wrong answers rather than researching answers that will actually serve them well.

And that those with common sense are censured for pointing to what is common sense.

Who's censoring you? Me??? Have I censored you?? Are you really that childish and thin-skinned that if someone disagrees with you, you think they're censuring you? Go, grow up and grow yourself a pair, dear.

I'll repeat what I said in my previous post as you seem to be able to complain about everyone but you're not too good at reading what people actually say:

It becomes quickly tiresome and after a while all your goodwill and 'teaching' is lost because you've alienated everybody with your pontificating.

Look up 'pontificating' in your trusty dictionary and I'll bet that you'll see a picture of yourself next to it. If you want people to start listening to you maybe you'd be best to stop pontificating and teach with good manners, humour and your favourite: common sense.

Are you one of the "editors" supposedly helping people here? If so, that's certainly a pity. Because you obviously don't care all that much about their writing development.

And who made you, once again, the authority on what I care???? Remind me who appointed you, exactly. I'm not only the MOD of this thread but I am also one of the most prolific editors. Ask the hundreds of writers I work with if I care or not about their writing development; ask them who's the grammar, punctuation and spelling nazi. You'll get one answer and one answer only: ME!

So, please, don't patronize me and try to make me fit into your nice little 'box'. You know nothing about me....and you're not about to with your attitude!

What is flabbergasting is that even when told where they can find the information they are asking for from good sources, chat roomies are so lazy and mesmerized by "I heard it from a stranger on the Internet so it must be true" that they go after anyone who points out how dumb this is. Three times on this thread questions came up that could be answered by opening a dictionary. And three times someone gave the wrong answer without bothering to open a dictonary. And this is supposedly an editorial help thread. wow.

What is even MORE flabbergasting is that you still don't get that NOBODY will listen to you when you're pontificating; NOBODY at all! Stop acting like such a prick, stop thinking that if someone doesn't bow to your greatness it's because they'd rather ask perfect strangers than ask the 'authority' on the matter: you. The world doesn't revolve around you, dear!

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

OK is actually a word coined during the election campaign of a US President. I forget which one but its from the early part of the 20th century. Its original form was O.K. I believe as it was an acronym. Far as its use in writing goes, I tend to prefer "ok" myself. But if your trying to be proper it would be best to go with the afore mentioned spellings listed in the dictionary.

The president was Martin van Buren who followed Andrew Jackson. The O.K. stood for his nickname, "Old Kinderhook."

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Guest]

The president was Martin van Buren who followed Andrew Jackson. The O.K. stood for his nickname, "Old Kinderhook."

Rumple Foreskin

Thank you, Rev. I was having trouble remembering the origin.



LadyC - Terrific responses, and you have far more patience than me with that one.

But once on ignore, the threads read so easily.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I asked and was expecting rain, instead got a flood

Hmm, sounds like Moses (referring to the title of this post).

LadyC is back???

Crap, and here I am causing conflict...

Without intending to! I was just doing the usual editing thing and wanted to be sure I was dispensing truth and not personal preference.

Oh, so from now on I forward all edits to LadyC!

That's what CC told me a few days ago.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Feeling Guilty but Protected

I guess I skipped some posts then backed up.

I was only trying to be a good editor when I asked the question. I wanted to be sure I wasn't trying to force my personal opinion down the throats of others. I have a HS education, but I did manage to CLEP 6 hours of English just by... I don't know (and not by cheating, either). I don't know the academic shit, I just know what sounds good. I have an ear for it, I guess. But I don't have any fancy paper hanging on my wall saying I'm smart, or that I can write. I leave that to you.

But for the moment I'll gladly cower under LadyC's neck and ruffle her soft fur, and suckle for a bit. Because the predators are out there, and I feel safe here.

LOL. Glad you're back, LadyC.

Hope you had a great one.

 

[LadyCibelle]

Hmm, sounds like Moses (referring to the title of this post).

LadyC is back???

Crap, and here I am causing conflict...

Without intending to! I was just doing the usual editing thing and wanted to be sure I was dispensing truth and not personal preference.

Oh, so from now on I forward all edits to LadyC!

That's what CC told me a few days ago.

AS: No LadyC isn't back at all. I'm still on holidays but someone was gracious enough to tell me about this thread and that one person wasn't "playing" nicely with the others, so I had to come and see what it was all about and if I could do anything about the situation.

Unfortunately, as most 'adult' know, there are times when talking to a child who doesn't want to listen is like hitting your head on a brick wall.....absolutely NOT productive.

 

[LadyCibelle]

I guess I skipped some posts then backed up.

I was only trying to be a good editor when I asked the question. I wanted to be sure I wasn't trying to force my personal opinion down the throats of others. I have a HS education, but I did manage to CLEP 6 hours of English just by... I don't know (and not by cheating, either). I don't know the academic shit, I just know what sounds good. I have an ear for it, I guess. But I don't have any fancy paper hanging on my wall saying I'm smart, or that I can write. I leave that to you.

But for the moment I'll gladly cower under LadyC's neck and ruffle her soft fur, and suckle for a bit. Because the predators are out there, and I feel safe here.

LOL. Glad you're back, LadyC.

Hope you had a great one.

Well, sweet, if you want to ruffle my fur, please be my guest; you'll have me purring in no time.

 

[CopyCarver]

AS: No LadyC isn't back at all. I'm still on holidays but someone was gracious enough to tell me about this thread and that one person wasn't "playing" nicely with the others, so I had to come and see what it was all about and if I could do anything about the situation.

Unfortunately, as most 'adult' know, there are times when talking to a child who doesn't want to listen is like hitting your head on a brick wall.....absolutely NOT productive.

Just for shits and giggles, let's start posting blank pages in this thread. Sir Rants a Lot will undoubtedly think we're all telepathically conspiring against him which, in turn, should provide job security for forty-eleven psychiatrists.

 

[LadyCibelle]

Just for shits and giggles, let's start posting blank pages in this thread. Sir Rants a Lot will undoubtedly think we're all telepathically conspiring against him which, in turn, should provide job security for forty-eleven psychiatrists.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

 

[CeriseNoire]

The president was Martin van Buren who followed Andrew Jackson. The O.K. stood for his nickname, "Old Kinderhook."

Rumple Foreskin

If I may add somthing to that, it actually was popularized, rather than coined, by him.

OK
1839, only survivor of a slang fad in Boston and New York c.1838-9 for abbreviations of common phrases with deliberate, jocular misspellings (cf. K.G. for "no go," as if spelled "know go"); in this case, "oll korrect." Further popularized by use as an election slogan by the O.K. Club, New York boosters of Democratic president Martin Van Buren's 1840 re-election bid, in allusion to his nickname Old Kinderhook, from his birth in the N.Y. village of Kinderhook. Van Buren lost, the word stuck, in part because it filled a need for a quick way to write an approval on a document, bill, etc. The noun is first attested 1841; the verb 1888. Spelled out as okeh, 1919, by Woodrow Wilson, on assumption that it represented Choctaw okeh "it is so" (a theory which lacks historical documentation); this was ousted quickly by okay after the appearance of that form in 1929. Okey-doke is student slang first attested 1932.

From:http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=OK&searchmode=none

Yes, I know it's not a definitive source, but it matches the info in my etymology books. (Yes I'm aware that it makes me a geek)

 

[Recidiva]

Just for shits and giggles, let's start posting blank pages in this thread. Sir Rants a Lot will undoubtedly think we're all telepathically conspiring against him which, in turn, should provide job security for forty-eleven psychiatrists.

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[snooper]

... Ask the hundreds of writers I work with if I care or not about their writing development; ask them who's the grammar, punctuation and spelling nazi. You'll get one answer and one answer only: ME! ...

Then ask Lady C who fixed some of her unpublished work, and then come to a REAL Nazi for a treat.

 

[ninefe2dg]

(okey dokey, without the hyphen, as it's not modifying anything...sorry.)

You can do whatever you want, of course. I haven't had any of my stuff here edited by anyone, I just submit it and they approve it.

If you want to learn how to deal with audiences and editors before you become big and famous or lucrative, it helps to do more listening and agreeing on the little stuff so you can hold your ground on the big stuff, if it means a lot to you, then you really should have some references or precedents to use to back yourself up.

It's a bit like law. It's not really about justice, it's about perception.

I just read through the debate this post precipitated. In short, the message here is "pick your battles". Sounds like good advice...

 

[Guest]

I just read through the debate this post precipitated. In short, the message here is "pick your battles". Sounds like good advice...

Pick your battles or battle the pricks.

 

[Recidiva]

I just read through the debate this post precipitated. In short, the message here is "pick your battles". Sounds like good advice...

As you can see in this thread, which completely demonstrated exactly my point.

You will not be able to avoid criticism from those who use different styles and defend them and want to be ultimately 100% right. This extends to your styles of writing, your tone, your vocabulary, and in the sense of erotica, what turns you on.

You still need to navigate.

 

[Recidiva]

Pick your battles or battle the pricks.

That's usually the battle I pick, even if my weapons are kittens.