Editor for contest enteries

[billyf027]

I heard of a few writers using editors to work with them before entering prestigious short story contests. they claim to have won or placed in the top five with the editors help. Has anyone else considered using an editor for a short story?

[Maryn]

I haven't considered it. The cost of a qualified editor probably exceeds the winnings--and it seems kind of cheaty.

Maryn, who comes by her contest losses honestly

[starrykitten]

Never considered it, though it doesn't surprise me that it's done.

[Dungeon Geek]

I haven't considered it. The cost of a qualified editor probably exceeds the winnings--and it seems kind of cheaty.

Maryn, who comes by her contest losses honestly

I don't think it's cheaty myself, since it's just another way of polishing up the story. It still has to be a great story to win, and all the stories in the contest should be polished up the best they can be. The editor's not writing the story after all, just helping with the revision.

[Dawn Hebein]

I don't know, I think a good crit group would be sufficient.

[Jamesaritchie]

Oh, good grief.

[Maryn]

Charlie Brown, is that you? ;)

Maryn, who does not have red curly hair

[stormie]

Interesting. Never considered that people do this. Can you imagine, though, if someone won one of those contests, and an editor happened across the winning entry, and wanted to see more of their work for a possible novel?

"Oh, wait, um.... Give me about a month, okay?" Then uses the winning money to pay an editor to help her out. Vicious cycle.