Ugh! Demand editor PUT mistakes in my piece.

I think the CEs must've gotten a lecture recently about cutting down on generalization, because nearly all my rewrites lately have been asking for more "detailed, step-by-step instructions" even though I think what I've been writing is fairly clear. One of my articles recently included a step that went something like, "Harvest rosemary leaves or sprigs with a pair of scissors," and the CE sent it back to me because he wanted more "detailed, step-by-step instructions" on this and every other step. WTF? Do I need to tell people how to operate a pair of scissors? Do I need to define the word "leaf" or "sprig"? I don't normally abandon rewrites, but I had to let that one go.

Oh, you're not alone! I write a lot of home improvement articles. I'll say something like "Measure the wall for the first piece of molding" on an article about INSTALLING molding - not measuring for it, and I have gotten three times now "do you use a measuring tape for measuring the wall?"

Seriously? Do you really think someone trying to hang crown molding (no simple task) doesn't know to use a measuring tape? I just added it into them, but on the third, I was SORELY tempted to write "No, measure it with your _______ (insert male anatomy)." I have trouble with lack of common sense. If I rate something challenging then it HAS to assume basic knowledge of some items.

There are guys on the DS forums who are mechanics and write the car repair articles. They keep getting asked to explain what a wrench is or a screwdriver. Ya know, if someone doesn't know what those tools are, then they hardly need to be tinkering around on the engine of their car.

Another person got a rewrite on a "how to paint ____" article asking them to explain how to open a can of paint.

You either have to laugh or cry. Or drink. Drinking works too. LOL

Okay, maybe this is just me, since I grew up around gardens, but...is there anyone who really doesn't know what a snail or slug looks like? Because I just got a rewrite asking me to describe them. Sure, it's a 30-second fix, but these piddly rewrites irritate me when the review times are already slow and then I have to wait past the cutoff day for the rewrite to come back. Sigh.

Of course, I am a bit on the grumpy side this morning, so maybe I'll just go take it out on the main character in my WIP before going back to DS work...

Angie said:

Okay, maybe this is just me, since I grew up around gardens, but...is there anyone who really doesn't know what a snail or slug looks like? Because I just got a rewrite asking me to describe them. Sure, it's a 30-second fix, but these piddly rewrites irritate me when the review times are already slow and then I have to wait past the cutoff day for the rewrite to come back. Sigh.

Of course, I am a bit on the grumpy side this morning, so maybe I'll just go take it out on the main character in my WIP before going back to DS work...

Click to expand...

I bet any kid of three could tell you what a snail or slug looks like. Perhaps insert a picture of one. I don't know but this rewrite seems a little silly to me.

Thank you! At least I know it's not just me being a grouch.

Angie said:

Sure, it's a 30-second fix, but these piddly rewrites irritate me when the review times are already slow and then I have to wait past the cutoff day for the rewrite to come back.

Click to expand...

Does that mean that if a rewrite doesn't get approved before the 7 days, it expires from your queue and you don't get paid for it? I was under the understanding that as long as you sent your article in for review before the 7 days were up, you were good. I thought it even said that somewhere on the DS forums, that once you sent the article in, the expiration date was "renewed" or something like that.

That would be terribly unfair if a piece you wrote "expired" while in the hands of the CE. Please tell me it doesn't work that way...

cllorentson said:

Does that mean that if a rewrite doesn't get approved before the 7 days, it expires from your queue and you don't get paid for it? I was under the understanding that as long as you sent your article in for review before the 7 days were up, you were good. I thought it even said that somewhere on the DS forums, that once you sent the article in, the expiration date was "renewed" or something like that.

That would be terribly unfair if a piece you wrote "expired" while in the hands of the CE. Please tell me it doesn't work that way...

Click to expand...

No, no...I meant that the rewrites slow down the process, so the approval doesn't come until after the payday cutoff has passed and you have to wait the extra few days for payment on that article. Not a big deal most of the time, but this week when review times were already slower than they have been, these nitpicky rewrites can cut into your paycheck.

You are correct - your article can't expire because a CE doesn't get to it soon enough; if anything, it will go to a different CE. That comes with its own problems, but it's a rare occurrence anyway. Sorry to worry you there.

Angie said:

No, no...I meant that the rewrites slow down the process, so the approval doesn't come until after the payday cutoff has passed and you have to wait the extra few days for payment on that article. Not a big deal most of the time, but this week when review times were already slower than they have been, these nitpicky rewrites can cut into your paycheck.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Angie!

I just started with Demand Studios, and noticed that the CE's seem to take a little while to review articles...though that might be because I keep sending articles in on Friday nights...

It's a relief to know that their slow response time isn't going to cost me the sale, but I can see why it would be irritating when you're counting on closing the sale A.S.A.P.

cllorentson said:

Thanks, Angie!

I just started with Demand Studios, and noticed that the CE's seem to take a little while to review articles...though that might be because I keep sending articles in on Friday nights...

Click to expand...

You're welcome.

As for review times...they go up and down. For awhile we were seeing stuff reviewed within 24 hours, so the recent slowdown has hit a bit hard. But just keep steady, and it will all even out.