Re: Online editing service for writers and publishers

From: Suzanne S. Barnhill (sbarnhill_at_mvps.org)
Date: 04/30/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 22:30:51 -0500

Given the wide variety of NGs to which this was cross-posted, I don't know
which specific one you are replying from, but the policies for
microsoft.public.word.docmanagement (in which I am seeing it) and all other
NGs hosted by Microsoft can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/conduct/default.mspx, specifically:

Advertising/Solicitation: These communities were created as a forum for
providing peer-to-peer assistance related to using Microsoft products and
services. We ask that you refrain from posting unsolicited advertisements
that do not pertain directly to the intended use and purpose of the
newsgroup or chat. 

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
"Wilson Heydt" <whheydt@kithrup.com> wrote in message
news:HwyGv1.DBJ@kithrup.com...
> In article <bd895950.0404291442.7eb54248@posting.google.com>,
> RoadRunner <pkeeley@si.rr.com> wrote:
> >I posted this ad about my friend's website.
> >
> >I am not an editor, just a webmaster helping a firm that offers a very
> >good service to find writers who need their services.
> >
> >Opinicus: So what makes this a scam??? The fact that it's  unsolicited
> >commercial advertising in a public forum.
>
> Taht makes it *spam*.  It is a *potential* scam becasue many
> services that use very similar descriptions *are* scams.  Experience
> makes such claims suspicious.
>
> >This comment seems to confuse me. My question: How private is this
> >"public forum"?
>
> This is a *very* pulbic forum.  It is accessible anywhere in the
> world that can achieve any sort of internet access that doesn't
> block it.
>
> >I thought a "public" forum was a place to discuss various topics in an
> >open manner. Am I wrong?
>
> This, and the other newsgroups that comprise usenet, have charters.
> These charters spell out what topics are appropriate for discussion
> within them and what general ground rules should be followed.  One
> of the general rule of *this* forum is "no advertising".  To find
> out what the socail customs of a group are (which may be looser or
> more restrictive that the charter and the FAQ are), one should
> should read the group for a couple of weeks.  less if you are very
> familiar with usenet and quick on the uptake, longer if you lack
> such familiarity.
>
> >I may have a little off-scope with some of the forums I placed my ad,
> >but it was not a random choice for placement. I was looking for forums
> >that might welcome such a service and this forum seemed to match my
> >criteria.
>
> That's called "off topic" in newsgroups--which suggests that your
> knowledge of the relevant usages is somewhat sketchy.
>
> >My friend offers help in the form of a paid online editing service.
>
> Is your friend willing to tell an incompetent author that he is
> incompetent and refuse to take his money?  If not, then i for one
> would question his ethics.
>
> >Oh, by the way. I believe it IS true that new authors who skip a
> >professional edit of their work ARE taking a big risk.
>
> Can you name a single author that got a publishable work solely by
> having an unpublishable one editted in ways that he could not do so
> himself?  If the answer to that question is "no", then one must also
> question just what it is that such an editting service actually
> *does* (other than give false hope to the self-deceived).
>
> >First, I was not spamming newsgroups! I targeted specific types of
> >newsgroups just right for my message. Please find fault with my
> >message and not where I put it! But for the record I was wrong posting
> >it in several news groups at the same time, and I won't do it again!
>
> Including at least one that specifically does not want advertising!
>
> >Second, my message was not as heavy-handed as your comment implies. It
> >was not a threat saying, "Use an editing service or lose your ability
> >to get published!"
>
> heavyhanded replies of this nature are *usually* an indication of
> 'Oh! No! Not *another* one!' because very very similar messages have
> been posted many many times before.  Remember what I said up there
> about reading newsgroups *before* posting.  That's one of the
> reasons why you should do so.
>
> >I directed my posting to a few groups that were related to MS Word
> >documents. At the time, I felt it was appropriate since my friend's
> >editing service only works with MS Word documents.
>
> Ha...  Have you read the threads here?  One of the current one is a
> debate over the merits of using editors like MSWord *at*all*.  The
> topics under discussion on this newsgroup relate to writing
> speculative fiction.  The mechanics of what editor/markup
> language/WYSIWYG to use get debated, but no (so far as I know) ever
> uses that to determine where they might seek to get help if they
> thought they needed any (at least of *that* nature).
>
> >I have used newsgroups in the past to promote my own and other
> >websites without having this sort of reaction occur.
>
> Depends on what newsgroups you posted to.  So groups don't mind.
> Some do. This is one that does, and it has been hammered home
> repeatedly.  You are merely the latest in a long string of nails.
>
> [About the dearth of authors known to have used manuscript doctors.]
>
> >I don't think those who are likely to use it will want others to know
> >their shortcomings. That seems to be against human nature.
>
> have you *seen* the sorts of things that people reveal about
> themselves here?  Hiring an outside editting service pales beside
> some revelations.  You couldn't publish fiction about some people's
> lives as dicussed openly here, fiction, after all, has to be
> believable at some level.
>
> --
> Hal Heydt
> Albany, CA
>
> My dime, my opinions.