Subject: EDQ #4: The Queue & the Editing Process
Posted by: agony
Date: Apr 19 13
Today I'd like to talk about the editing process - how it works, and what to expect from it. If you have a vision of the editors in an office, diligently working away at quizzes from nine to five -- well, that's not even close to reality.
I'll start with something that most of you know -- the staff at FT are volunteers. This means, yes, that we are not paid, but a more meaningful way to look at this is that we work here in our spare time. A few staff are retirees, some are students, but most of us have jobs. Many of us have children. We have lawns that must be mowed, dogs that must be walked, and significant others who expect a significant portion of our attention and time. We slip our work here into odd moments of our lives, just as the authors and players do. Some of us only get here once a week or so; others are here every day, but often only for five or ten minutes at a time.
The quizzes that you see coming online are only a fraction of the work the editors do. A large number of quizzes edited don't make it online - nearly half of created quizzes never get online. The vast majority of Correction Notes are for quizzes whose authors no longer visit the site, which means the editors are taking care of them. This often involves considerable research and/or extensive rewriting. Subcategories are always being created, quizzes moved around. There are constant discussions going on about practices and policies - the site is always under refinement, always being tweaked to make it work better.
The actual editing is not usually a simple process of ticking off a list of problems-- bad spelling, check; time dependency, check; titles not in quotation marks, check-- but can be very time consuming. It's not unusual for an editor to take from fifteen minutes to half an hour per quiz, especially those from new authors. A quiz with substantial problems can take an hour or more to edit. You will occasionally see a block of quizzes from one category go online in a short time, but those are almost always quizzes from experienced authors whose quizzes do just need a quick check, or resubmits (or re re re submits!) of quizzes that have already had a lot of time poured into them. If you only see one quiz from a category go online in a day, it does not necessarily mean that an editor popped into that category queue, put one quiz online in five minutes, and then left. It's a lot more likely that an hour or more was spent on that queue, but all that work only produced one publishable quiz.
Posted by: agony
Date: Apr 19 13
Today I'd like to talk about the editing process - how it works, and what to expect from it. If you have a vision of the editors in an office, diligently working away at quizzes from nine to five -- well, that's not even close to reality.
I'll start with something that most of you know -- the staff at FT are volunteers. This means, yes, that we are not paid, but a more meaningful way to look at this is that we work here in our spare time. A few staff are retirees, some are students, but most of us have jobs. Many of us have children. We have lawns that must be mowed, dogs that must be walked, and significant others who expect a significant portion of our attention and time. We slip our work here into odd moments of our lives, just as the authors and players do. Some of us only get here once a week or so; others are here every day, but often only for five or ten minutes at a time.
The quizzes that you see coming online are only a fraction of the work the editors do. A large number of quizzes edited don't make it online - nearly half of created quizzes never get online. The vast majority of Correction Notes are for quizzes whose authors no longer visit the site, which means the editors are taking care of them. This often involves considerable research and/or extensive rewriting. Subcategories are always being created, quizzes moved around. There are constant discussions going on about practices and policies - the site is always under refinement, always being tweaked to make it work better.
The actual editing is not usually a simple process of ticking off a list of problems-- bad spelling, check; time dependency, check; titles not in quotation marks, check-- but can be very time consuming. It's not unusual for an editor to take from fifteen minutes to half an hour per quiz, especially those from new authors. A quiz with substantial problems can take an hour or more to edit. You will occasionally see a block of quizzes from one category go online in a short time, but those are almost always quizzes from experienced authors whose quizzes do just need a quick check, or resubmits (or re re re submits!) of quizzes that have already had a lot of time poured into them. If you only see one quiz from a category go online in a day, it does not necessarily mean that an editor popped into that category queue, put one quiz online in five minutes, and then left. It's a lot more likely that an hour or more was spent on that queue, but all that work only produced one publishable quiz.
88 replies. On page 4 of 5 pages. 1 2 3 4 5
runaway_drive 
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Thanks for the insight; I've always wanted to know. Reading and flicking through this entire article makes you appreciate the time and effort yourself and other editors put into this website, especially on a voluntary basis! Reply #61. Feb 17 14, 10:45 AM |
habitsowner
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Thank you, as well as the other editors, for all the time and effort you extend to make this site so enjoyable to play on. I know we ALL appreciate it greatly, even though we don't often remember to say "thank you" as we should. Lee Reply #62. Feb 17 14, 11:31 AM |
TemptressToo
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I've long been interested in being an editor. Interesting insight into that process. I especially like the aspect of your job that allows you to grow and develop your collective ideas into something like Adventures in Authoring. Much thanks for what you do! Reply #63. May 13 14, 2:53 PM |
bubbafudd
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I submitted a question as part of a "daily challenge" and am wondering what happened to it. No credit for the challenge, and no record or notices of rejection. Any suggestions" Thanks in advance. Reply #64. Nov 18 14, 2:05 PM |
| bubbafudd
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Found my answer. Reply #65. Nov 18 14, 2:16 PM |
Godwit
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Thanks so much! I think everyone knows you are hard working volunteers, but what, in concrete terms, is it like back there behind the curtain? You've helped bring that to life. Reply #66. Nov 19 14, 1:44 AM |
bloomsby
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There's something that doesn't seem to have been mentioned at all yet and that can be immensely time-consuming for editors. Please bear in mind that some quiz authors do not have English as their native language. In some cases their English is good and all that an editor has to do is a little tidying up. However, some quiz authors have a much weaker knowledge of English and their quizzes may need rewriting completely, and editing such a quiz can take ages. In the more extreme cases I send the quiz back with a note saying, 'Please ask a friend with a better knowledge of English to help you with the language'. Then, in a few cases, there are also cultural differences. For example, if there is a note attached to the quiz starting with the words 'Most Esteemed Editor' (or even, as on one occasion, 'Reverend Sir') the author may have more general problems relating to people in the English-speaking countries - sociolinguistic problems that go way beyond matters of grammar and the like. So, if you're unlucky your quiz may be high in the queue, but the author of the quiz just above yours may be addressing the editor as 'Reverend Editor' and more generally at sea - and of course taking up oodles of time. Reply #67. Nov 22 14, 5:45 PM |
agony
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Something from the first page of this discussion that I think bears repeating: ------------------ ""When will you edit my quiz" or "Why haven't you edited my quiz" notes are not appreciated, and will not get your quiz preferential treatment – rather the opposite. We do not reward the squeaky wheel. These notes interfere with editors getting their work done – they are answering your note, rather than editing your quiz - and will not do you any good. They are also very annoying. Personally, my policy is to never answer such a note, and I encourage the other editors to adopt the same policy." ------------------ If you send such a note and don't get a reply, it does not mean that the editor didn't see it and you should ask yet again. It means the editor does not reply to this type of note. Reply #68. Mar 31 15, 10:19 PM |
rossian
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To follow on from Agony's last post, it's worth remembering that many of the editors frequent the chat boards and the forums. If someone is constantly complaining about queues and waiting, it is likely to be noticed. Reply #69. Apr 01 15, 11:18 AM |
coachpauly
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Hi Editor Giants: I do not know where to address my concern and offer so I will throw it into this discussion. Let me begin by saying "I LOVE" the FT site and I admire a large number of the volunteers and editors that contribute so much of their time and energy to keep the site so new and fun. Indeed I have made some really good friends in the FT community. I do realize that editors are sometimes swamped and there may be huge wait times before an editor can get to an author's quiz. However, it seems like there are two categories in particular that really have LONG wait times. I have a quiz currently in the queue that has been there for over 2 weeks. In the past I have had a quiz in the same category sit for over 3+ weeks and then another 1-2 weeks after I submitted changes. The paranoid side of personality would jump to the conclusion that perhaps I am red-flagged as a bad quiz writer in that category and thus the editors demote me to the bottom of the pile. The more "sane" persona appreciates the time and effort that editors must commit to more important areas of their life and thus I remain patient. I do feel that the link indicating "Rough Queue Times" should be changed to truly reflect the wait time for budding authors. I have been a part of the FT community for almost 5 years and have over 100 quizzes up. I would be interested in reaching out and offering my help as an editor (particularly in the Brainteasers) category. I am really not sure how to inquire or offer my help? So my point is...instead of whining and moaning about long queue waits (the problem), I would be honored to be a part of the solution if there is a need :) Thanks, Coachpauly Reply #70. Apr 23 15, 7:37 PM |
lonely-lady
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I have read this thread through and have a suggestion. Could there be a note sent automatically to the author once they have submitted a quiz. A simple: Your **INSERT TITLE HERE** quiz has been placed in the queue for an Editor and will be reviewed as soon as possible. **Please do not chase the Editors as this will cause a delay** Reply #71. Apr 24 15, 11:24 AM |
kyleisalive
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That note already appears when the quiz template is submitted: "Your quiz has been submitted for editor approval! This may take from a couple of days to over a week, so please have patience. You may modify your quiz at any time." The other issue is that chasing editors doesn't cause a delay; real life causes delays. If an editor is able to get in and edit a quiz, they will, otherwise, they're likely busy with other things and will attend to the queues when they are available to. Reply #72. Apr 24 15, 11:28 AM |
| lonely-lady
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Yes I know that, however I was suggesting a note in the Inbox would settle the most common question IE where is my quiz, and remind the author not to chase. Just a suggestion, but I like it! Reply #73. Apr 24 15, 11:31 AM |
| kyleisalive
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The concern that most authors have here, from what I feel (and from what I've received in my inbox over the past ten years), is less 'where's my quiz?' and more 'why isn't my quiz being looked at yet?' Even if the note is sent to the inbox upon submission it doesn't necessarily remove the mounting impatience after two days...or five...or fifteen when the quiz just hasn't seen the eyes of an editor yet. In the case of Coachpauly's quiz, one of the main issues was one of categorization, and in such a case there needs to be a bit of back and forth between editors, sometimes several of them across different categories and across different time zones. In such a case the quiz is usually tagged for one original editor and doesn't get touched or edited until a final word is given so that the right person is assigned to the process. It would take longer for someone to edit the quiz in General, send the quiz to Entertainment to follow guidelines and expectations there, then ultimately send it to Brain Teasers based on those changes and the shape of the quiz, and it would result in more correction notices for the author-- and that's something we don't want. We want the quiz to be ready to go on. All I mean to say is that sometimes the wait cuts out superfluous work, but such is one example. Trust me: some categories see it more than one would think. Reply #74. Apr 24 15, 11:50 AM |
| coachpauly
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Thanks for the clarification Kyle and thank you for the patient responses to the "posters..." :) Reply #75. Apr 24 15, 12:46 PM |
| kyleisalive
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No problem. As I said, categorization was one of the issues there. I wasn't involved on any part of the process with your particular quiz, so I can't attest to the rest. There's more than one reason why any quiz can wait and sometimes time gets away from us. (Like in my queues this past weekend...) Reply #76. Apr 24 15, 12:55 PM |
| agony
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I'd like to address the question of whether more editors would solve the problem of occasional long wait times. And I guess the answer to that would have to be "Be careful what you wish for". What we've found over the years is that it takes a certain rather rare combination of skills to make a good editor. Editors who are not good editors cause more problems than they fix - just as an example, would authors really be happier if every quiz had its first encounter with an editor within one day, if that encounter meant confusing and contradictory instructions? And, seconding what Kyle says above - just because you don't see anything happening with your quiz does not mean that nothing is happening. If you go to "my quizzes - edit' and your quiz is marked "submitted", then it's in the queue, and your category's editors know it's there. Reply #77. Apr 26 15, 10:19 PM |
candy-pop
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Hi, I am very sorry to ask this on this thread but I was unsure where else I could find this information. I submitted a geography quiz about three weeks ago now which is marked as having been submitted, but I am yet to hear anything back about it. I really appreciate all the invaluable work that the editors do, having worked with them on my first eleven quizzes and having been constantly impressed by their patience, wisdom and helpfulness, and I know how over-worked they are, however, this does seem to be an unusually long waiting period, especially given the average queue length for this category. I realise there may be serious issues with my quiz but I would appreciate a quick note just to let me know if this is the reason for the delay so I can make necessary alterations or undertake a full re-write. I have another quiz that I would like to submit as well so I would really appreciate knowing what the situation is with my pending quiz. Reply #78. Jul 10 16, 2:01 AM |
looney_tunes
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I am not a Geography editor, so cannot give you a definitive response, but I can see that your quiz is in the Geography queue, and is dated as having last been saved on 3 July. That is one week, not three. Authors need to remember that when you make any changes to your quiz after submission (or even just open it and save before closing), it gets sent to the back of the queue. Some reasons for delays in quiz processing, aside from general business in a category, include the need for editors to discuss with each other whether or not your quiz was submitted to the best category, and the tagging of quizzes to be edited by a specific editor, either because they are specialists in a particular type of quiz or because there is an attempt at having all the quizzes in a specific subcategory be edited by the same person. Reply #79. Jul 10 16, 4:35 AM |
SisterSeagull
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I was under the impression that a quiz only returned to the back of the queue if a change was made to it after submission? Reply #80. Jul 10 16, 7:16 AM |
88 replies. On page 4 of 5 pages. 1 2 3 4 5
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