h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How do you know you'll make a good sub-editor?

I ask because I've been thinking about applying for a while but didn't really know - even after reading the blurb - whether I'd be any good at it.

I was in the same situation myself. The truth, as I see it, is that actually if you haven't done it before you don't know if you'll be any good at it.

This is not a bad thing at all, and the fact that you posted the question is a very positive sign. It shows that you want to be good at it.

You have a solo Guide Entry under your belt - that's a very good start.

If you are, or are prepared to become, reasonably proficient at GuideML, that would be a good indication too. It isn't difficult, and you don't have to be perfect, because you will learn from experience.

You've read all the relevant pages, and they haven't put you off - another good indicator. Would you be happy about following all the guidelines?

Do you enjoy words? Would you be reasonably good at spelling, spotting typos, checking links and sources, and generally messing about with all that sort of thing?

Would you prefer to be an 'ivory tower' sub, or would you enjoy the opportunity of working with the authors on their entries? (To me, working with the authors wherever possible is a very important thing, and a great part of the fun of subbing, too.)

Would being a volunteer give you a satisfying sense of contributing to the community here in an important way?

Would you be prepared to work to a flexible and reasonable deadline?

I think a certain initial hesitancy is probably a healthy thing. But I can tell you, if my experience is anything to go by, that the inhouse team will give you a fantastic amount of support, help, encouragement and appreciation of your efforts.

Remember, it's a voluntary thing, and if you try it out and decide it's not for you after all, or RL starts to get in the way, you can leave.

So if you want to find out whether you'll make a good sub, the only way is try it out, do the best you can, and see how it goes.

Good luck!

Bels

GuideML is easy for me, a few of the tags I've never used but I've been here two years and have been using it since the off.

My main worry was the spelling, I'm not the worlds greatest in that area (long story why) but I would be worried that that and the length of time it took me to actually edited entries wouldn't make me a very good Sub-Ed

Regarding spelling, there are two main issues.

You can check the spelling of unfamiliar words. If you don't have one, you might like to get a small spelling dictionary - they don't cost very much. There are also dictionaries online, though they are not so useful because you can only check a word rather than browse through, and if they don't have the word you want you might be stuck. Spell-checkers that come with word-processor packages don't get a very good press, and they might be US only.

Then there are problems such as there/their, your/you're/ its/it's, which these things won't help you with. For these you need to apply the rules to get the right spelling. The rules are not difficult to learn, and there are online guides to help with this.

Regarding the amount of time needed for subbing, I find this is quite variable. It depends on the length of the entry, whether it needs any re-writing, whether it needs any further research (sometimes the author is not around and the entry is not quite finished), whether it needs links adding, and all that sort of thing, so it's a bit of a lottery. And of course it's a question of how much time you have available, and how much of that you want to spend on subbing rather than whatever else you might be doing instead!

Four entries in four weeks is a sort of rule-of-thumb for subs, but I dare say if you only took on one or two in that period that would be OK. In any case, 'an entry' could be anything from a couple of paragraphs to something that splits into three full-sized entries! There is a certain element of pot luck about what entries you get, but if you get given something you can't cope with I'm sure that can be sorted out for you.

Bels

there/their, your/you're/ its/it's I can usually work out and I use spell checkers on Word and my dictionary all the time, so that's no problem.

I'm still at school and although I'm on a lot i'd be worried that that I'd not get through things quick enough.

That's definantly something I would worry about.




Incidentally, as I'm here, can I ask you a question about my Guide Entry on Shakespeare? I'm slightly concerned at the fact that the person editing the entry has now left h2g2. The entry is "Pending" but I thought I should ask while I'm here

"That's definantly something I would worry about."

Well if you decide to apply and are accepted, workload is something you could discuss with the italics.

Re Shakespeare, 'pending' means the sub has finished with it and returned it inhouse to await its moment of glory on the Front Page, so the fact that the sub has left will not affect it.

Bels

Phew, silly to worry about it, but wasn't sure

So you'd suggest I went to talk to one of the Italics before I make a decision?

Well from what you've said I think you should nip along to <./>SubEditors-Recruit</.> and get your name on the waiting list.

Then while you're waiting for a vacancy to crop up you should be spending some time in the Writing-Workshop and PeerReview getting the feel of things.

Then when your name is called out and you walk along the red carpet to receive The Badge you would have an idea of how things were for you at the time, and could raise any concerns with the italics, probably by email.

How does that sound?

Bels

You think I should?

Yes! Do it! Tell them I sent you! (On second thoughts... )



Bels