Question about editors

No, this isn't a bad thing!

So when I started this 8 months ago or whenever, I had no clue what I was doing (and still don't). I am...not a good writer. So I've basically just been BS'ing my way through every narrative I've ever done, having never seen a mystery shopping report and having no clue what they want from a writing standpoint. I understand the information they want, but the actual writing thereof has always alluded me. So, on occasion I've had questions from editors either by call or email. I always try to probe them on what could make my reports better from a writing standpoint. They almost always either say if I don't hear back then it's ok or they just ignore the questions. I'm one of those people. Ok isn't good enough. If I turn in a report I want it to be excellent. I already know they're ok, otherwise people would stop giving me shops. So, why is it they won't give me any feedback?

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

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More About Mystery Shopping Editors

Very, very few of the MSCs I shop for give me feedback. Once in a while I get something but without seeing what they actually did to my report, the feedback (if negative) does not usually help me in any way, shape or form. It would be nice if they did send back the corrected form, then I could do my reports correctly in the future.

Editors and MSPs are not in the business of turning you into a fine writer. They are looking for accurate descriptive writing that is concise and grammatically correct. If your reports are that and conform to whatever guidelines they give you, you are doing plenty. So don't worry about them not giving you extra guidance which you evidently do not need in order to produce a client acceptable report with minimal effort on the editor's part.

If you really, truly want feedback, after I made a similar request, Janet, a wonderful editor from ICCDs, offered to critique anything I would like to provide and offer her suggestions. (She wasn't even the editor of the report I submitted.) I was blown away! bg, if you are signed up with ICCDs, PM me and I'll shoot you her email address.

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

Some editors are employees and many more are ICs just like us. Just like us they get paid by the assignment whether the editing takes five minutes or five hours. If you were being paid $2 or $3 a report how much extra time would you want to take in order to give someone writing lessons

BTW, I agree about Janet is helpful. My impression was ICCDS uses employees for scheduling and editing.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

ICCDS doesn't have many shops in my area, I think I've only done 2 for them, would feel odd about asking her for help since I do so little work for them. I guess writing lessons probably isn't the right thing. Like for a report that requires photos of negative items if you can get them, I always write a notation in the narrative when I mention it that there's a photo attached. I had an editor ask a question about something recently and when I replied I asked if that was something I should or should not do. The question was ignored in her response. Most of my questions are things like that. I'm trying to make their job easier, if they're editing that out it creates more work for them. I'm not really complaining, just trying to figure out the motivation. Lisa probably hit it on the head about them being paid per report.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

The very first job I did for ACL was also during my very first week shopping. The editor sent me some feedback like they always do. Naturally, I replied to the email with a bunch of questions as to how I could do better. She immediately took me under her wing. We were calling each other for like a week. She told me a ton of companies to sign up with and everything I should be doing to get started. She was really pivotal in getting me started and I really appreciated it. Haven't heard from her in a long time, though. I'm sure she's still shopping and editing. Possibly even on heeeeeere......?????

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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Confero emails the grade with comments for each shop.

Marketviewpoint grades and provides comments as well

You might want to keep an editing journal for yourself. Just jot down the question that the editor is asking you. In time you will see a pattern and not need the editor to grade or comment on your narratives.

MC narrative requirements are rarely the same.Some want just the facts summed up in one or two sentences. Others want you
to write 5 sentences about how someone said hello. Some want all caps while others want traditional print. The good thing is that each one usually outlines what they are looking for within the body of the assignment.

Regardless of the specific guidelines they usually need you to paint a word picture, what did you see , how did it appear, what was said, etc. As you read just your narratives you will be reading a story from start to finish.

<< Some want all caps

What company does that? IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT ANY BUSINESS WOULD ASK FOR THAT!

Ishmael Wrote:
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> << Some want all caps
>
> What company does that? IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
> BELIEVE THAT ANY BUSINESS WOULD ASK FOR THAT!

There is one MSC in my list of 90+ I'm registered with that requires that all reports be completed in full capital letters. I have to always take a pen and note, "write this in large letters!!!!" across my cheat sheet each time in order to remember when I submit online. If it isn't submitted properly, they will deduct part of your fee to pay for their correcting it.

But this company has always treated me well and I work regularly with them so it's getting easier.

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Silver Certified in the Great White North
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While it would be a bit of an annoyance having to correct it, in most word processing programs you can 'select all' and then use one of the font setting things to change it to all caps. Takes all of 30 seconds, max!

But... ALL CAPS??? I just can't imagine who on EARTH would want that. Or think it's professional. Boggles the mind!

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

I have filled out reports that require all caps - I can't remember the MSC though.

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What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. -Henry David Thoreau
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The MSC who has Manchu Wok as a client uses all caps in their reports. But shoppers don't have to type in all caps, their report automatically turns into all caps once they hit the 'Submit" button.

I hope these ALL CAPS MSCs don't require long narratives.

I could deal with: HAIR BLACK, SHORT, WAVY.

Anything longer than that would be agonizing.

Could they possibly be old companies that are using software that dates from the days when there was so little memory that using both upper and lower case was a ridiculous waste of memory?

Libre office has a nice feature to swap everything you wrote to all caps. Choose Format - Change Case

then you can write it in a sane way and convert before sending it on.

Im not sure if MSOffice has that or not.

I think MSOFfice does... because that would be the only way I know about it. Or else Word Perfect, but I haven't used that in years.

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

For the company that requires CAPS I just type with the CAPS LOCK on. I guess I just figured it reads better when they print out the reports for the client.

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Question about editors

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