|
Your cat is not your best Editor–— despite how alluring he/she/it purrs to you that your book is the best ever written, and regardless of the great interest shown in the pile of sheets that is your manuscript on your desk.
Shockingly, most writers send their finished works out for publication and/or to agents without ever having another set of eyes look at it. These should be experienced Editor eyes and not those of your cat or bff. If your book is feeling done or is close to a "finished" feel and ready for polish, Contact us! Every book is better with a set of "My Editor's eyes" looking at it— — questioning motives, character, intent, voice, pacing, and helping you to polish it; — and alerting you to gaps and gaffes within the whole of it. — or in the case of one memoir client, forgetting his third child! (Glad we caught that one for him before going to press! So is he!!) This is the work of an old-fashioned Editor from the days of old-fashioned publishing, when Writer and Editor were friends, comrades in getting the work into the world. In this brave new world of Indie publishing, going it alone without your experienced Editor may be the a sacrifice which leaves you, the writer and the dreamer, flat-footed. Copy editors will give your work the critical, grammatical once-over. They are very necessary. We know — we hire them all the time. Good ones are truly rare, but we know a few. Instead we offer the first stop before copy editing but after your book is deemed finished by you: A Mentor-Editor service in which a former acquisitions and publishing house editor takes time to give your work a critical look, fresh eyes, thoughtful consideration, and offers feedback to make it the best it can be through written-down, hands-on suggestions on plot, pacing, continuity, character inconsistencies, story arc, lost arcs, and missed ships of plot-line. This is the old-fashioned Editor who asks: Did you really intend for the secondary story line to disappear on page 45 and to morph into a third line on page 82? Did you notice that all your characters use the same manner and style of speaking? Is that what you truly wanted? Are you sure you wanted the plot build-up only to topple over and nearly come to completion on page 50 of a 150-page book, leaving you with 100+ pages of wandering? We offer a page-by-page read with comments on the page, helping you to improve each facet of your work. If you haven't worked with us in a coaching series, this is for you. You are assured of receiving pages of notes, suggestions, stream-lining and a number of 30-min discussion time with any further questions via phone or Skype or email if you wish. We do not charge Rumpelstiltskin rates for this valuable service. The general fee is based on the hours realistically needed to help you, as well as length and state of completion of your book. Other places will charge $1500 for a glance and a stamp of approval. At our house, we look first at the work involved, depending on the complexity and state of finish of the manuscript. Our rates are fare and we know this is a work of love for both of us. Sometimes we must charge a bit more for longer works over 400 pages, or rougher drafts — due to more time, thought, and care involved. Please enquire directly to us via the Contact page for further information suited specifically to your work. Be sure to include a brief description of your work and its status, page length and a brief excerpt of 2-3 pages included with your enquiry. |