So, I Read This Book Today . . .
Editing Fees and Guidelines
As my editing jobs have become more numerous, I have updated my Editing Fees and Guidelines. My editing and proofreading includes checking for grammar, sentence structure, misspellings, and pointing out plot inconsistencies, etc. At this time, my base charge is $0.008/word, with a minimum of $50, payable via PayPal. Editing jobs I am currently working on, received before May 1, 2014, will continue to be edited at the old rate.
If your manuscript is less than 5,000 words please let me know and we can work out pricing. I prefer to set up appointments for your manuscript, but please, send your manuscripts to me as early as possible. I can often work them in sooner than they are scheduled, but advance notice is much easier.
I use Microsoft Word 2013. I use the Track Changes application while I edit and leave the decision as to whether or not to accept those changes to you. I also tend to leave extensive notes outlining the reason for specific changes, noting uneven or awkward sentence or paragraph flow, or even if I noticed something that just doesn’t feel right.
Full editing is completed in one of two ways. The first choice is that I completely edit the book and provide you with a corrected copy, highlighting changes and corrections and making when appropriate extensive notes. Your second choice is full editing. I take the book in hand, do all corrections and changes and provide you with print ready copy. The charge for print ready copy is $0.010/word.
Please note: Books from authors who speak English as a second language, hence requiring a great deal more correction for grammar, or books with extensive re-write may be significantly more. You may send me your book for pricing if you feel there may be extensive work needed on the book. Pricing available upon request.
After I have edited a manuscript, I will send it back to you. Once you have made changes, you can always send it back to me for a second pass at no charge. Please note: If second-pass changes are truly extensive, I will reserve the right to bill a second payment for the second pass. I want to be fair to you, but I also want to be fair to myself. Just as writing is difficult, though rewarding, editing a book in a manner that will make you proud of your final product is a lot of work.
For available books on which I have worked, please see my “i-edited” shelf on Goodreads. You may contact any of the authors with whom I’ve worked for a reference. I am also very willing to provide you a sample of my work to see if we are a comfortable fit. I can be easily contacted through Goodreads or by e-mail at soireadthisbooktoday@centurylink.net
I look forward to working with you!
Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
Horrible. Minus lots and lots of starsMy concept is, if the writing is bad, life is too short to waste. And when you can pull up a brief of the first chapter of the book and be goggle-eyed over the bad writing at that point, it is probably a good guess that the book isn't worth spending hard earned money on.
Of course we peruse the best seller list. People are busy these days, and don't have as much time to read as we might once have. And of course, for many, many of us, money is an issue. We don't spend as we once did, and a guide for what might be worth spending our hard earned money on is appreciated.
At one time, one may have been able to rely upon this type of guide to make good choices. However, with the advent of high-dollar publishing, the internet rating lists, and other means of manipulation, this is no longer the case. As blatantly proven in the case of this train wreck of a series.
Those of you who have studied advertising and/or psychology may be aware of the tests in the mid-point of the 20th century, in which advertisers attempted to insert 'subliminal advertising' into television programs. Flashes of products sent in bursts, designed to encourage the purchase of products subliminally, without the watcher realizing that they were being manipulated. I find a unique correlation to what was done then with what is being perpetrated now - - 'loading' media in order to sell a product.
I have found that, by utilizing the different methods of obtaining the first chapters of books, (i.e., Amazon's _Look Inside_, Barnes and Noble's _Read An Excerpt_, etc.) I can get a good grasp of the writing style of the author immediately. If I find the writing style to be encouraging (it doesn't start with obsessing over their hair, etc.) I start watching the reviews. Shades came out of the box strong, but soon I began to see a distinct "U" in the reviews. So, I put it on the back burner, and went on to other books until I could decide if it was worth pursuing. During that time, located several other authors that I enjoyed that had next to no (or no) press on their books. I found some real jewels through reading free first copies (some I bought the next books for because I liked the writing and story lines, some I didn't). I also went back to some of my favorites. And I kept checking reviews, while having my name on the list at the library for the first book. I often buy series after picking up the first at the library. A real money saver in the long run, because there are some true stinkers out there, as well as some hidden jewels.
The more I read the reviews of Shades, the more suspicious I got of the "5 Star" reviews.
Then, I got my chance at the library edition. It took me a VERY short time to realize that this was, in a word, disgusting. I have a knack for speed reading when necessary, and after trying for a bit to read normally, I sped read through - and then had to go scrub out my brain with (metaphorically) a steel bristle brush and lye soap.
I suppose my point is, if something is getting all the hype, you don't have to rush right out and buy it to be part of the crowd. Sure, your friends may be all talking about the book, but surely there are other things you can discuss as well? And maybe your friends will turn you on to the fact that maybe that 'hot new book' is really not so hot after all. And then you can congratulate yourself on being the smart one in the group, while buying everyone a round with the money you saved! And just think, by not purchasing all the books in this series, you can buy yourself a really cute new pair of shoes!