As Monty Python says, "Always look on the bright side of life."
- Thread starter XMan
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- Oct 9, 1999
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From sfwa.org:
"A reputable agent may tell you that your book needs work, and suggest that you think about hiring a professional editor. S/he may even give you a list of names. Be wary, though, if you're urged to use a specific editor or editing service. In such cases, a kickback arrangement may be involved, a la Edit Ink. It's even possible that the agent or publisher owns the editing service (some use different business names to hide the relationship). Either way, it's a conflict of interest. How can a writer trust a referral that makes a profit for the referrer? "
Ehh . . . I don't know. Part of me thinks it sounds too good to be true (St. Martin's is a huge publisher - anybody heard of Tor Science Fiction? That's one of their subsidiaries.) The other part of me hopes . . .
"A reputable agent may tell you that your book needs work, and suggest that you think about hiring a professional editor. S/he may even give you a list of names. Be wary, though, if you're urged to use a specific editor or editing service. In such cases, a kickback arrangement may be involved, a la Edit Ink. It's even possible that the agent or publisher owns the editing service (some use different business names to hide the relationship). Either way, it's a conflict of interest. How can a writer trust a referral that makes a profit for the referrer? "
Ehh . . . I don't know. Part of me thinks it sounds too good to be true (St. Martin's is a huge publisher - anybody heard of Tor Science Fiction? That's one of their subsidiaries.) The other part of me hopes . . .
The part I don't understand is the stuff about having only 60 days. It sounds like she's she only has 60 days to rewrite for you, but earlier she says she dosen't do that, she only does her own stuff start to finish. What's your take on what she's saying. Maybe she makes her living rewriting stuff that doesn't get published anyway. That would be an interesting jopb and require no talent. For being a great writer you would think you would easily be able to understand what she's saying.
- Oct 9, 1999
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I took it to mean that she only had 60 days to get the revised manuscript back to the publisher . . . which, if they love it, wouldn't they want to give as much as time as was needed to polish it? That was one of my questions to her in the e-mail I sent her in reply.
Well I see I misunderstood, she edits and rewrited completely alone. So now what does that mean? Why the exclucivity and what does it mean? Also how much is very expensive and what's her track record?
- Oct 9, 1999
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She has a few professional sales, and I've corresponded with some of her clients, checking up on her. Most all of them were happy. Her editing service, according to her webpage, runs 1 to 5 bucks per page, which is actually quite cheap in comparison to a lot of the other firms I've checked.
She also offered to do it herself.
does sfwa.org got a forum or a way to talk to authors. How about writing toone of your favorites and see if you cah talk. Some may be interested helping noobs.
mm... well obviously you probably know more about the situation than i, but it really sounded to me like she was saying she was too expensive for you...
I can't find a way to sign up on their website, and their forum is secure.What's your gut feeling. How is your financial state? How many pages? Could you set an upper limit? Were you able to see the original 'we like the plot'?
- Oct 9, 1999
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Maybe you're right, I don't know . . . there was a lot of stuff I asked her for clarification on.
My financial state is okay, but I can't afford to shell out a big wad of cash to an editor at the drop of a hat . . . even assuming 5 bucks a page that's something like $2500. I could save it up in a month or two, but then the 60 day thing comes into play - what does that mean, exactly . . .? I'm still waiting for her response.
I've e-mailed a couple of published friends to get their input, we'll see what they say . . . :\
i guess i'm a little confused too... primarily by that one line: "i have very little time for this..." what does she mean? she has very little time to edit it? to get it published? ??
- Oct 9, 1999
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A shrude player might not be so obvious about it especially if you have made it clear you don't have an editor, and a 'this deal goes away soon' is also a way to exert subtile pressure.
I ask about your gut feeling because I think that down deep we got a way to ananyze the data better than we can with our conscious brains and you got all the data available, not me.
I ask about your gut feeling because I think that down deep we got a way to ananyze the data better than we can with our conscious brains and you got all the data available, not me.
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