The Next Big Writer — An Apology

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Janet Taylor-Perry) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 01:52:16 +0000

Thanks for the plug, Dirk.

Dunecan, I have self-pubbed 3 books so far. Even then, I've had an editor go through them and then at least 3 proofreaders. Dirk has been one of my beta readers. They are invaluable. FYI, I charge $1.00 per page. A page is 8.5 X 11, 12 font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins all around. Obviously you would need to convert my numbers to pounds and metric.

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Dunecan) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:23:18 +0000

Thanks Dirk, will do

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Norm d'Plume) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:24:10 +0000

Dunecan, look up Janet Taylor-Perry on this site. She's an English teacher turned author/editor and edited the first draft of my book. She just self-published several books and can probably guide you through the process. You can also drop a note in Premium, asking for recommendations for other editors. Also, there was a discussion thread (I think in the Writing Tips & Advice group or in the Premium group) providing good information on self-publishing.

Dirk

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Dunecan) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 18:25:12 +0000

I am also heading for publication with book one of a series, I hope on 1st december. Thing is I am looking hard at what is the most important thing to buy in and that seems to be the editing/proof reading, I have been quoted (from a free check of the first 2,000 words) around £2-300 for a 50-70,000 word novel which seems reasonable to me, so for that I think it's important to do as much nit-picky editing as possible to limit how much they estimate they need to do. I have to admit I can do my own cover and typeset as I already have done so for books self-published on Amazon. The thing I think will cost most is getting the marketing on social media working cos I probably need to pay for that as I don't know enough and don't want to spend the time I could be writing on it. What are other peoples thoughts on the way forward and its costs?

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (mikira (AKA KLSundstrom)) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 16:26:00 +0000

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Welcome, mikira. No, you won't. I usually finish the entire book before making major corrections. I will most likely edit the first three chapters of the one I plan to put in the strongest start, but once I post the rest, it might be a year before I make revisions.

Thank you Janet, it's good to be back. And thanks for letting me know that it's okay to wait to finish writing the entire novel before doing any major edits to it. I have considered doing edits to the first three chapters to get it ready for the strongest start competition. I'll have to see if I can get finished writing it in time to get it submitted before I do that. Because I'm also running a Kickstarter campaign to help me gets funding to help me get it published and get the funds I need to help me market it. So I have a major deadline to keep in the hopes to getting people to want to support me.

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Janet Taylor-Perry) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 03:53:41 +0000

Welcome, mikira. No, you won't. I usually finish the entire book before making major corrections. I will most likely edit the first three chapters of the one I plan to put in the strongest start, but once I post the rest, it might be a year before I make revisions.

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (mikira) — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 03:50:24 +0000

I'm glad I found this thread, since I'm not quite finished writing the novel I'm starting to work shop on here. And I don't want to put my editors cap on too tightly yet. But I wanted to start getting the feedback for when I complete the writing of the novel so I have a place to start making the corrections I know I need to make to this novel to make it even better. So I'm happy to learn I won't offend anyone if I don't make the corrections right away.

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Mariana Reuter) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:32:54 +0000

I seconded Norm d'Plume when the button was suggested. My novel Amber Eyes is 40 chapters long. I have an average of 4 to 6 reviews per chapter, which comes to be 240. During my revision process, I want to keep track of the reviews I've already considered. Of course, you guys know we don't use each and every suggestion, however valuable. Even if I've discarded a suggestion, I want to know that I've already considered it. Sometimes, new reviewers start reviewing your novel right from chapter 1. The button is the only way to tell new comments from old ones already considered.

Kiss,

Gacela.

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (MrsPiddles) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:01:30 +0000

I'm glad I scan these forums from time to time! I just found that button. It really looks useful. I'll be able to keep track. Glad only the author can see it, I'd never wish to offend any of my fabulous readers. Not sure what I'd do without them!

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Tom Oldman) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 02:08:01 +0000

Norm d'Plume wrote:

... No one except you sees which of their reviews you've "applied" or not.
Dirk

Ah, that is something I wanted to hear. My fears that at some later date, someone will go through their reviews of my work and see if I've applied any of their suggestions. But, like JP says, I don't plan on doing that because they are just suggestions.

~Tom

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Norm d'Plume) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 02:02:30 +0000

Actually, JP, the button was added at the request of myself and others. If you receive an average of ten reviews per chapter multiplied by 40 or 50 chapters per book, that's a lot of reviews to work through. Some are simple, and I do them right away. Others are more complex and I save them for a future rewrite of the chapter. By clicking Applied on a review, I'm simply flagging to myself that I'm done applying the suggested changes to my offline book. I can then look at the Regular Reviews Received and Inline Reviews Received tabs and see, at a glance, all of the reviews I'm done with and all of the ones I still need to work on. No one except you sees which of their reviews you've "applied" or not.

Dirk

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (j p lundstrom) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 01:25:57 +0000

Would you believe I never noticed it until recently? Couldn't figure out what the dang thing was for. So, of course, I've never used it! Doubt if I will--too much to fiddle with. I'll tell you in my line-by-line response what I'm going to change. But I don't foresee any time in the future when I'll go back and see if a writer changed something just because I say so. That's the height of conceit. My suggestions are just that--I'm not going back to see if you followed my advice. And if a writer applies someone's suggestions to his/her work, I think they'll remember without having to go back and check a button. Puh-leeze!

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Tom Oldman) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:24:52 +0000

That certainly is a load off my mind. I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't using the great suggestions that I've been receiving.

I tend to write in bursts of up to 5 or 6 chapters at one stand. I'm retired, so I haven't any restraints on my hours. I also hate to get into the cycle of posting something, fixing it, and then posting again. Like most others, I run the whole thing through until the end. Then I go back and institute the changes I've been taking note of throughout. Even if I don't hit the button.

~Tom

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (vern) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:47:43 +0000

KHippolite wrote:

Can anyone other than the author even see that button? I've never once clicked it so I don't know.
.

I don't think anyone else can see it. I've never seen it on reviews other than mine. And I just checked again; it's not there. Take care. Vern

Re: An Apology

null@example.com (Janet Taylor-Perry) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:10:19 +0000

Not to worry, Tom. I haven't clicked it yet on half of mine. Mainly b/c I won't use that info for a while. When I do, then, I'll go back and hit applied. I don't tend to go back and rewrite individual chapters. I post all then go back and begin rewrites. Just my way of doing things.