|
I thought Harlequin's "selfpub" arm was done by Harlequin (they sell the various editing packages), but, of course, they could easily contract it out to an existing vanity pub. Now as to whether anyone does any editing has always been a question. I never looked into it closely because I didn't care. It had a bad rep from the start as just another vanity publisher (in the worst way--bad service, bad editing and high prices.) Their only really extra was the hope that SOMEHOW a manuscript would be noticed by the real publishing arm. One of the publishers even has this in their marketing material. I can't remember which one it was. I read the marketing material when it first came out and was appalled at how they target the "Dream."
Part of the reason that self-publishing has such a bad rep is because of companies that sell services and don't deliver. Some of the trad publishers (Harlequin was one and there are others) opened a self-pub arm to essentially make money off of hopeful authors. Sadly, they didn't bother to offer any better services than any of the other vanity publishers from what I hear. They don't do real editing and they charge FAR MORE than is necessary. Any writer who wants to spend a few hours researching can find two or three editors, compare prices and services and pick one or two. But ultimately, the author better read through the manuscript about 3 times AFTER editing to make sure they know what they paid for. If you haven't worked with an editor before, do not believe the words, "I loved it. There's very little wrong with it." It may be truthful, but it probably isn't. Hire editors that pick that sucker apart. You don't have to make every change, but you want criticism. You want every comma to be questioned. Why, yes, you'll hate the process. You'll probably be livid, depressed, annoyed and disheartened.
Read it again anyway. Two or three times.
|