Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin
Many people believe, incorrectly, that a quality edit can be done in a couple of hours for less than $100 and are shocked when they learn that it can take hundreds of hours at a rate of $35 to $100 or more an hour.
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Yes, quite true. Years ago, I fell into the trap of the scam editor, claiming they could edit my whole book for $99. When the sample edit came back, all this so-called "editor" had done is basically swap out every other word for another with more impact or pizazz, at least, more in their view. As it turned out, their edit introduced grammatical errors. Needless to say, I trashed that crap and ran for the hills.
This experience made me very nervous after that, and disillusioned that actual editors even existed. But then I found one --
The project in my example is three books, each close to 100K words, some less, some more, but on average that gives a good idea of size involved. A total sum around 300K.
The first book was $900 on the first edit, the second book $1400 (higher word count and other issues), and both of those books went back for a second edit after the third book cost a similar amount. I've lost track, but it's in the thousands that I've spent on editing, and it's been worth every penny.
The editor I finally found (nearly six years ago) is not only a copy editor, or grammar editor, she is also a developmental editor. So while she shot down all my, shall we say "creative" attempts at grammar, she was also instrumental in pointing out the instances in which I would so perfectly build tension only to let go of the balloon and let it slap around the room as it quickly deflated. Only one example of how she has taught me the finer points of keeping the reader reading. She is a phenomenal
story editor on top of all the rest we expect of an editor. The other thing many people may not realize -- there is a lot to know about grammar and the English language, but there is no less to know about storytelling. It is a craft to be developed like any other.
Editors not only correct grammatical errors and misspellings, they help authors write better stories.
There is no substitute for the experience of waiting months for an edit (of a manuscript you thought was perfect), only to see it marked to death (at your expense), which makes you angry at first (How could she! I paid for this?). Then you calm down, study, and realize the editor is right. Then you spend countless hours (thought you were done, eh?) rewriting per the editor's notes. The result of this process is priceless. My work would not be half as good without the edit/rewrite process.
Oh, and by the way, the first book is available now, second will be out in June. Third, well, still working on those rewrites, you know, gotta make my editor happy (grin).
Dead Forever: Awakening
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0034G6628
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8981
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/...?BookID=263460