Not really, in spite of the desire to do so.
So, here's the story in a nutshell. Finished the book, finally. Beta's all loved it, and are eagerly awaiting me to pub it.
I am going self pub because I am writing for my personal pleasure and fun, and not really wanting to deal with queries and the almost timeless waiting period.
Well, editors aren't cheap. We have a friend who has a degree in editing, does it quite well in fact, and is a grammar nazi.
Now the problem: I sent him my sixty k word story, (book one) and he said 'no prob. I'll be done in a week.'
I automatically doubled that figure just to be safe, and adjusted my launch date accordingly to the latter part of June.
I knew I still had to order the cover (done and in), do the back blurb (done) and get the bar code. (Doing that tomorrow.)
And... he calls me yesterday to ask me a question about an Italian phrase I used in the prologue.
I blinked as I answered the question.
He's had the manuscript for over three weeks now. And...he just started.
Now, during this time I've seen him posting about his fishing trip with his wife, numerous trips to restaurants, trips to visit family...and he tells me he's just been busy doing household functions and working his day job.
I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, and I admit that, but at the same time, I'm not sitting on the back of the bus eating boogers stupid either.
My grammar is fairly good, this was more a double check.
So, I was talking to a friend I've had for an extended period of time yesterday and ranting, and he said "I'll start tonight."
He isn't a grammar nazi, but he is stunningly good at flow analysis and continuity issues.
The idea of paying a small fortune to an editor is beyond my financial means at this time, but I just wanted to rant.
It royally irked me to have him just blow me off. (No, he wasn't doing this 'out of the goodness of his heart'. My offer was ten percent of the net.
And I set realistic expectations. He could make enough to buy a cup of coffee or a really nice dinner, as I have no idea how well the story will sell.
He was also promised that, if he completed this, the other twelve books in this series he could edit as well, under the same premise.
Instead I am livid. My sons are staying out of it, as they know this man, but I told them it isn't personal, this is business. He cannot honor a commitment and constantly makes excuses, so I have to move now.
Thanks for letting me rant.
So, here's the story in a nutshell. Finished the book, finally. Beta's all loved it, and are eagerly awaiting me to pub it.
I am going self pub because I am writing for my personal pleasure and fun, and not really wanting to deal with queries and the almost timeless waiting period.
Well, editors aren't cheap. We have a friend who has a degree in editing, does it quite well in fact, and is a grammar nazi.
Now the problem: I sent him my sixty k word story, (book one) and he said 'no prob. I'll be done in a week.'
I automatically doubled that figure just to be safe, and adjusted my launch date accordingly to the latter part of June.
I knew I still had to order the cover (done and in), do the back blurb (done) and get the bar code. (Doing that tomorrow.)
And... he calls me yesterday to ask me a question about an Italian phrase I used in the prologue.
I blinked as I answered the question.
He's had the manuscript for over three weeks now. And...he just started.
Now, during this time I've seen him posting about his fishing trip with his wife, numerous trips to restaurants, trips to visit family...and he tells me he's just been busy doing household functions and working his day job.
I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, and I admit that, but at the same time, I'm not sitting on the back of the bus eating boogers stupid either.
My grammar is fairly good, this was more a double check.
So, I was talking to a friend I've had for an extended period of time yesterday and ranting, and he said "I'll start tonight."
He isn't a grammar nazi, but he is stunningly good at flow analysis and continuity issues.
The idea of paying a small fortune to an editor is beyond my financial means at this time, but I just wanted to rant.
It royally irked me to have him just blow me off. (No, he wasn't doing this 'out of the goodness of his heart'. My offer was ten percent of the net.
And I set realistic expectations. He could make enough to buy a cup of coffee or a really nice dinner, as I have no idea how well the story will sell.
He was also promised that, if he completed this, the other twelve books in this series he could edit as well, under the same premise.
Instead I am livid. My sons are staying out of it, as they know this man, but I told them it isn't personal, this is business. He cannot honor a commitment and constantly makes excuses, so I have to move now.
Thanks for letting me rant.