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Fee structure
Why use an external editor?
Conditions
Two stage editing
Testimonials
Links to other resources
Basically, I charge for my time at a reasonable rate. I will do a free edit on a sample of 1000 words, and in the process I'll estimate how long it will take me to satisfy your requirements. The table below contains some typical figures.
Please read the conditions under which I offer my work, then look at the table for my approximate charges.
| Service | Type | Examples | Fee |
| Content, language + line edit | Academic writing | Text book, thesis, research paper, philosophical work | 8.00 | Content edit | Fiction or popular non-fiction | Novel, short story collection, self-help, travel, biography | 5.00 |
| Line edit | Proof reading any text. | Included FREE for technically already competent writing. | 5.00 |
'Content editing' deals with issues like plot, characterization, description, vividness of language, readability, organization, dialogue.
'Line editing' or 'proofreading' is the identification of typos, spelling and grammatical errors, punctuation, malapropisms (a word being used when another word was intended), unwanted or missing spaces, formatting considerations.
Why use an external editor?
I am too close to my writing to be objective about it. I simply CANNOT know how it will appear to a stranger unless I get feedback.
While any reader will do for this, most say what they think you want to hear: "Oh it was very good!" And this is completely useless as feedback. You need a dispassionate, sympathetic, yet if necessary, ruthless reader who systematically points out everything that needs attention.
My writing has improved enormously thanks to paid editors who have commented on a book of mine. I learnt from their comments, and applied the new knowledge to all my writing.
You don't have to agree with everything an editor says. Some editorial comments are instruction, teaching you skills and information you may be lacking. You'd better take heed. Other comments are opinions, and you are at liberty to agree or ignore. However, even there, you need to ask yourself, 'How could I have prevented this idiot editor from misunderstanding me?' and this will improve your book.
I always find it painful to see my work found less than perfect, but this is part of the birth pangs of bringing forth a child of my imagination.
Conditions
All of us have recurring patterns in what we do, and our writing is no exception. Often, I pick up on a consistent fault that pops up time and again. It is a waste of my time (and therefore costs you more) if I need to make essentially the same correction many times.
At the same time, I don't like to leave a problem without at least indicating it.
Therefore, here is a mutually beneficial procedure. If, at a certain stage, I feel that I've identified all your systematic issues, I send the edited part of the manuscript back. You revise the entire book, and return the so far unedited part to me. Hopefully, I will only need to make comments on new issues after that. This speeds up my work, so I can do this part at a lower rate.
Beth Anderson
Professor Gayle Avery
Darrell Bain
Tom Baldwin
Al Barnes
Stephanie Black
Jennifer Bonn
Bob Brown
Linda Campbell
Adam Caplan
Mike Connell
Christine Hales
Kim Hastings
Anna Lashtabeg
Michael McClung
Nancy Madison
Staci Perrin
Ron Peters
Pamela Ridley
Penny Rudolph
John Russo
Martine Jardin
Joan Melrose
Bonnie Mercure
Jan Sikes
TWILIGHT TIMES authors
Victor Volkman
Jessie Wise
Christine West
Bob Rich is the perfect editor for me. As he corrects my grammar, he also teaches me about format and style. He does all this with patience and humor. I enjoy his comments, scribbles and encouragement as he not only does a job, but also tries to help a fellow writer be better. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good editor and mentor.
Dear Bob
Thank you so much for the edit, the comments and the suggestions on my manuscript. The attention to detail and the quality of comments have been incredible, and have massively improved my manuscript. You have vocalised issues which have been niggling at me, but never took form, and highlighted others which I missed entirely. With your content, language and line edit, I believe you have also improved my writing overall, by highlighting systematic errors, structure issues and certain aspects of my language use. As a result, I am now much more confident about approaching an agent.
I am already thinking on my next book venture, whilst I await to know the outcome of this one, and would not consider sending a submission package to an agent before utilising your editing services. I will stay in contact and let you know the outcome of this manuscript, and hopefully send you another one before too long.
Anna
Aspiring new author of epic fantasy.
Thank you Bob! For a fantastic job of editing the chapters in our book: Sufficiency Thinking: Thailand's Gift to an Unsustainable World. This book consists of 15 chapters explaining and showcasing the application of the King of Thailand's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to a range of national sectors -- from business to agriculture, from education to healthcare, from community development to prisoner rehabilitation -- written by Thai experts. We really appreciated the way you were able to turn the drafts into well phrased English, and at the same time support and assist the authors. Your understanding of Buddhist thinking was a great asset in doing this, as was your patience with the entire process. We thank you Bob and appreciate your involvement in this project.
Gayle Avery and Harald Bergsteiner, editors.
Hi Bob,
I wanted to thank you. I appreciate your exceptional editing skills! I know my book was complex and at times dry for someone outside the field, but you have a keen ability to understand both the details and the general intent. It was impossible for me to see all the glitches you found. I also appreciate the extra effort you made to provide me with helpful broad-based advice, as well as the very supportive feedback.
Again, many thanks!
Michael McClung
Michael's book Living off Your MONEY is worth a Ph.D. in Economics. It is advice for people on how to safely and effectively invest for retirement.
Dr. Bob,
Thank you for the personalized editing you did for my manuscript, The Convict and the Rose. Because of your attention to detail, not just grammar and punctuation, but to content as well, my story is ready for the reader.
I greatly appreciate all of the comments and suggestions you made and I have learned from all of them. Your expertise and feedback are invaluable to me as a writer.
I highly recommend your services to anyone who is considering publishing a book. Professional editing at an affordable price is hard to come by in this growing industry and that is exactly what you offer and deliver.
As a token of my gratitude, once The Convict and the Rose is published, I would love to mail you a copy (either print copy or e-book), whichever you prefer. Thank you so much.
Jan Sikes
Jan Sikes writes true stories in a creative and entertaining way. Her current project is a trilogy which chronicles her life with Rick Sikes. She also releases CDs of original music with each book.
Dear Bob,
Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you, I have been flat out with edits and publishing on "Wildheart!" That's a pretty good excuse, right?
I'm just writing to say thank you for your excellent edits on "Wildheart." You have a sensitive and light hearted manner and you helped me take my book from good to shining. I also got a few laughs and some constructive thinking along the way, and I learned heaps not only about editing but about writing that I've never had the chance to learn elsewhere. Now I'm really excited that "Wildheart" is out in the Kindle store at Amazon. If you'd like to take a look here's the link.
There's also some info about it on my website. There's a few short stories on there and a blog that you might enjoy too.
Thanks again, and I hope to work with you again on my next book!
Stephanie.
Hi Bob,
Hope you're well and keeping busy.
I just wanted to thank you again for your wonderful edit of my book, Cellular Attitude.
I've only just started going through the edit (it's the first 'quiet' week I have had since I sent you the MS) and it's marvellous.
I'm spending the next three weeks on it (my sales training work quietens down this time of year, although it's been a record one already!) so it'll be finished by the end of the year.
I would like to put a word of thanks to you in the book. If you're happy with that, of course.
Beyond that, the next book has already started. It's called Cellular Selling and it's all about becoming the best salesperson you can possibly be. I would like you to edit that next year for me as well.
Last, please put me on your newsletter subscription. I've been reading the past ones and I enjoy them.
All the best
Adam Caplan
www.cellularattitude.co.uk
Adam has been running courses on improving your life for many years. His book is the distillation of all this experience.
I've just finished editing the print version of SHADOW WORLDS. It's been out as an E-book for a year or so now. The print version will come out later this year. Dr. Bob Rich was the editor for this book, as he was for SAVAGE SURVIVAL. He is the best editor I've run across in the E-book and small press publication field, and those of my books he's done are much better because of his efforts. Whenever I draw him for an editor, it always makes me wish all the small pubs could afford editors of his caliber.
Over the last several years, Darrell Bain has become one of the best selling authors in the world in the realm of electronic publishing. He was named Fictionwise E-book Author Of The Year 2005 Fictionwise.com, the leading E-book store in the world. Most of Bain's books are also in print. He produces a monthly newsletter, discoursing on various subjects brought up by fans or by his own voracious reading habit, written in an informal, narrative style. It is available around the first of each month from his web site at www.darrellbain.com.
Bain is the author of more than three dozen books in many genres, running the gamut from humor to mystery, science fiction and thrillers. Bain served 13 years in the military and his two stints in Vietnam formed the basis for his first published novel, Medics Wild.
While Darrell was working as a lab manager at a hospital in Texas, he met his wife Betty. He trapped her under a mistletoe sprig and they were married a year later.
I am pleased beyond words with the work that Dr. Rich did for me. I was delighted that Dr. Rich took only a week to edit and return my manuscript. His suggestions were invaluable and his editing is second to none. It was a pleasure working with Dr. Rich.
| Bob copyedited Between Tears for me. His work was fast, accurate and he offered suggestions about what he thought would add quality to the book. I got all this for an affordable price and I've used his services for another book. |  |
I reviewed Beyond Trauma, edited by Victor Volkman, who is also a publisher. As always when reading, I did an automatic line edit, and sent him a private list of suggestions for change.
The result has been a new relationship. Victor has retained me to edit all books published by Loving Healing Press. I have edited many books and shorter works for him. He has written, 'A superb job at an economical rate -- you may quote me on that and feel free to call on me for any referral that might be helpful. A brief acknowledgement will go into the 2nd Ed [of Beyond Trauma] as well. Thanks much!'
UPDATE Since then, I have been appointed as the Series Editor for this title, and all Victor's books come to me, sometimes more than once as the author works through improvements.
Since late 2003, I have been editing a series of books for Twilight Times Books. This is a small publisher with an excellent reputation. They are currently moving into offset printing their list, and I have been retained to edit each book as the start of that process.
Lida Quillen, the publisher, has forwarded through the following comments:
Bent Lorentzen
Tom Root
Celia Ann Leaman
Rick Buda
Hi Dr. Bob
I want to thank you from the depths of my soul for your exceptional work on the dragon saga, Krona. I cannot recall in my life having ever promoted any sort of service anywhere, but have done so for the first time now. Here is a copy of what I wrote at Gather [link removed since it is no longer active.]
Together with my publisher, Lida, I've placed the first chapter there with a little twist... a twist sort of involving you... both to promote the book's publication and as a way to make that first scene with the little insect waking up mad better.
Please feel free to use anything I've written for an endorsement and I'll also be happy to furnish you with a picture.
I honestly am flabbergasted over how good you are, and can only slightly imagine the amount of dedicated work you put into this editing you do.
Best wishes,
Bent Lorentzen
Bent's post at Gather:
My publisher has given me the right to preview the first chapter, and I'll do so here, but with one stipulation. As I wrote in a small article-response to Eric Goodman's article (Literary Magazine Editor Inside Secret) at his edgewriter.gather.com, the first few paragraphs are often the key to success with a work of literature. Often, even the best of books is put down if it doesn't instantly grab you on page one when you open it in a bookstore after a long day with the kids or at work. My publisher wondered, I guess, if her intuitive take on my very raw draft had been right on, so she sent it to this editing service called Dr. Bob's. Actually, a living guy by the name of Dr. Bob wrote back to my publisher with this statement after critiquing the mechanical stuff: "I love this story. The dragons very quickly became real people to me. Smooka grew from a faintly ridiculous blunderer into a wonderful hero. This is one of the most imaginative, delightful books I've read in a long time. I think it is an award-winner."
So now we come to the point of this. He had two major critiques for the book, and one of them was the opening scene in Chapter One, which you are about to read. This very germane-to-the-plot "hook" was written entirely from the POV of an insect, which Dr. Bob felt might be hard for many readers to honestly identify with, though he did write this: "This is a very intriguing start. It's difficult to get into the mind of a non-human creature, but I think you've done it well. However, this scene is not a very good hook in that most readers will find it difficult to identify with this character."
By the way, I'm not one to advertise services but will do so now for the first time: Dr. Bob's editing service -- Bob Rich also practices psychotherapy Down Under -- and has floored me with his insight into the inner workings of my book. Initially, I had no trust in what this Dr. Bob was even after doing a quick Google search when my publisher suggested she send him the raw manuscript. For God's sake, I hadn't even had the opportunity to really finish my own editing. I have to say I have never experienced an editor as good as Dr. Bob, and I've worked for newspapers and magazines around the world.
Dear Dr. Rich,
I am in receipt of your comments and suggestions for my book, The Elixir, which is being published by Twilight Times.
I just wanted to send you a little note to thank you for the excellent suggestions. I will be acting on many of them, and have no doubt that they will greatly improve the quality not only of this book but of my future efforts as well.
I also want to thank you for your kind compliments on the quality of my characterizations and language. These are two aspects of my writing that I try to emphasize, and it is extremely gratifying that someone with your experience and stature in the literary world would find something good about them!
Thanks again.
Very Sincerely,
Tom Root
Thomas Root was raised in the Little Neck-Douglaston area of New York. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University with a B.A. in Philosophy, and later from the St. John's University School of Law. Following his schooling he was associated with two mid-town Manhattan law firms before starting his own law practice in Douglaston, New York. In 1995 he moved to Hollywood, Florida, where he currently resides.
The Elixir, which is being published by Twilight Times books later this year, is his first novel.
Celia Ann Leaman
My dream was that when I found a publisher who liked my work and wanted to publish me, that they would take enough care with my book. From a writer's point of view, writing is such an extension of yourself--your virtual soul on paper--that when you submit a manuscript it's like handing over your little child. Nothing can be more destructive or distressing than to have a publisher who doesn't care a whit about it, who exposes your creation to the world in tattered clothes--which is how I see a badly presented book.
Saying all that you can perhaps understand my appreciation and joy of being published by Lida Quillen at Twilight Times Books, who has Dr. Bob Rich as one of her editors. Bob is not only an excellent grammar editor, he has the ability to 'pick-up' the atmosphere of a book, and therefore make appropriate suggestions for its improvement. He is also extremely tactful and sensitive in his comments; never arrogant or offensive with his suggestions. You may rest assured that he is a professional and sensitive man whom you can trust. Trust between editor and writer equals the best possible combination for a book to flourish.
Rick Buda
Rick Buda wrote:
"I wanted to get back to you after going over Dr. Bob Rich's edit of WolfPointe. He does a very good job! I wrote to him and thanked him. I have decided to take most of what he suggests and implement it in the MS. ...I thought his commentary and editorial observations were very well done and conveyed."
The year 2000 was big in Rick's life--he turned fifty on August 3rd of 2000 and seventeen years ago he had made a vow to have a book published before he was fifty. Well, he missed it by only a few months.
With the release of WolfPointe, he begins a new chapter of his life that has included writing in it along its various stages. He has been involved with home computers for many years and used to publish what was then the largest magazine of its time concerning Play-by-mail, computer moderated war gaming.
He says this got him 'hooked' as far as having people read what he wrote, rather than writing for his own enjoyment. He did mundane things like answering questions about new games and game reviews, and it taught him to be entertaining in his writing. He had great fun.
The magazine, The Nuts & Bolts of Gaming (NaBOG) had over two thousand subscribers including one issue faxed to a nuclear sub and another sent to Washington DC to be included with the diplomatic pouch to a Central American country!
He has always been a fan of thrillers and stories that make the reader feel 'This could happen, but please, not to me!' He is also an Internet disk jockey playing classic Rock & Roll. Rick has traveled the world over and still calls the Chicago area home--although a confirmed suburbanite now.
Penny Rudolph
Bob,
I'm leaving Zumaya as I've finally found an excellent agent and a small traditional publisher for my second and third books, but I want to thank you for your superb editing of Listen to the Mockingbird 2 years ago. You remain the absolute best editor I've ever had or expect to have. Unfortunately I never overcame the terrible POD barrier. I'm sure that will change eventually and hope Zumaya survives. I'd like to include you in the acknowlegements for the new book, which will be out in hardcover in April if that's OK.
--Penny Rudolph
Author, Listen to the Mockingbird: The Civil War, murder, a lost gold mine, and one woman's compelling secret. Visit www.pennyrudolph.com.
Penny's Listen to the Mockingbird, a historical suspense novel, won a 2003 EPPIE Award. It is used as a core text in some Literature of the American West classes. Another novel, Thicker Than Blood, will be released in April 2005 by Poisoned Pen Press.
Linda Campbell
Linda and Bobbye Terry form a partnership: they write books together, communicating by email. I edited their book 'Craig Legacy'.
Linda wrote: Dr. Bob has edited our book CRAIG LEGACY. He's the kind of editor publishing houses had fifteen years ago. The kind that makes your work not only better, but brilliant. He spotted where we needed to expand emotion, delete things that dragged the scene/chapter/book down, and where we'd made mistakes.
Will we partake in his new venture? You betcha we will. We're planning on having Dr. Bob go over all our books before submitting to any publisher, print or electronic.
And don't think Bobbye and I are the type of writers that roll-over for an editor. We don't. There are some things we'll go to the mat on. But for the most part, when a writer's lucky enough to get an editor like Dr. Bob, you just thank your lucky stars, and try your damnedest to make your work something you and your editor are proud to claim.
FWIW, I'm putting the word out among my many e-mail friends about Dr. Bob's new business--especially those authors considering self-publishing. Anyone who goes that route needs a good and a strong editor.
Linda
Christine Hales
I have found Bob Rich to be an excellent and perceptive editor. He is succinct and sees things very clearly.
He has very good skills not only in grammar but also in cutting out the dross to drive forward the story line, whilst leaving in the colour and feel of the story in the appropriate places.
His immediate clarification and overall perception of the story is excellent and he gives clear indication when the story needs to be less disjointed and how to overcome such problems.
He comes directly to the point explaining where work needs to be done, whilst also encouraging the writer to try that one step further.
I feel my writing skills have been honed up whilst my manuscript has been examined by an eagle eye, giving me the opportunity to not only improve it enormously but to go on to be a far better writer.
Christine Hales, author of: Where There's Smoke There's Fry.
John Russo
As a beginning writer of fiction, I suffered the lack of confidence that what I was putting on paper would be acceptable to publishers. I knew my plot was intriguing and the characters seemed real enough and after producing over 400 pages I hesitantly submitted my MS to an ePublisher. I was offered a contract and assigned an editor. His name was Bob Rich and much to my amazement he was located in Australia.
In matter of weeks I was getting feedback, suggestions and clarification of points in my story, and sharper character development, which I viewed not as critique but more as having acquired an experienced partner in my writing which became better and clearer.
I wouldn't submit another MS to any publisher now without working closely with Bob. He was understanding in dealing with my creative sensitivity and gently guiding me rather than making me feel he was changing my story. I ended up with a well written better book thanks to Bob Rich.
John Russo
Westport CT, USA
Author of INDIAN GIVERS
Beth Anderson
In working with electronic or POD publishers, in many (not all, but many) cases you're working with not-so-experienced editors, and possibly publishers with little or no experience, who have done no market research. There are some very fine e/POD editors out there today, but few I would trust enough to cause me to make major structural changes. In fact, I can only think of one I trust so much so that I would do just about anything he told me to do whether or not I agreed with it, in order to make my book better. That editor, in case anyone is wondering, is Dr. Bob Rich, who in addition to being a Clocktower editor, also does freelance editing, and I highly recommend him.
Not trying to be arrogant here, although I know it might sound like it, but this whole ebook/POD thing is so new that not a lot of its editors have any real honest-to-God solid editorial background. Line editing is one thing, lots of people can do that, but content editing is a whole different thing entirely. That's when you need a good, reliable, and established editor, someone you really trust. That is, if you want your book to sell and keep selling through word of mouth, because in addition to promo, people do talk to each other. A really great book, properly edited and promo'd, will eventually sell.
I've known authors who refuse to make changes requested by a good editor, and in that case, the author always loses. My feeling is, what good is moral integrity when you're sitting in a writing room surrounded by stacks of unsold novels? I've known unpubbed authors who say all they really want is to hold that first book in their hands, they're not concerned whether anyone ever really buys it. But that first taste of blood will change them forever into an author who does want their book to sell, and who will eventually realize that in this business you do a lot of things you might not want to do, but you do them anyway. Sooner or later all authors who come into this business with stars in their eyes over the thought of holding that first book and looking at it will soon want others to look at it, and then they'll want more, and then more. It's the nature of the beast, and we're stuck with it.
Beth Anderson hotclue@micron.net
Visit my author website: http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com
EPPIE 2001 Finalist MURDER ONLINE in print April 2001, Clocktower Books
NIGHT SOUNDS, in print April 2001, Clocktower Books
Martine Jardin
Bob is an editor of the old class, one who cares about a story. He not only gives advice where the plot is lacking, he picks up even the smallest detail that needs changing. Now that he's given me a sample of his work by editing Blueprint for Revenge, I'll not send any manuscripts to a publisher without hiring Bob to edit it first. I find his cost affordable and I give him the highest recommendations! Martine Jardin.
Martine writes science fiction in cooperation with Di Kemp-Jones, and contemporary thrillers, like the one I edited, by herself. Her web site is at http://www.martinejardin.com/. She is also a talented artist, and drew the cover art for most of my books. You can inspect her artwork at her web site.
Bonnie Mercure
Before I hired Dr. Bob Rich to edit my manuscript I felt that the story had come to a halt and I didn't know how to make it better. Not only did Dr. Bob Rich give me an in-depth critique at a very affordable price, he got me interested in my manuscript again. He offered praise when it was warranted and useful suggestions when a change was needed.
Bonnie Mercure lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children. She has had short stories published in many periodicals and e-zines, including Electric Wine, LC-39, Peridot Books and Challenging Destiny. Her speculative fiction story Mary's Shooting Star has been recommended for the Bram Stoker Award. Besides The Curse of the Three-Headed Circus, Bonnie has a children's book The Old Man and the Toads coming soon to Writer's Exchange E-Publishing. She also has a fantasy novel The Jacob Theory, published by Novel Books, Inc, tentative date May 2002. Bonnie is also an Eppie Finalist.
Joan Melrose
Joan was the winner of my first 'Free Edit' contest. Here is what she wrote about my work on her book:
Dear Bob
Thank you so much for editing my book, it has taught me so much. As I went through page after page it was like you were there. Your suggestions were great and I am now following them. I will stay in contact with you. I am fairly new to Sydney and haven't met any other writers, so if there are any groups or gatherings I could attend please let me know. I have joined NSW writers.
Have a lovely day
Joan
Later, Joan cc-d this email to me:
As a member of NSW Writers' Centre I thought you would like to know that my childrens book 'Born Between Worlds' came first in 'Bob's Free Edit Contest' which was advertised in your magazine NewsWrite last year. The book has now been edited and I must say what a wonderful job Bob Rich has done. In winning this competition I have received excellent feedback and editing from a professional writer who has spent considerable time and support in providing me with his expertise. I would reccomend anyone who has completed a book and needs editing to use Dr Bob Rich.
Tom Baldwin
Dr. Rich,
I just finished editing Firestorms (for the last time, I hope). Thank you for your time and effort on my behalf. Your labors were not in vain. I used at least 95 percent of your suggestions and I am sure the book is much better and more readable thanks to your input.
As a small token of my gratitude I would like to send you a copy when it is available through Zumaya. If you could forward your address to me I will mail it as soon as I have a copy.
Tom Baldwin
Christine West
Gang,
I have a wonderful gift for you...a name: Dr. Bob Rich
No matter how confident we are as writers, even published authors, if we search deep enough we have to admit that perhaps that little something will make our work that much better.
Dr. Bob is your man here. I sent him 1000 words of a "perfect novel" and he brought up amazing points that I would not know otherwise. From the ridiculous fact that I didn't know enough to only put one space after a period (not two) to comments on my plot development and so forth.The greatest thing about him is that you don't have to hire him sight-unseen. He always takes samples of an author's writing to confirm a price and to give you samples of what he has to offer your book.
I reccommend that we all try him. I mean really, it doesn't cost a cent to e-mail him 1000 words of your work to see what he's all about.
PLEASE
Do me a favour...try him out, tell him Christine West sent you, and then let me know what you think.
Christine has had an instruction manual published on learning to be a waiter/waitress. It is doing remarkably well, thanks to her wonderful skill as a marketer. I wish she was my agent. We 'met' on the email list Print-On-Demand@yahoogroups.com. I have now edited one 'Young Adults' novel for her, and a second one is coming when she has it ready.
Kim Hastings
Email to 'The-Write-List@yahoogroups.com from: "kimhastings"
Subject: RE: External editing and Dr. Bob Rich
True! To all listees: I sent my manuscript to Dr. Bob Rich for editing. When I got it back, I was thrilled and amazed with his work. I had rewritten and re-read that thing a billion times, but after a while I just couldn't see things anymore. He found everything. Inconsistent page break markers, em dash/hyphen errors, its/it's errors, that/who mistakes. He asked pertinent questions and let me know which things didn't ring true. He discussed practical matters regarding page layout and publishing concerns. He also told me things that he liked. From his comments I'm able to see the story in a different light, and now I can make some important revisions. I would NEVER have thought of them on my own. I strongly recommend his services to anyone. No matter how many times you edit, there's the inevitable apostrophe in a plural, and sometimes a chapter that just doesn't belong. If you have ever considered external editing, give the Doctor a shot, and if you haven't considered it, you should. His sharp eye and ability to clarify will significantly improve my work.
Oh, and he was gentle...
Staci entered her book Partially Collapsed in my second Free Edit contest, but decided to pay for an edit rather than wait for the deadline. Here is her response to my comments:
Dear Bob:
I cannot thank you enough for the job you did. You were able to point out things that I would have never thought of. I apologize for all the careless errors. I thought I knew more than I did. You were very patient and I appreciate that.
Thank you for the positive feedback. I would get disgusted with my own mistakes and then you would have something encouraging to say and it kept me focused. There were a few times I burst out laughing at how stupid I was! I agreed with everything you said. I have added an epilogue, showing Veronica in her Junior year of college. It provides the closure the book needed.
Again, I am grateful for all your help. You do a wonderful job.
Bob is the author of The Way of Golf: Reconnecting with the soul of the game, ISBN 1-58080-081-5. He was one of the 10 finalists in my second free edit contest. He chose to pay me for an immediate edit rather than to chase votes. Here is his response to my work:
I have just surfaced after diving into your edits of Master Your Moments. Thank you very much. Your breadth of knowledge is rivaled only by your attention to detail. You presented parts of speech I had never heard of, let alone knew how to use correctly. I want to ask if you would edit one of my novels, The DNA Man. Hope all is well and thank you again, I enjoyed working with you.
Actually, Bob is underselling himself here. His use of English is already excellent, and Master Your Moments is a powerful non-fiction book showing you how to live a satisfying life.
Bob has edited three of my novels so far. The first won an award for a published mystery novel. And while I have submitted the second novel for awards, and certainly plan to do so for the one I've just finished, Bob offers much more than just publishing or contest prep. His critiques are like an advanced course in writing.
Bob helps me take my novels to a much higher level, if for no other reason than the satisfaction of my readers. His coaching approach to fiction editing shows where improvements can be made in plot structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, and so on. That, mixed with his eye for detail, makes him a unique and outstanding editor in my mind.
The convenience of editing by email, plus his speedy response and reasonable rates, make Dr. Bob Rich a rare find. I highly recommend him for any of your writing.
Ron Peters is the author of the dry humor Dun Wheeling, PI novels: SOS, Night Before August, and Castles of Deceit. Ron started his fiction writing career at age 60 and has many more novels in mind before he takes that final dirt nap.
Ron lives in Florida with his wife of 40 years and has just finished the next in the series, Sphere of Reason. You can learn more about him at his website: www.ronpeters.net
I want to thank you for the marvelous edit. You picked up things that never would have occurred to me. After 30-odd years in journalism, I thought of myself as a nimble-enough writer, but fiction is a whole new game. I did not know, you might say, how much I did not know. Some of your observations on technique -- maintaining POV, avoiding the didactic, staying in character --were by themselves worth the full price of the edit.
I recommend you as an editor to any author no matter his or her level of success. Prior to working with you, I had already had a professional book published on the highest, New York standard. The book put my face on the cover of Dow Jones, a world renowned financial publication. Nonetheless, I learned more about writing from you in 3 months than I had learned in the previous 5 years. This includes edits by one of the world's top professional publishers. Your editorial skills are at the peak of Manhattan level writing, and I would not feel comfortable submitting a book for final publication without your consultation.
Sincerely,
AR Barnes, Jr.
A.R. Barnes, Jr. is President of A. Barnes and Company, a professional life insurance consulting group in north-central Alabama near Birmingham. He is the author of The Mortality Mortgage: Pricing Practices and Reform in the Life Insurance Industry, Greenwood Publishing Group (Quorum), Westport, Conn. - London, 1996, and Child of the Star, Atlantic Bridge Publishing, Indianapolis, In., 2003. He is the subject of numerous articles including Kiplinger's, The Dow Jones Investment Advisor, The Birmingham News, The Microsoft Money Insider, Bloomberg, Inside Information, The National Underwriter, to name a few, and was the cover featured story of The Dow Jones Investment Advisor in the November, 1998 issue entitled, Barnes' Storming. He has authored numerous technical articles in financial and insurance publications, and is an accepted expert in life insurance pricing, suitability, and disclosure issues.
Mr. Barnes graduated from Huntingdon College in 1975, and received two post graduate degrees from the American College in 1988. He spent 3 years traveling the nation while conducting continuing education seminars for CPA's, tax attorneys, trust officers, financial planners, and other financial professionals. Mr. Barnes has served as expert counsel in numerous insurance litigation classes, and his innovative systems have served as a model for insurance disclosure issues. He is NASD registered and has been an independent life insurance and financial service professional for over twenty years.
Dear Bob:
You edited Wait for Me, my second English romantic suspense not long ago. Today Ulverscroft offered to buy the world large print rights. This makes three romantic suspenses they've bought from me so far. Thanks for your help on this story. I'm working on another romantic suspense right now so I'll be in touch when it's ready for editing.
Thanks again. You were a big help!
Best Regards,
Nancy Madison
Nancy Madison is a former corporate librarian for the Dallas office of an international accounting and consulting firm that no longer exists. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Master's in Library Science from the University of North Texas.
At present she's at work on her latest romantic suspense. The earlier books have been published electronically and are POD paperbacks. Three have been bought by an English large print publisher.
Nancy Madison's titles include:
Clues to Love
Never Love a Stranger
What the World Needs Now
Wait for Me
Links to other resources
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Sally Odgers offers a writing course on all the elements of writing fiction. I can thoroughly recommend her knowledge, expertise and inspiring enthusiasm. The link is http://sallyodgers.50megs.com/aff.htm.
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Miranda Miller is a freelance editor with over a decade of editing experience under her belt. In her free time, she writes historical fiction about a female pirate captain set during the Golden Age of Piracy. Visit her editing website at www.editingrealm.com.
Colin Reynolds, AKA Pendantry is proofreader extraordinaire, with a sense of humour. How is this?
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