Sputtering to a Start

Maybe you're wondering why nothing else has come down the pike over here. I DON'T BLAME YOU.

Basically, when I ran our in-house critique last month, the bot crashed. I was able to receive entries by hand, which was fine--but, moving forward, I've got to get things straightened out. Michael, my illustrious and indispensable creator and maintainer of the bot, is as busy as can be, so I don't like to hound him.

HAVING SAID THAT:

I am going to try to continue to offer some smaller-scale things that I can upload by hand. In a way, this fits the feel of the blog a little better right now. Eventually, I'm hoping we can get things running the way they once were.

Obviously, I can't run another Secret Agent Contest until the bot has been fixed. What I want to do next is to run another CRITIQUE PARTNER DATING SERVICE. I need to make sure the system I come up with is workable on both ends before I launch this.

To help me gauge interest, will you please do me a favor? Leave me a comment below, letting me know if either you'd be interested in finding new critique partners or you have writer friends you know are looking for critique partners that you'd be happy to send our way. We've had great success with this in the past, and I definitely want to resurrect it!

In other news, we're closing on our new home THIS FRIDAY, so my life is sort of looking like this right now:

We have LOVED living in our apartment for the past 6 months--who knew??  We're actually staying here an extra couple of weeks so that we have time to do some painting in the new house and to move in s-l-o-w-l-y instead of having one big, exhausting moving day.

So, yes, I'm in the midst of All The Moving, but I didn't want to leave this blog by the wayside. PLEASE DO LEAVE A COMMENT concerning the Critique Partner Dating Service--I will be hanging on your every word!

AND ONE MORE THING:

I am currently accepting a LIMITED NUMBER of Premiere Critiques. Please email me at authoress.edits@gmail.com to secure your spot. A Premiere Critique looks like this:

*a line-edit of your first 75 pages

*a detailed editorial letter

*guaranteed 1-week turnaround

*cost: $289 payable in 2 installments via Venmo or Paypal

I will accept any genre except Erotica or Erotic Romance, in all categories (adult, YA, MG). Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Now Offering: Premiere Critiques

 Hello, all!

It's been a while since I've worn my editor's cap, but I've decided, at least for a little while, to offer limited services to any writers who might need them. In short, I'm bringing back my Premiere Critique on a first come, first served basis.

WHAT IS A PREMIERE CRITIQUE?

A Premiere Critique is an editorial letter and a detailed line edit of the first 75 pages of your completed, polished manuscript.  I will complete your critique within 1 week of your having hired me. 

Things to think about:

• If nobody has ever read your work before (as in, ever), then don't hire me.  Find a critique partner.
• If this is your Very First Novel, then I am not the editor for you.  My time--and your money--is better served if you have a novel or two under your belt, and if your current manuscript is clean.  (Clean doesn't mean "perfect": it just means...clean.  Polished and proofread.)
• I will edit most genres, but if you're not sure, please check with me in your introductory email.  I will absolutely not accept erotica or erotic romance, and I also do not accept memoirs.  My strengths are YA and MG, though I've done a sizable number of adult critiques in the past.  My true loves are fantasy and science fiction, but again, I'm open to all the things, other than my exceptions noted above.

The cost:

• A Premiere Critique costs $260.  I will require a $130 dollar down payment, and the remaining $130 will be due after you've received my critique.
• Payments are accepted via Paypal or Venmo. 

If you have questions or would like to go ahead and reserve a spot, please email me at authoressedits@gmail.com. 

For Writers: My Premiere Critique

It's been a while since I've posted information about the critiques I offer.  In addition to my normal, 30-page critique for $95, I occasionally open up a slot for a Premiere Critique, as time permits.

Right now, I'VE GOT AN OPENING!

Premiere Critique:

• detailed line edit of your first 75 pages
• editorial letter
• guaranteed 1-week turnaround
• $260 payable in 2 installments (via Paypal)
• no first drafts 
• all genres except erotica/erotic romance
• all categories (MG, YA, NA, Adult)
• specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and YA

These slots are always filled on a first come, first served basis.  If you are interested in the current opening, please email me at authoress.edits(at)gmail.com.

Editing Services -- Window Open

Hello, all!  I'm reeling from a super-busy week last week, and trying to get back into my writing groove.  Easier said than done (especially since this WIP has been biting my beehive since forever).

Anyway, it's been a while but I've got some room for a couple of PREMIERE CRITIQUES.  First come, first served.  The skinny:

• A detailed line edit of your first 75 pages
• An editorial letter
• A guaranteed 1-week turnaround from the day you send me your manuscript
• $260, payable in 2 installments

Interested?  Email me ASAP at authoress.edits(at)gmail.com.

ALSO AVAILABLE:  My normal, 30-page critiques, as always.  Email me to get your name in the queue.

Happy Tuesday, all!  We'll be celebrating a very special book birthday later this week, so stay tuned!

Editing Services: One Opening For June

I'll be leaving for vacation in a week and a half, but I have created time for myself this week to take on one Premiere Critique.  (I didn't offer one last month, so if you've been waiting, here ya go!)

The Premiere Critique:

• detailed line edit of your first 75 pages
• editorial letter
• one-week turnaround
• $260, half up front (via Paypal)

If you would like to hire me for this service, email me at authoressedits(at)gmail.com.  I will fill the slot on a first come, first served basis.

I will be accepting more 3-page edits again in July.  And I continue to accept my basic 30-page edits, which have a 1- to 2-month turnaround.

Premiere Critique Opening for March

I'm opening two spots this month for Premiere Critiques (one now, one at the mid-point).

• 75-page line edit plus editorial letter
• 1 week turnaround (from the day I take on your project)
• $260, half payable up front via Paypal

Want to reserve your spot?  Email me at authoressedits(at)gmail.com ASAP!

UPDATE:  The first slot has been filled.  The second slot is still available!

Critique Slot Available

I'm opening a slot for February for a Premiere Critique (and I'll let you know when it's been filled, both here and on Twitter).  Details below.

I do want to highlight the first thing-to-think-about listed below, which is this:

If nobody has ever read your work before (as in, ever), then don't hire me.  Find a critique partner.

I'm serious about this.  It's imperative that you have others read your work (and, of course, you will read theirs).  Critique is the main way we get better--and it's free.  If you have no idea whether your writing is good or not--have never written a novel before--or have only done one draft of the story, please don't hire me.

For one thing, your work probably isn't ready for pay-by-hire editing.  Sure, you can do it if you want to.  But when I'm spending ALL MY EDITING TIME fixing your commas and pointing out POV errors and tense shifts and overwritten sentences and grammatical train wrecks, there isn't much chance to get to the big picture.  Even worse--sometimes there isn't much of a big picture, because your story has no direction.

(And, no, I am not referring to a particular manuscript.  I would never do that.)

Edit-for-hire is the NEXT STEP in your polishing journey.  AFTER you've done a few drafts; AFTER you've gotten (and incorporated) feedback from critique partners; AFTER you've arrived at the I-like-it-but-I'm-not-sure-how-to-make-it-better stage.

So if you've done your work, gotten your critiques, done some revising, and you're ready for an in-depth look at your first 75 pages to see whether they're working, THAT'S THE TIME TO HIRE ME.  You'll get the MOST out of it, for sure.

(And, hey.  If you've read everything I've just said and you still want to send me your very first novel?  I won't turn you away.  I'm just trying to help you make the best investments for your work.  Capiche?)

As always, my 30-page critiques are available, too.  Names go into the queue in the order in which they are received.  Current reading time is 2 months or less.

WHAT IS A PREMIERE CRITIQUE?

A Premiere Critique is an editorial letter and a detailed line edit of the first 75 pages of your completed, polished manuscript.  I will complete your critique within 1 week of your having hired me. 

Things to think about:

• If nobody has ever read your work before (as in, ever), then don't hire me.  Find a critique partner.
• If this is your Very First Novel, then I am not the editor for you.  My time--and your money--is better served if you have a novel or two under your belt, and if your current manuscript is clean.  (Clean doesn't mean "perfect": it just means...clean.  Polished and proofread.)
• I will edit most genres, but if you're not sure, please check with me in your introductory email.  I will absolutely not accept erotica or erotic romance, and I also do not accept memoirs.  My strengths are YA and MG, though I've done a sizable number of adult critiques since setting up shop in January.  My true loves are fantasy and science fiction, but one of my favorite projects so far this year was a cotemporary YA (who knew?).  So, other than my exceptions noted above, almost anything goes.

The cost:

• A Premiere Critique costs $260.  I will require a $130 dollar down payment, and the remaining $130 will be due after you've received my critique.*
• Payments are accepted via Paypal.  You do not need to have a Paypal account to use Paypal.  (It will ask you for your credit/debit card.)

*Please note that I've raised the cost slightly.  This is because Paypal fees are ridiculous.  (Seriously; that's the only reason.)