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... Publishing Emerging Writers
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In This issue...
Sinister Editing – by Michelle Diedericks
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Note: This newsletter ("Publishing New Writers") has over 15,000 subscribers on Linkedin.com
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Sinister Editing – by Michelle Diedericks
So, you think you can write? Right? You will write your memoir, then the world will be amazed at your amazing life, as you are every day. You will write a story, so impressive and encouraging the world will stop dead in it’s tracks to notice! Of course you would instantly become a best seller, better than that Dahl feller. The world will be a better place for your story.
I completely agree! Your story can make a difference in the world. Everyone has a story to tell, a right to share. There are a few things, to mind and care for, before becoming this best-selling feller. The steps you take to beware scammers.
Please note - as an author, you can choose whichever publishing path you want to take. You are free to decide. Just, be alert to the sinister editing scams that are lurking out there on Fiverr, Facebook, Upwork, and other online platforms.
What am I on about? First, I will need to make an obvious statement – it is the author's responsibility to edit their manuscript in the correct format, grammar etc. Before submitting to a literary agent, publishing house, self-publishing or even releasing an online eBook.
Why is it important? Imagine, for example…your manuscript contains a poem about “angels". Only you've had sleepless nights, other work to deal with, and did I mention the manuscript has a 180 000-word count? Two hundred of these books are self-published, there's an eBook version all over the world. When your least favorite cousin (the one, the whole family loves) rings, just to ask what the “angles" are about? No one noticed that you misspelled “angels” as “angles". All your query letters get rejected because of one word. Imagine, being always remembered as the author of that faux pas?
The angle is that editing is vital to all authors. What is it? There are different levels. Proofreading – where grammar, format, and spelling are checked for example. Beta-reading – where another person reviews your manuscript from a reader's perspective, checks for plot holes, characters development and pacing. Both these steps can be referred to as developmental editing and once these are sorted you can start approaching literary agents, or small publishers with your query letters. Then comes ARC reading into play, when everyone starts making a book buzz.
The sinister editing to watch out for is the friend or stranger that says, “I will read your work for free". Like hell you will! Would you really just hand over your story that you had worked on without an NDA (Non-disclosure Agreement)?
Only to find out months down the line that your book is a best seller in Borneo…only that same person who said they would read your story for free is claiming to be the author. Nothing is free. Often, the free readers also turn around, harassing unsuspected writers for fees at the end.
Yes, small publishers and self-publishing companies may offer these services. You may also consider approaching a freelancer on Fiverr, Facebook, or other online platforms just make sure you are working with paid services and there has to be an NDA involved. I would recommend choosing your freelancers ideally from Canada, South Africa, Australia, US, New Zealand, Ireland or UK for grammatical and colloquial reasons.
Be alert on how you are getting charged by freelancers. The best way to judge is how they calculate their fees. Some offer a once-off fee of £150 per manuscript; others charge per word. Cost also depends on currency. Never, ever work with a payment app. The red flags and alarm bells should be going off when one is involved!
Payment can be done legally through a bank on international level using a swift code and by declaring to the bank what the transaction is for and the bank fees can be settled by the receiver.
The world will be a better place for your story. Don't be discouraged by scammers. Don't take short cuts. Know the publishing process. Don't let your story get lost to the world.
To reach Michelle, write: polishedpages44@gmail.com
Linked Link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sinister-editing-michelle-diedericks-bruce-cook-7cqkc
Visit our sister web sites..
http://www.author-me.com/
http://www.reservebooks.com/
http://www.johnoryem.com/
http://www.innisfreepoetry.org
We have developed world peace websites:
www.wwpo.org
www.icpglobal.org
Publishing New Writers,
October, 2025 (vol. 26, no. 10)
Publisher:
Dr. Bruce L. Cook
1407 Getzelman Drive
Elgin, IL 60123
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