This week, a would-be author sent me an email, asking for assistance. Here’s a screenshot:
Earlier in the week, I heard from another man. This one had finished writing his manuscript. Congratulations!, I said.
He asked if I could help him. “Read it, edit, comment…?” he ventured.
It was Saturday afternoon. I sat at my desk zooming him. Outside, late Feb was painting the sky blue. Downstairs my schnauzer Peanut ran around looking for hidden treats.
What kind of comment? I asked. What do you want to achieve by asking me to look at it?
(Tough question, that.)
He thought for a moment and said something many others before him have asked.
“You could tell me, Is it any good?”
I pointed out that I’m just one person. I might decide it’s the best piece of writing ever – better than [ you name it ]. But I might be the only person in the entire world – solar system, Milky Way – who thinks that.
I can read it and suggest ways it might be made more This, or more That, I said. I can teach you some things to look out for – things to remove, things to add. But when it comes to Any Good, you’re on your own.
I told him my fee.
Gosh, he said.
The late Feb blue was getting slightly darker.
.
I asked if he had ever thought about reading the work aloud, into a recording device, and listening back to it – not just once but several times.
You’ll hear things than need attention. Whether or not it’s Any Good, you’ll make it better.
I don’t usually do this on Saturdays.
.
If you want 15 mins to talk about something similar (no charge), let me know.
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You never know what might happen
I’ve been up to something. I don’t know yet how it will pan out.
Watch this:
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