So, here's the thing! I just had a 2* review stating that one of my books contained 'poor grammar and sloppy editing'! I mean, who says things like that to an author with an ego as thin as tissue paper? I'm devastated, jaw-droppingly broken beyond repair - now I know how Humpty-Dumpty felt. Oh, it's not the first time such barbs have been thrown in my direction, but usually I comfort myself with the overwhelming messages of support. However, the cries for me to get an editor are a growing concern. Like most authors, I like to think I've given readers my best work, and when they say it's shoddy, and the mistakes detract from the reading experience... Well, one has to sit up and take notice - Is that a cliche? I hate cliches. Traditionally published authors have the proofreading, editing, etc thrown in as part of the publishing deal. However, independent authors must pay for it themselves, and this is where the nub resides. Proofreading usually costs in the region of between £500 - £1,000 per 80,000-word book, and editing between £600 - £1,200. Now, we'll do a little math here: I have 14 novels, and if I had sent each one of them to a proofreader (let's ignore editing services - you can do the math yerselves for them) it would have cost me in the region of £10,500 (@ £750/book). Now, don't forget, I have to spend this money up front before I start raking in the trillion of £'s. So, of course, I had this £10,500 lying around in a drawer just waiting for me to give it to a proofreader. Okay, so the book's ready, no mistakes - it's been proofread and cost me £750, so there'd better not be - but there are! (I kill the proofreader and get life imprisonment for murder!) Anyway, I upload my book and put an extortionate price on it of 75p (86p with VAT). Some simple math again: £750 divided by 0.75p = 1,000. I would have to sell 1,000 books before I actually started making any money on my magnus opus. Now, you're thinking, put a higher price on it! Yeah, I could do that, then no one would buy it, because in comparison to the other books it's too damned pricey - and don't forget - I'm not traditionally published therefore not a 'real author', so people expect to get indie books real cheap. I'm getting bitter and twisted writing this, Toady! I mean, a reader pays 75p for an 80,000-word book, enjoys the story, but there are a few errors - we won't even talk about the errors in trad-pubbed books, which have been edited and proofread into the bargain - and then they say nasty things like, 'the sloppy editing spoiled my reading experience, I won't buy any more of this author's books!' I'm gutted. I mean, I spent 4 months writing a damned good novel, I then self-edited and self proofread because I object to paying £750+ (even if I had it) in the hope that I'm going to get it back in the distant future. All I can say is, I'll miss your 75p. If you're not magnanimous enough to think: 'Hey, that was a really good story. There were a few typos, the lady in black changed to the lady in red half way through, one of the characters got up and walked away after you'd killed him, and a few threads were left dangling - but can't wait for the sequel BTW', then really, your 75p would just turn my two other 75p's putrid and disgusting, so it's probably mutually agreeable that you don't buy any more of my books... Well, not if you don't want to anyway... Care for a cup of tea, Sir/Madam? A nice cream scone? Some strawberries...? Stop grovelling, Toady! Not only that, I have people chewing their fingernails to the elbows waiting for the next installment of my roller-coaster of a series - How long does proofreading take? A couple of days, weeks, months? Now, I'm not saying proofreaders or editors wouldn't be a desirable addition to my writer's toolbox (Do writers have toolboxes? Maybe we're talking about a metaphorical toolbox! Or, it could be a spiritual or philosophical toolbox! I remember, when I left school, my second job (let's not talk about the first job) was building ambulances at Herbert Lomas & Sons on Wilmslow Road in Handforth - I was an Apprentice Vehicle Bodybuilder. I only mention this because I built myself a toolbox, and I fell in love with a girl who worked in the administration with blonde hair and freckles called Joyce. You're thinking, not another girl! Yeah, as I said in a previous blog, I was a serial faller-in-lover. So yeah, it'd be the bees knees to have an editor, coz then I could say things like, 'My editor just called...' or 'I've sent the MS to my editor...' People think you're a real writer when you have your own editor... All I've got is a red pen! Many people (and I'm extremely humbled and grateful to those people) have been thrilled with my stories and have obviously forgiven the minor transgressions in terms of grammar, punctuation, and editing - I wonder if people say 'editing' when they really mean 'proofreading'? Anyway, don't think it doesn't concern me, but I'm not paying £750 per book for a professional to proofread my magnus opi (is opi the plural of opus? No, I don't know either! Except, could it be that a magnus opus will always be in the singular?) That's one thing about blogs, you can get away with murder! Maybe I should be writing my books as blogs, and then no one would care about the sloppy editing. But saying that - have you seen some of the lousy reviews free books get? I mean, what's that about? Have people got no morals? All this hassle! Retirement is meant to be quiet and peaceful isn't it? Maybe I should try knitting, or cross stitch - I'd probably need an editor then to check my 'one purl, two purl, over, up and unders' - Yeah - like writing - you've probably noticed that I know nothing about knitting either! Although, did I ever tell you about when my mum...
14 Comments
Tom Elder
11/22/2011 09:33:43 pm
Tim I think that as you are becoming more popular it is harder to please everyone. As I have stated many times before I think your books are brilliant and so very well written and I know for a fact that having spoken. To 2 fellow fans that they also delighted with your work.please keep up the great work you are doing. Many thanks Tom.
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11/23/2011 12:55:02 am
Tim, I did a quick check of some of your books' pages on Amazon.uk ...your books are top sellers with many positive reviews. Would they be doing so well if they were in desperate need of proofing/editing? I don't think so.
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Tim Ellis
11/23/2011 02:17:09 am
Thanks for you kind words, Tom. I agree that the more your work is 'out there' the more open it is to criticism, but don't worry I'll carry on writing - no one will stop me doing that!
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I'm an editor as well as an author, and it's a fact that mistakes will ALWAYS get through in a book, no matter how many times it's edited and proofread. The best we can do is keep them to a minimum. Editing takes time which is why it can be expensive, but a lot of people out there are taking advantage. Editors need to wise up to the fact that indie authors don't have vast resources and should offer budget priced services.
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Tim Ellis
11/23/2011 04:59:11 pm
Hi Steph! Good points about budget services and those elusive typos. I suppose editors are still operating under the old world order! They need to wise up - Indies are a significant market share now, and there needs to be new ways of working. Shelling out £000's up front in the hope a book might be successful is not something I would entertain.
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Louise
12/1/2011 09:22:59 pm
About a third of the way through parish and richards book 4 - came across your books by accident by have read parish and richards 1 - 3 in less than a week -can't put them down.
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Jennie
12/17/2011 11:43:41 pm
I am eagerly awaiting the next Parish & Richards book (5) having just finished the first 4 in record time. Initially I was quite irritated by the proofreading (or lack of), but having read your blog I can now appreciate the issues involved. Personally I think the books themselves far outweigh the proofreading problems. Keep up the good work.
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As a self-pub author I know that how many times you check, typos still get through, but 'curb' used instead of 'kerb' at start of Wages of Sin irritated me, also inconsistent capitalisation of meals - e.g.why is it "Sirloin steak" but "Steak, Ale and Mushroom pie...?)
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Thanks for posting a comment, Peter. As for the typos - corrected them, and thanks for pointing them out. You'll be pleased to know I now have a proofreader who has kindly volunteered to do it for free.
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Sarah
1/13/2012 01:07:23 am
"I mean, who says things like that to an author with an ego as thin as tissue paper?"
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Dee
1/18/2012 08:50:49 pm
Why are books 5 & 6 not yet available on kindle? please help as both my mum & i are eagerly awaiting them.
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Christine mcChesney
3/28/2012 05:35:07 pm
was on holiday in January when I downloaded body 13, that was it I was addicted. Enjoy your books so much and become so engrossed I don't notice any grammatical errors so keep up the good work and please let me know when skulls beneath eternity wharf will be available on e books.
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4/1/2013 11:51:52 pm
You are my aspiration, I own few web logs and sometimes run out from brand :). "The soul that is within me no man can degrade." by Frederick Douglas.
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AuthorHi, I'm Tim Ellis - I write a lot and I hope you enjoy what I write. Archives
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