The Truth and Nothing but the Truth
Giving a reading with a busted wing
You’ve asked your brother-in-law, a high-school English teacher, to read your manuscript. He comes back to you with high praise. “A sure-fire bestseller,” he says.
Can you take that to the bank? Consider his situation. He is family. If he hates your book and tells you, it will open a rift in the universe. He has to say nice things.
I don’t have that problem. You’re probably never going to invite me to Thanksgiving dinner.
You are paying for a service. You want to know the editor’s honest opinion. You don’t want to miss what might be major corrections in order to spare your feelings.
To this end, I will always be honest with you. If I have major criticisms or find big problems I will point them out in the kindest way possible, but I will give you what you are paying for.
You select the level of help you want. If you want your manuscript proof-read and I find major issues with it, I might contact you and explain the issues and offer a more substantive form of editing. If you hire me to do developmental editing and I can find no issues, I may contact you and say you only need copy editing.
The decision is up to you. You are in control of the process.
Can you take that to the bank? Consider his situation. He is family. If he hates your book and tells you, it will open a rift in the universe. He has to say nice things.
I don’t have that problem. You’re probably never going to invite me to Thanksgiving dinner.
You are paying for a service. You want to know the editor’s honest opinion. You don’t want to miss what might be major corrections in order to spare your feelings.
To this end, I will always be honest with you. If I have major criticisms or find big problems I will point them out in the kindest way possible, but I will give you what you are paying for.
You select the level of help you want. If you want your manuscript proof-read and I find major issues with it, I might contact you and explain the issues and offer a more substantive form of editing. If you hire me to do developmental editing and I can find no issues, I may contact you and say you only need copy editing.
The decision is up to you. You are in control of the process.