Writers Need Editors

It’s sunny outside, I’ve just approved the cover for Episode One of the Black Sun series and the manuscript is off at the editor, whose name is Geoff. He emailed a reply to my query about his schedule and added – (sat in Malta). Lucky him. I hear the diving is great there.

I’m going to give him a plug here because I like his work. He has several websites I think, but the one I came across was http://www.cheap-book-editing.co.uk/ . If you have the misfortune to be a writer or perhaps want a thesis edited, check out Geoff. He is, as it says on the box, cheap (in terms of cost, I don’t know him well enough to comment further), but he’s good. I contacted lots of editing services both here in New Zealand and elsewhere. Geoff was lightning fast to respond, unlike some I’m still waiting to hear from – what recession? By the time somebody two hours down the road from me had finally replied to my query, Geoff had done the job!

I like his style too. It made me laugh, and when you spend all day locked in your own universe, it’s good to laugh. Here are some quotes:

“You write really well – it’s a pleasure after some of the stuff I have to read.”

Then he said:

“But how can that be, when you don’t know how to use a comma????”

Later:

“How can you write so well, and then write this bit of sh*t? Did you get somebody else to write it?”

I fixed that part, by the way.

Overall, Geoff really liked The Snow Falcon and The Flyer, though he was bemused that I, apparently, wrote my women characters so well. I think he was subtly asking me if I was really a guy. I am, Geoff. Ask my wife. And kids.

Funny that Geoff’s in Malta, there are some Black Sun type mysteries there. I’d like to visit. I might write about it in a future post.