Paula’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2015)

Paula’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

.. . and with an AWESOME story! Nice work, Marianne.

Very fine story again, Tom!
And Chris---cools story--I loved it! lol and a serious point there; nice.

Interesting piece, G.C.--nicely done!

Yes, it's fine with me, Justin.
Good work!

All sounds good to me, Justin--yes.
I wasn't doubting the audio quality, just asking what you had in mind; and your background, as you've now described it, would certainly allay any such doubts.
The "used with permission" sounds like an ideal way to handle the rights question. Yes.
And it still sounds like very much work for you.
Justin wrote: "Paula wrote: "Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions.
I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it ..."

Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions.
I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it get to be LOTS of work or expensive equipment? Have you done this sort of recording before?
How does this affect our copyrights to our work? Does someone know (for sure)?

Oh thank you, Chris! I'm flattered--thank you.

Thank you for the email announcing TFIS4, Carrol. Does this mean the Amazon and Kindle problems are solved? Super, if so!

Chris, truly a fine story, great use of the theme, and just plain well done.
But the last paragraph goes on too long after the "reveal." Look, do it something like this, very approximately (NOTE___SPOILER ALERT for anyone who hasn't read Chris's story this month): "My need to respond, to know, finally overcoming my anxious fear and loathing, I opened the case. Alhough it had long sat idle, some remnant spark of power immediately highlighted the long extinguished genesis-pod within, and I read its fickering message: "ERROR.""

If you've a cover you consider better, JF, use it. Covers promote books. What is the ABNA? I'm not surprised you came close to winning it if it's a writing competition, and that you received a fine Kirkus review, as your work is extremely professional and good.

People, if you use some of these online "farms" for your editing/proofing, do figure the arithmetic and consider whether they may be paying their "stable" help less than minimum wages. And ask yourself whether, if they exploit the help, they are likely to do an honorable job for their clientele.

Chris--note--there are always other editors, oftentimes good ones--outside that approximate average range.

Chris, most pro editors will charge anywhere from $40 to $75 per hour for most types of editing (proofreading and light copyediting tend to be more like $25 to $45 per hour). Depending on the state of readiness of the manuscript, the finished quality sought, and the thoroughness and/or speed of the editor, content editing can go 5 to 10 pages per hour. In my experience, careful copyediting takes as long or longer, anywhere from 4 to 8 pages per hour; but this, again, depends on the state and complexity of the manuscript. --Yes, often the content editing and the copyediting can be done by the same person, but sometimes--not always--this may require 2 editing passes through the manuscript. I'd advise, generally, against using the same person for proofreading as for any of the editing; this is because, though Justin's editor may be an exception, generally an editor will be too familiar with a manuscript, by the time s/he gets to the proofreading (which should be done last) to see and catch some of the minor, one-letter-off sorts of mistakes that good proofreading catches; for instance, one may not note the comma where a period was intended, or the d that should have been a t before the ly ending, or the like.
I hope this is helpful.

Well, I'm hardly a novice, Chris, and I too would love good advice re self-publishing, especially the technical aspects. And yes, having too much work and too many projects daunts many of us re self-publishing. If you can afford to, hire an editor, a copyeditor, and a proofreader (best if 3--or at least 2--persons); then when they're done withthe book and you've gone over it, you get a book designer and publisher (may be one person/firm or more), buy some ISBN numbers from RR Bowker Company, contact the US Copyrights office for info on registering copyright, and you're nearly done. --Up to the marketing, which is the hard part, lol.

Chris, have you been to any writers conferences? Workshops?

Well done, Chris. Excellent sense of the narrator character--wonderful use of voice.

Good to know, Jack. What sort of editing does she primarily do--developmental/substantive? line editing? copyediting? And thank you for mentioning my editing; my schedule's full through October but after that may have openings.
Jot, thank you for the kind remarks. Yes, after the editing the copyediting, and after the copyediting the proofreading, and after the . . . , . . ., and THEN the final proffreading. lol, and by that time one's really ready to let go one's book, for sure.

Thanks, Tom. I did expect that might be the reason for the last piece there; it's sad when meeting the parameter requirements hurts a story--but at least when you send the piece out for publication (as you should), you can drop off the end-piece!

Good work, Jot! Btw, if you've found any really excellent copyeditor and/or proofreader, please share the info with the group;==always good info to have. And let us know when you launch the book!

Nice story, Tom. Well-paced, well thought out, and that surprise revelation she comes to---very original and well conceived! I don't see the need for the last, epilogue-like piece, though; we already understand something of the sort will transpire. Other than that, a very fine piece.