Developmental Editing in Exchange for Client Testimonials

[Shelby J]

Hello!

My name is Shelby I'm an English literature graduate student with experience in editing and publishing. I most recently worked on a book slated for publishing with Bloomsbury Academic. I have taken developmental and line editing classes as well as MFA writing classes. If there's one thing I'm passionate about, it's helping writers build fantastic fictional worlds! (That, and cookies I love cookies.)

This is where you come in! I am hoping to build an editing business, but I need client testimonials first. In exchange for my free beta reading service, I am requesting a review of my work in exchange.

Here's a sample review from my last client:
"Shelby built up my confidence! Not only did she critique the novel, but she also left heartfelt and comedic comments on spots she likes or made her feel a certain way. It really helped me feel like what I wrote was worthwhile and real. Shelby spotted things that other editors hadn't, which is a huge relief on my part! It just goes to show how much she really
pays attention to your work."

If you have a Nanwrimo project you want to take to the next level, characters and plot that aren't moving the way you want them to, or you just want someone to read your novel and tell you what works and what needs revision, please reach out.

I am open to most genres barring erotica, but here are some of my favorites:

Fantasy
YA
Mystery
Historical Fiction
Memoir

I am willing to take THREE authors on at this time. If you'd like more information, please message me!

[James]

Shelby,
Would love you to read my YA novel titled MOB TREASURE.

Sixteen-year-old Joey is running from the Mob. He’s on a scavenger hunt to find millions of dollars his recently deceased grandfather, an ex-Mob boss, has hidden in a Miami Beach hotel. The new Mob boss and his crew are following as they believe the money belongs to them and will do anything, yes anything, to get it.

Joey has brought along his best friend, who is immediately kidnapped by a Mob lackey. In a matter of days, he meets a new love interest - who is later kidnapped but the new Mob boss, a former associate of his grandfather who vows to aid them in their search, a tour guide – also connected to the underworld, and a variety of thugs - some good but mostly not, a murderer, a couple of thieves, and a pirate. The Mob boss threatens to kill Joey and his friends if he doesn’t hand over the money. One catch, Joey must find the money.
Let me know if you're interested and I'll email the MS. I can also send cookies.
Thanks,
James Cubby
cubbysobe@hotmail.com

[Giovanni]

Just DM'ed you with a pitch for my fantasy novel

[Bmr1591]

Hey Shelby. I’d be interested if you still have open spots. Here’s my blurb.

When tech giant, Cray Corp, hosts a week-long summer camp for its employees’ children, fourteen year old Jacoby reluctantly signs up. Not exactly how he’d like to kick off summer, but if it helps his dad get a promotion, he’ll suffer one lonely week in the heat. What really bothers him, though, is this new portal technology they’ll be traveling through to camp. Even if the head of Cray claims it’s safe, his gut says he’ll end up in a million pieces on the other side.

It’s worse. There is no camp. The portal leaves the teens stranded on another planet, Trinity, in a forest that stretches for miles. Not wanting to survive a week in the wilderness alone, Jacoby latches himself to a group. But when night falls, a voice speaks in the head of every camper telling them that the portal they arrived from won’t be powering back up. The only way to get back home is to find more hidden portals scattered across the world. Before they can determine a plan, a volcano erupts and sets the forest ablaze, sending the teens running for their lives.

Moments from death, Jacoby is saved by a shrouded outsider, but with so many lost to the flames, other survivors begin to believe he’s working with Cray. When even his newfound friends question his loyalties, Jacoby knows he must prove his innocence. Otherwise, finding the portals and getting back home will be all but impossible. Of course, that assumes the other survivors don’t kill him first.

My email is bmr1591@gmail.com

[LongDraw]

Hello Shelby,

I am a first time hopeful author looking to finish a novel which will likely be published via draft2digital's platform and their audiobook partner. I think I might be a unique, if not commonplace candidate for your client testimonial exchange offer. I have been a product reviewer for Home Depot since May 2013 on over 300 products where I have been in the top 100 reviewers based on visitor vote rankings. Additionally I come from a rare perspective in my capacity as an author being that I am autistic (high IQ, extensive vocabulary, lack ability to experience depression, difficulty recognizing rhetorical questions, significantly impaired in "showing, not telling").

And while my employers would generally all agree that I am a very capable writer, it would be in a technical/policy/procedure writer capacity. So why on earth would I choose to write a fiction dystopian fiction romance novel? Simply put, it popped into my brain one morning before going to work. I was curious and had 15 minutes to spare and I type 50-70 wpm, so I started typing it out. 15 minutes later and I've got a 6 page Introduction that has my curiosity piqued even more.

So what do I really need from you, should we have a meeting of the minds? The first chapter, maybe two chapters need help. I know they have to be more effective than Nyquil, but I lack the mental ability to fix it. Also, show, don't tell. No matter how many volunteer editors from Literotica and LushStories try to coach me on it, it isn't translating in a meaningful way for me to adapt it into new material I'm writing. If I could explain it better, I would. It's like art, I can describe it, I just have zero ability to create new art. Last major area is the female reader's perspective. No offense to the males who have beta read for me, I need a woman to read it because that's statistically 70% of my potential customer base.

If you're interested, we can go into more detail and I can grant you Google doc editor permission. I would describe the novel in this post, but my computer died and I'm typing on my old phone. Sucks being poor.