Affording Perfection

So you’ve written a book! Awesome! Me too. Grasslands has been done for awhile now, after no less than TEN revisions! So, what’s our next step?

For me, I know my weaknesses are grammar and proper punctuation. It’s been pointed out numerous times by my many loving Alpha and Beta readers. Story? Great! Polished? Not so much. I know I’m not the only one that struggles with this. Not to mention the numerous typos, or sentences that could just flat out be structured more concisely.

We need an editor. They come in many shapes and sizes. Proofreader, line editor, copy editor, developmental editor. They are exceptionally skilled, educated, and talented people. Who are extremely expensive. Rightfully so, I must add.

For some people, $0.03-$0.05 a word isn’t that painful. It may sting a bit, but you can swing it. With Grasslands currently clocking in at 122,400 words that is downright expensive! As a stay-at-home mom, with only my husband bringing in the bulk of our income, it’s impossible.

Now what?

I’m relying heavily on the generosity of skilled people around me. They can do what I cannot, and some will do it for free. With that said, I’m beholden to their timelines. Understandable! They have lives, families, and projects of their own.

I’ve been referred to an editor by a friend who will do my manuscript for $450. Great, right!? Except, I still don’t have that.

Now comes the hussle. How much do I want this? How badly do I want to move confidently into the world of querying? Pretty bad. So I’ll probably start cleaning houses with a friend, while my kids are at school, to afford this.

Are you in this situation, too? What ideas do you have for overcoming this roadblock so many of us face? If you are in this position, I wish you the best of luck. We’ll do it. Our projects deserve it.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
– Pele