Should you hire a freelance editor?

Should you hire a freelance editor?

Posted inUncategorized, Writing
Self-publishing a book is a lot of work. Doing it right is a lot more work than doing a book the "legitimate" i.e. traditional way. (I've done both.) It's a lot more work than most writers are willing to do, in fact. It sucks. And sadly, a great deal of self-published authors don't do the work they should be doing. The number of shoddy, poorly-written, error-filled hackfests on self-pub services are legion. Were they to develop a unified mind they'd form a giant cube and hassle the United Federation of Planets, but alas, they are mostly like me: dudes and…
Geek Wisdom

Win a FREE signed copy of GEEK WISDOM!

Posted inGeek Stuff, Works by Eric, Writing
Here's a super easy way to win a signed copy of Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture (Quirk Books 2011), a book the Florida Times Union said had a premise that was "nothing short of brilliant." This book has been a huge hit among fans of all things science-fiction, comic book, fantasy, and just plain cool. So obviously you want to win one. And it's easy. Do nothing more than surf over to Your Awesome Editor on Facebook and click "like" in the upper right to like the page. That's it. It's that easy. If you are not…
Introducing YOUR AWESOME EDITOR

Introducing YOUR AWESOME EDITOR

Posted inWorks by Eric, Writing
Starting NOW, I will be putting my 13 years experience as an editor and writer to work with Your Awesome Editor, an independent editorial service that runs the gamut from proofreading to consultation to full-service assistance with self-publishing. I'll be specializing in helping people who want to self-publish their own work, but will also be working with aspiring authors who want to break into the world of traditional publishing, too. That includes helping perfect their manuscripts, assistance with query letters and proposals, and more. Surf on over and take a look. You can also find us on Facebook (please throw us a "like"). Referrals are welcome…

Churning out that first draft

Posted inWriting
Shortly after posting yesterday about National Novel Writing Month, I came across an excellent blog post by literary agent Rachelle Gardner. This is great advice that I wanted to share with those taking part in NaNoWriMo -- or anyone working on a big writing project, really. Now is NOT the time to self-edit or worry about all those writing tips you've been taught. Just write. Let the words flow. If you've been studying the craft, you'll naturally be inclined to show more than tell, write snappy dialogue, and be aware of how much backstory you're allowing in. That's great. But…
Tearing down your own work

Tearing down your own work

Posted inRandom Musings, Writing
Sometimes you have to take something you've created and stomp it to pieces in order to make it work. Earlier this week I began writing a novel I've dabbled with on and off for years. I've made a few aborted attempts to write it, but other things have always gotten in the way. It has remained incomplete, sort of taunting me from my files. I like the story and world of the novel. I've always intended to finish it. So now I'm doing exactly that. At the moment, I have eight chapters completed out of a projected 30 to 40.…