Get them to love the machete, Deb. It's VERY good of you to do this, and worth far more to them than $100 and a good lunch (make it Boulevard, yes? *grin*)

What you're offering is far more valuable than what they'd get from an editor at a publishing house, I expect. And it's the only way for them to learn, despite the blood all over the ms.

Heh. Consuela, that's why I told them I charged rather a lot. If they need more than that first 5o pages? Hoooboy, they get to pay for it.

deb, my mother charges $50/hour for her writing consulting-lessons-coaching-tutoring-thing for her (few) adult students. From what I've heard, that's pretty standard. (Also, that's what alice's teacher charges a hour-long violin lesson, to give perspective.)

Deb, insent. Let me know if you have trouble opening the attachment.

Liz, whoooeeee. If I have to do more than the first 55 pages? They get smacked with bigtime fees.

Anne, got it, and it opened fine. Cookies have been offered.

Cookies will be gratefully accepted. I've heard wonderful things about your cookies.

I will be doing original writing this weekend. Alas, it is for work, and won't be all that fun.

t non-sequitor

Herring rollmops?

(I suppose I could clean the hardwood floors with fish...)

Hee! Herring rollmops (I was actually asked to do them for a party for a Dutch couple, as hors d'ouvres, are rolled-up herring fillets on sticks. They're smoked fish with a dipping sauce and they're intensely labour-intensive.

I have to start these edits. I don't want to right now, damnit.

Oh dear.

I am halfway through the edits and commentary. My comments are now at six typewritten pages and they're getting progressively crankier.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear dear dear.

For every line of show, there are fifty of tell.

Shoot me now...

Is there anything nice to be said about it at all?