I say, say that. Better to set the boundaries now than let them get pushed and pushed. The person likely doesn't realize what they're asking for.
Spike: At least give me Wesley's office since he's gone. Angel: He's not gone. He's on a leave of absence. Spike: Yeah, right. Boo-hoo. Thought he killed his bloody father. Try staking your mother when she's coming on to you! Harmony: Well…that explains a lot.
'Destiny'
The Great Write Way, Act Three: Where's the gun?
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
Liese S. - Nov 08, 2011 11:03:51 am PST #4817 of 6690
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
Amy - Nov 08, 2011 11:06:33 am PST #4818 of 6690
Because books.
It's also that this particular book, or what I've read it, needs so much work. SO much. It was the first ms. she ever completed, which is great, but if you ask me, it's one for the box under the bed unless she's willing to, like rethink the entire plot.
That's a serious editorial letter, not a few thoughts. Blech.
Strix - Nov 08, 2011 11:09:37 am PST #4819 of 6690
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
"Can you read my whole book and give me your thoughts?"
I hate this part. Because ... I could get paid for that.
Oh, my. I think that's one of the questions a pubbed author has to field a LOT though. PITA.
Send her my way, and tell her peeps get paid $60/hour to do it...REALITY CHECK.
Atropa - Nov 08, 2011 11:10:00 am PST #4820 of 6690
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
I agree with Liese. Set the boundaries now.
hippocampus - Nov 08, 2011 12:07:42 pm PST #4821 of 6690
not your mom's socks.
I hate this part. Because ... I could get paid for that.
"That's kind of you to ask, and I know this book is important to you. I don't have a lot of time beyond this writers' group, so I think we should probably stick to the pagecount/boundaries agreed on here."
That's also a huge ask the day after a first group.
hippocampus - Nov 08, 2011 12:11:03 pm PST #4822 of 6690
not your mom's socks.
Don't misunderstand - I've read books for people, and will again - and have had very generous folks offer to read my ms. as well - it's not that. It's a huge ask when you're just coming into a group, and you haven't offered anything like this to anyone within the group (but you could be working your way towards doing it for everyone if you do it for her, which? NO. You have projects on the table, missy.)
Amy - Nov 08, 2011 12:15:15 pm PST #4823 of 6690
Because books.
Oh, I get it, believe me. I'm just sort of amazed she did ask, the day after she met me.
hippocampus - Nov 08, 2011 12:16:13 pm PST #4824 of 6690
not your mom's socks.
Yes. Me too.
You are very busy, Amy.
Strix - Nov 08, 2011 2:22:03 pm PST #4825 of 6690
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
Don't misunderstand - I've read books for people, and will again - and have had very generous folks offer to read my ms. as well - it's not that. It's a huge ask when you're just coming into a group, and you haven't offered anything like this to anyone within the group
THIS, as my addendum to my earlier remark.
Amy - Nov 08, 2011 2:32:03 pm PST #4826 of 6690
Because books.
Yeah, I'll read a book for a friend, no problem. For someone I just met (and I'm betting because I'm a former editor as well as published)? That is asking a lot.
It really drove home, too, that I need to buckle down and figure out what proposal I'm going to ... propose. Four ideas enter, one leave. But I'm worried now that it's going to take a while -- I sat with Cold Kiss for a few months before I did much with it, mostly because it was still brewing. And then I hadn't had that time with Glass Heart, and writing it was a hell of a lot harder.
I may post the four basic ideas in here tomorrow just to get some feedback, if anyone's up for it.