WORK WITH A FAMOUS EDITOR!

[Anita Diggs]

I am frustrated because, although I only charge $2.00 per page for developmental editing, many writers seem to have a problem with the price and want to haggle with me about it. I'm also annoyed by the fact that many writers do not know the difference between a developmental editor, copyeditor and production editor. It seems to me that if you're serious about making it in a new industry, you should do your homework. Okay, thanks for listening to me whine (smile). Anyone have some good news to share?

Anita Diggs has worked as a developmental book editor for Random House, Time Warner Trade Publishing and Thunder’s Mouth Press. She has lectured across the country on the topics of novel writing, book proposal development and how to get a literary agent. The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, C-Span, The New York Daily News have interviewed her. Columbia Journalism Review placed Ms. Diggs on their “The Shapers” list for the year 2000. The Shapers is a list of prominent New Yorkers who shape the national media agenda. Email: [e-mail]

[Cherry-Ann Carew]

Ohhh... hold down the annoyance Anita, the haggling won't go away and it's not worth it. I've long since refuse to let those form(s) of ignorance get to me.

On the good news side, I've just joined this site that is inspirational and believe me, I need a lotta that!

Happy New year.

[Enoch Mubarak]

With your listed credentials you should lay out the definitions and prices for each distinctive service category and charge them $5.00 per page. They will then haggle you down to $3.50 per page and feel good inside about it.

With your credentials I am sure that the service you are able to provide your clients as compared to the services of someone in your business with less credentials amounts to the difference between eating out and dining out.

With your credentials and if your clients get what they paid for it then they should recognize the difference between a picture and a painting and not complain.

Enoch Mubarak
President & CEO Mubarak Inter-prizes
www.mubarakinter-prizes.com

[Anita Diggs]

Hi Enoch!

Thanks for the words of advice. I have set my prices now and I don't get involved in haggling at all. My life is a lot smoother now (smile). Happy Holidays!
Anita

[Vannessagrace]

I don't believe it is the intent of the authors to give you a hard time. And isn't negotiating a part of business? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but one must not be criticized for trying. I believe they're frustrated because they can't afford to pay for your services with the possibility of getting burned in the process. I've paid two different editors and was disappointed with both, one acted as a Ghostwriter and the other didn't understand the language of the culture of some of the characters and said, "no one talks that way". There was no satisfaction guaranteed or your money back and that’s over $3,000 down the drain and the manuscript is still sitting on the table.

Perhaps you might want to list the prices you charge for copyeditor and production editor, explain the differences between the services and let the authors decide what they think they need explaining that if they choose unwisely there will be an added cost to do what's necessary to get the manuscript up-to-par for publication.

I need an editor for my book but haven't been able to find one due to cost and the fear of getting burn again. $700 is a lot of money for a 250-page book and not many authors have the luxury of having discretionary funds of this amount laying around. And it's a hard pill to swallow when you've learned that the person you hired to edit your book was ineffective. I know because I've been there.

A great edit does not guarantee a New York Times best seller and that's what I heard when you wrote "It seems to me that if you're serious about making it in a new industry...." that’s a definite turn off.



Wishing you much success.

[Anita Diggs]

Hi Vanessa:

My life has changed for the better now (smile). I have set my new rates and I don't get involved in haggling at all. I am truly sorry that you wasted so much money. Sorry about anything that I said which was a "turn off." I didn't mean to insult anyone.

All best,
Anita