BEWARE: Disturbing News

Recently a writer informed me she had paid an e-publishing company $$$ to have her manuscript edited. This was after she had signed a contract with the company. 

The editor asked for money  (unknown to the other editors and the owner of the company)  I think it was $80 or more to have her manuscript edited. The editor informed the writer she was absolutely terrible at punctuation. The writer then sent her manuscript to an assessment service (who advertises and is well known) charging her $250.

The writer then sent her manuscript back to the editor and it returned stating it wasn't up to scratch. The editor even asked for $80 to print it out on paper.

The editor stated how crappy her punctuation was. Instead of helping her, she made matters much worse. 

Fed up with the comments, and the feeling of being a crappy writer she emailed the owner of the company...................All monies the writer had spent were refunded, even the manuscript assessment she pursued, as she was pushed into thinking she needed this extra help.

This was a lucky escape for a new time author.

You do not pay anyone to edit your manuscript. That is unless you go to a manuscript assessment service or you sign up with someone that is asking for money to publish said manuscript. Even the assessment service the writer approached was well known, and advertises her services on the net, but really knows nothing about punctuation. I wonder what makes some people tick besides their beating, greedy heart.

So please be aware of the dollar situation when approached by an offer to publish, an offer to contract. You don't have to pay for your work to be published. The publisher receives reimbursement for their editing, printing, advertising services etc when your books sells.

Since this incident the writer has said: 'I've come so far since then. That editor is still in small press and can't make me feel stupid any more.'