I often recommend getting a set of professional eyeballs on your work.
Here's a way to do that without spending money.
You have to contribute time, but sometimes a writer has more time than money.
I've been friends with Ben for a long time.
I've sold him books.
His editorial eye is one of the best.
Here's the link to his offer.
I've not had the pleasure of Ben's critical eye on my work, but I follow him on Twitter, and he seems to be a genuinely nice and generous guy. I'm not at all surprised he would make an offer like this.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great first day back after vacation, Janet. :)
I saw this on Twitter. That is a very cool offer.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Janet! Since you volunteered a whole week of vacation time to writing the DoY's adventures with you (or...your adventures with her?), will you be sending your MS to Ben?!!
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a lovely offer on his part when you posted it in the comments awhile ago. I may need to take him up on it.
ReplyDelete[PSA]
ReplyDeleteA couple of Reider forthcoming books are now available for pre-order, namely Sam Hawke's CITY OF LIES (July 3, 2018) and Adrienne Kisner's DEAR RACHEL MADDOW (June 5, 2018).
I have updated the "Published Works of Janet's Blog Readers" page in the Treasure Chest.
Thank you!
[/PSA]
... oh, and how could I forget our very own dear Donna's ROAD TO BITTERSWEET which comes out on Dec 26th?? It's on the list... :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for all of our friends with forthcoming books! Congrats! So much to read, so little time...
ReplyDeleteOT- but had to share. My daughter and her roommate just like 5 minutes ago adopted a cat. Of course he is no where near as fine as the DoY, but deceitfully adorable. He will be making the typical feline run for world domination. No doubt about it. My pug won't allow me a cat so a grand kitty suits me quite well.
ReplyDeleteI love that people like this exist in the world!
ReplyDeleteColin, thanks for the PSA :)
EM, enjoy your 'grand-cat!'
How generous and thank you Janet for posting this. I shot him an email this morning.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. As a Relief Society sister, I tend to volunteer in the community regularly. Never really thought I could get something back other than the good feeling that I made the world a better place. I might take Ben up on his offer.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. As a Relief Society sister, I tend to volunteer in the community regularly. Never really thought I could get something back other than the good feeling that I made the world a better place. I might take Ben up on his offer.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. As a Relief Society sister, I tend to volunteer in the community regularly. Never really thought I could get something back other than the good feeling that I made the world a better place. I might take Ben up on his offer.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't volunteer.
ReplyDeleteI love volunteers. I wish I was one of them. I'm in awe of some of the volunteers I know. But I'm so busy. I don't even have time to get my own stuff done some days.
And then I saw Janet's comment a little while ago and I visited Ben's site and I read as my jaw dropped open and I slapped the self-importance right out of my soul and said who the fuck am I kidding?
Last Friday night, I walked up to a lady at a place about a mile from my house and said, "Hey, if you need any volunteers tomorrow, I can come by." Didn't have to slap her or ask twice. Volunteered again today.
I don't have my four hours in yet, and I'm not usually a stickler for rules, but I'm gonna get there. I don't know Ben LeRoy, but I sure admire how he lives.
I guess that by the definition of volunteer, I am not one. I can see too many things wrong to spend the time lining up the ducks my state says that I need to be a volunteer in their eyes.
ReplyDeleteAfter the storm I cleaned up my street and moved on. I went to an area where people need to get to work and got their driveways cleared so they could do that. I motivated some of the kids in those neighborhoods and hope it sticks.
If you see something that needs done, do it. It is better karma than being among a crowd of those who need their backs patted for joining a queue of volunteers.
What an awesome offer. He sounds like a great guy. Win-win for all participants!
ReplyDeleteAnd Colin, thanks for the link and plug. :)
Craig F. -
ReplyDeleteTo be clear, direct action is a totally acceptable way of volunteering.
I agree with your statement "if you see something that needs done, do it." Sometimes that means working through established agencies (the advantage being they have an infrastructure and existing relationships) and other times it means helping neighbors get their driveways cleared so they can get to work.
I've worked with hundreds of volunteers over the years and I've met very few who were there to be patted on the back.
YMMV.
This is such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Mr. LeRoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing thing to do. I hope this is still going by next Sunday, because I've got a couple events I'm signed up for!
ReplyDelete