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(Cross-posted to techwr-l and CEL, since Bonnie wrote to both groups)
Bonnie Granat wondered: <<A company (book packager who says its
manuscripts are primarily from "a well-known POD publisher") has sent
me a copyediting test consisting of 2-3 page portions of three
remarkably bad documents that I don't believe any copyeditor would
regard as ready for copyediting.>>
Perhaps this is actually a meta-test: that is, a test to see whether
you're prepared to apply bandaids where a tourniquet is required? I
think it's also appropriate to insert a standard warning: though "print
on demand" is not proof of unpublishable material, you'll certainly see
much more unpublishable crap in this market than you'll see with a
traditional publisher, which has (how shall we put this delicately...?)
standards and a staff willing to screen out the worst literary
excesses.
<<Therefore, I do not plan to take the test.>>
I'm in the fortunate position of no longer having to take such tests: I
have enough loyal clients that I don't need to prostrate myself before
a publisher to prove that I'm worth hiring. What I will do, if the
opportunity seems interesting, is offer to do the full monty on a
manuscript if they'll pay me my standard rate to do so. The logic: They
get an impeccably edited 2-3 pages that they can then include in the
published material; I get compensated for my time. I encourage this
practice wherever possible, since it helps employers to understand the
value of our time--which they won't do if they can get us to give up
several hours of our time for no guaranteed compensation.
Clearly, this is often impossible, particularly when you're starting
out in the biz or in between clients and need work. It's also true that
when we bid for contracts, the time spent preparing a bid is not
billable. We can try to bury that in our cost estimate as a hidden
cost, but when (as is likely in Bonnie's case) the client is only
prepared to pay a fixed price per page, that's not an option. Tough
situation.
Here's a suggestion: If you feel that the manuscripts are not yet ready
for copyediting, why not offer the company your services as a
substantive editor, at a higher rate? Clearly they need the services of
such a professional to produce material that will be ready for
copyediting, and the client can sell this to their authors as a
value-add. Worth a shot!
<<I don't want to just tell the company that I am not going to take the
test, but I suppose I could say just that. I'd like to tell them in a
diplomatic way what I've written above. If I don't tell them, who
will?>>
Say summarize what you've said, with a little spin: "I'd be interested
to work with you on this manuscript, but it's not yet ready for
copyediting. It needs a thorough substantive editing first, and I'd be
happy to show you what I mean by that term. I believe we could work
together to offer your authors this service as a value-added service
for authors who need more than simple copyediting. Here are my
terms..."
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