Author: J. Casey
Date:   01-15-02 14:58

Bob,

You always seem to give curtious and sound suggestions.
Self-editing For Fiction Writers" by Browne & King (Harper) was one of the first books I bought.

However, like Pat Cooper, I find "Getting the Words Right -- How to Revise, Edit and Rewrite" by Theodore A. Rees Cheyney is cinsiderably more helpful and wondering if yu have studied it.

King has turned me off by his arrogance of not giving Browne credit and cliaming he wrote the book. Next, in one of his critiques in W D, he deleted the emotional thrill the girl felt riding her horse. Now, if an animal drools alfala and drops steamy green balls, my daughters and I are in love with the critter.

So to eliminate this exhilerating emotion left the story flat for me and down right left hostility for the editor. HOwever, I didn't write to W D and voice my oppinion. But the following month, others wrote critisizing King for deleting it and making the story flat and void of the emotion that attracted us to the story.

In another critique, a true story supposedly about a disgruntled Alaskan fishing and hunting guide, the author climed to rock to death a halibut caught in a fresh water stream on an island. King didn't call the author on the authenticity of the tale. Halibut are saltwater bottom fish, and not caught in fresh water streams.

I phoned King. I was polite and curious about his services as a freelance editor. He charges a $150 an hour, gave little assurance of what he would do, and had a selfritious, know it all attitude.

Although, he has the credentials of writing a book and critiquing for W D, he is a freelance editor I wouldn't consider hiring. I feel he bluffs his expertise.

What this amounts to is: like Pat said, "Add to your list, "Getting the Words Right -- How to Revise, Edit and Rewrite" by Theodore A. Rees Cheyney.

I think you will find the author charming, intelligent and criditable giving extremely helful examples. My copy of his book is so used, I have to keep putting the pages back in order. I have it dog-eared, paper clipped, underlined and highlighted. It's always close to my hand.

Hell, I don't even know where I put King's book. Let us know if you decide to buy Cheyney's book and find it more helpful.

The best to you.

Jane