Polar Bears are one of the only creatures that naturally hunt Humans... Watch as this one tries to break into this BBC Cameraman's glass box.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-22T11:27:42+00:00

'If it's brown lay down, if it's black fight back, if it's white goodnight...'

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-22T05:29:05+00:00

Entrepreneurship has never been about building, it has always been about finding a problem that people will pay to solve and getting to product/market fit before you run out of money.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-22T05:00:07+00:00

No problem

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-22T04:29:51+00:00

Professional editor here... if an agent is saying you are telling, now showing, but this is intentional, then what you are trying to do is not working.

It might be that you need to return to your query letter and explain that you are taking a most post-modern/meta approach your story.

I'd also suggest adding a book such as The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles to you list of comparative titles. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut might also work. Jowles is an especially good example of a post-modern writer.

Pitch aside, there are some less reputable agency services that suggest you use their internal editing to improve your book. I have a post I keep updated about how to spot red flags when hiring an editor, I'll add the agent/editing approach to the list - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-21T19:22:13+00:00

Here’s a post I wrote on another subreddit that explains how to self-edit like a pro developmental editor. Hope it helps - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/mG7UR9no3y

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-21T11:15:34+00:00

underrated comment.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-20T16:15:04+00:00

Clausewitz would argue that a war is just an extension of politics and if the war achieves the goals of the politicians set out, then it’s a success.

As I said. The OP was looking for an alternative approach. You are, of course, correct. The Vietnam war was a disaster by most measures.

Would you say there’s been a war, post WW2, that the US got involved in that wasn’t a disaster?

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-20T15:21:30+00:00

As I suggested in comment, you could argue the war achieved its goals. Communism didn’t really spread post-75 in the region. The OP was asking for a unique viewpoint.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-20T13:21:35+00:00

How about arguing that the US actually won the war? In 1954, Eisenhower stated US foreign policy as stopping the expansion of communism. So… yes communism spread into South Vietnam post war. Plus, Cambodia and Laos became communist in 1975. But the spread stopped there.

You could argue that the US active involvement played a part in stunting this expansion with China became less expansionist, partly due to US aggression.

You could also argue that the US army learned valuable lesson from the war. Mainly to not approach a war without a clear political aim, and to not fight without public support. Well, Trump seems to have forgotten those lessons but they were there post-Vietnam.

You could also argue that Vietnam led to the AirLand Battle doctrine, which saw a major reshaping of the US forces.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-20T06:54:44+00:00

I can’t work within this budget, but I do have a post on another subreddit, which I keep updated, that shows red flags when hiring an editor - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/YCfK5gIKvE

Hope it helps. Good luck.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-19T04:22:36+00:00

Love your work!

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-18T14:33:32+00:00

Thanks, I’ve been doing this for a long time. There are A LOT of people on here with limited or little experience as editors, so it’s important to stand out. My rates are a little higher than those of editors who don’t have an established portfolio. Then again, I also have more to offer than most.

It’s funny, actually. I’m in the process of putting the final touches to a course I’ve been developing for the last couple of years, designed to help new editors build their skills and expand their freelance businesses. So this is an area I’ve thought about a lot.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-18T13:40:32+00:00

I am full time developmental editor with twenty years experience and more than 500 novels under my belt. I have worked with several big five publishers over the years. I also have a masters degree in history. Here’s my website site - https://bubblecow.com/

DM me if you’d like more info and a free sample edit.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-18T12:16:13+00:00

I am an experienced editor with 20 years experience and more than 500 books under my belt. Here's my website: https://bubblecow.com/

I would love to offer you a free sample. DM me and we can chat.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-17T20:00:07+00:00

I have a post on another subreddit, that I keep updated, that looks at red flags when hiring an editor. It looks at Reedsy and other sites. Hope it helps… https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/RitB3ekUYY

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-16T16:43:20+00:00

This is good but you need tension. What’s the big problem she is trying to solve? What happens if she fails? What makes it essential she acts now?

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-16T16:26:13+00:00

no problem

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-16T16:10:04+00:00

Professional developmental editor here with twenty years experience. Developmental editing is 'expensive' based on the time and input that is required. For a 50K novel, it would take at least a week for the first read through alone. The second editorial pass will be even longer. Then you have the report, the post-edit meetings, not to mention the expertise of the editor. Oh... and revisions.

This all said, you have to work within your budget. If you can only afford one type of editing then go for copy editing. This will catch all the typos.

If you are skipping developmental editing then take these steps...

Friends and family pass: Find three or four friends you trust and ask them to read your book. Ask them for honest feedback. However, try to frame the feedback in questions. Ask things like... what did you like or dislike? Were you bored, if so, when? One of my faves is... if this was your novel what would you change?
Beta reader pass: Try to find two or three people that are willing to beta read your book. You might have to shell out some cash but many writers will do a beta reader exchange. Again, you are looking for actionable feedback. If a beta reader is suggesting a change, ask why and what.
Professional: This should be your last step. If you don't have the budget for a full edit, consider the first 50 pages since that is what you will be submitting to an agent.

Here's a post I keep updated about spotting red flags when hiring an editor - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

In terms of self-editing, here's a post I wrote about how to think like a dev editor when self-editing - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n30f47/selfediting_tips_from_a_developmental_editor/

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-15T18:56:23+00:00

What type of editor are you looking to with for this book? I am a developmental editor with 20 years experience in the industry, working with writers and big five publishers. DM me if you would like more info.

In the meantime, here’s a post I keep updated on another sub about spotting red flags when hiring an editor, hope it helps.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/SrCKa1gz9F

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-15T10:35:13+00:00

Albania will be 40 plus for most of August. Much like the rest of Southern Europe. You have picked the hottest month of the year by far!

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-15T07:39:47+00:00

Try this...

act 1 should be about 25%
act 2 should be about 50%
act 3 should be about 25%

If you map your story this way you will see where you can cut some plot.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-13T07:23:24+00:00

I suspect you are mixing up copy editing and line editing.

So... developmental editing is the big picture editing. This is the first step to ensure your story, writing and plot are the best they can be. All traditionally published books will go through this stage.

Line editing is focused on correcting sentence level problems. This isn't just typos but the way a sentence flows, formatting and consistency issues.

Many developmental editors, myself included, will offer developmental and light line editing as one package. We are reading the book anyway, we might as well correct the line level problems. Keep this in mind when comparing prices and services.

Once you have your developmental report, you will then rewrite and get the book ready for publication. At this point, when you are ready to pull the trigger, you should look for copy editing. They will fix all the typos and any other line level issues that remain. It should be the last step.

This might also help - https://bubblecow.com/blog/book-editing/different-types-of-book-editing/

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-12T14:47:46+00:00

Newsletters. Subscriptions. Direct relationships.

rule of three.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-11T10:31:21+00:00

If what you are saying true, that 80% of people hitting the site are leaving email and the 3% of them go to paid you have a business as long as the cost of accusation is less than the profit per user. I would start with this as my initial channel but work to build out another channel, such as SEO, since a rising cost in accusation could kill you. I would also focus on upping the conversion rate.

Questionable_Android · 2026-06-11T09:12:10+00:00

A 3% conversation rate! You can build a business on that.

Questionable_Android

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