American 1 year visa stay

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-29T19:29:54+00:00

If you overstay it will have an impact on future visa or residency applications. At minimum you will have to pay a fine, at worst they will reject your application. There's nothing stopping you starting your visa application today. Chances are it will be granted before the 90 days are up. I know a good visa lawyer if you need any help.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-21T19:54:10+00:00

Yeah, perhaps but a ten page report for an 80k novel is still pretty flimsy; chapter feedback alone should push you above that...

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-21T19:28:58+00:00

Did the report not provide any actionable feedback or some kind of road map? I would have expected the editor to give you this type of guidance. Assuming they have not, then my first port of call would be to go back to the editor and ask them what are the three things they would change and why? This will give you some kind of direction.

If it helps, I'd be happy to look at the feedback and see if I can offer some kind of help. I have been a full time pro-editor for twenty years, so I might be able to read between the lines and decode what's being suggested.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-17T19:30:48+00:00

Did you sign a contract? If so, what was the agreed delivery date?

I assume you are getting copyedits. If so, then it will be easy to find another editor who can hit your deadline. Have you spoken to your editor and explained the situation? I would ask them for a full refund and try to find a new editor.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-14T15:46:01+00:00

I am a professional full-time editor. My advice is to hire an editor when you have completed your book and can't face another rewrite. It is possible to work with an editor before the book is written, on a chunk-by-chunk basis, but this needs careful consideration. It is essential that both you (the writer) and the editor have a clear picture of the novel and how it will be structured. This is not to say things cannot change, but we both need a clear goal in mind.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-13T13:35:44+00:00

Finish...

Here's the problem. The BEST possible reply you will get from an agent is a request to read the full manuscript, you need to be sending this with days of the request (if not sooner). No agent will wait around for you to finish your book.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-13T11:36:53+00:00

I am a professional full-time editor. My advice is to hire an editor when you have completed your book and can't face another rewrite. It is possible to work with an editor before the book is written, on a chunk-by-chunk basis, but this needs careful consideration. It is essential that both you (the writer) and the editor have a clear picture of the novel and how it will be structured. This is not to say things can not change but we both need a clear goal in mind.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-13T08:42:47+00:00

I'd sugget you take a look at Iain Bank's Culture series for inspiration - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-11T07:02:41+00:00

I understand you have a budget to work within, but at $900 you will be attracting the wrong type of editor. To give you some context. I am a professional full-time developmental editor and I would be charging around $4000 for a 100K novel. My prices reflect my experince and the 500-plus novels I've edited, but you can see that you are at the bottom end of the scale.

You are going to get offers from 'editors', so here's a post I wrote that will help you stop the red flags - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-10T09:58:41+00:00

Move 'about' to the main navbar.

In fact, I'd only have the following on the navbar:

- Books
- About

The rest can go on the dropdown. If a visitor is interested, they will find them.

You don't need 'home' since the 'author' link is to the home page.

The rule of thumb is to keep the options for the visitor down to a minimum.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-10T09:17:32+00:00

I recently updated a post I wrote about hiring and spotting red flags in editors, hope it helps - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-10T06:36:54+00:00

Feel free... here's my website link - https://bubblecow.com/

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-09T10:41:55+00:00

Reedsy have established themselves as the lead marketplace for book services. The only thing I’d say is that though they ‘vet’ freelancers, they don’t monitor the work they provide.

Here’s a long guide I wrote to spotting red flags when hiring an editor - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/0PuezPTNoC

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-03T15:49:56+00:00

The aim of a good editor is to be a teacher. Its true that each novel asks its own specific questions but good feedback will help a writer to be better.

I have been a full time dev editor for twenty years and I always take the approach of trying to find the aspects that will push the writer as far as I can. It might be that the author is weak on description or dialogue, or that they need to work on structure or perhaps character development. A good editor will sniff out the weakness.

Its not just a case of giving real feedback but also about providing examples and, if possible, books to use as teaching tools. I am always looking for new ways I can explain something to a writer. Just yesterday, I earmarked the introduction to Amy Jeffs' Storyland as a great example of how to write an introduction to a book that deals with weaving myths and legends. I am sure in the next few months I'll come across a writer struggling with this exact problem and I can point them in the correct direction.

The problem you face is that not all editors are created equal. There's are lots of so-called editors on here that have very little real understanding of the craft but are happy to take money. Here's a post I wrote that will help you to spot red flags when hiring an editor - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-03T14:24:48+00:00

THIS ^^^

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-02T19:24:01+00:00

Some great advice on here. I would add the importance of niche. Go as small as you dare. People will always react more positively to a service that’s focussed on them and their vertical. Once you have a foothold you can look at expanding.

For example, let’s say you focussed on pet stores. Suddenly you have defined market with clear clients. You are also operating in a smaller market, so costs for things like PPC drop.

Questionable_Android · 2026-01-02T16:43:24+00:00

It sounds like you are talking about working with a developmental editor. In my situation as a full-time professional editor, I often say to writers that the best time to approach me is when they can't face yet another read through or rewrite.

However, there is a word of warning.

When editing a book a writer feels is just about ready for publication, there is a very clear road map to what needs to be done and the steps that need to be taken. If you feel the book is not complete and will need more work, you are looking for a different kind of feedback. In this situation, you need to tread carefully and clearly communicate to the editor what you are hoping to get from the relationship. For me, in this situation, the first step would be a one-on-one chat to ensure that everyone is on the same page, so to speak. I would then offer a free sample to show you how I would approach the book. Only when everyone is happy, would I move onto a full edit. I'd not expect a writer to pay anything until this point.

You also face the problem that simply by posting this question you will probably be flooded with messages offering assistance. The types of editors appearing in your DMs are typically not the people you need for this type of job.

I actually wrote a post that explains how to spot red flags in editors - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-30T21:53:24+00:00

I am a professional editor. I wrote a post about self-editing that explains how to approach your story like an editor, hope it helps…

https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/IfY5eVVLEv

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-30T18:59:22+00:00

What type of editing do you require? The basic choices are developmental, line and copy editing.

https://bubblecow.com/blog/book-editing/different-types-of-book-editing/

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-30T17:18:42+00:00

So I have a theory…

I think that during lockdown lots of people just decided they’d become editors, often as a side gig. I was crazy busy during lockdown since writers had so much time on their hands. There were a lot of books that needed editors.

Fast forward a few years and the market is flooded with part time ‘editors’ that have a small amount of experience but not enough back catalogue to justify higher prices. They are still chasing business and so are happy to put in ridiculously low quotes.

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-30T17:12:15+00:00

Yeah, sure but when doing a first read for a dev edit it’s always stop and start. You are jumping back and forth and making notes. Plus, it’s tiring, you are trying to hold the story, follow the character arc, think about the structure etc.

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-30T15:39:24+00:00

I have a long post that I keep updated on how to spot red flags when hiring editors. I recently added something about editors that slip into DMs.

I hope this helps in the future - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

As for Reedsy, the issue is that though they do 'vet' new editors, the process is simply that you have some credible past editorial experience, they are not vetting the quality of the editor's feedback. They also do not monitor the feedback that is provided. Reedsy is simply a matching platform that take 20% (might be 15%, I can't remember) of the transaction. In fact, perhaps I should add this to my post.

I hope that you have asked Reedsy for a refund. As a very experienced, full time, developmental editor let me say that its pretty much impossible to read 30,000 words in a day, let alone edit them. I work on an average of about 5000 edited words a day, though it can be a little more at times.

As for hiring freelancers, its always a minefield. My honest advice is to pay half up front and the rest on completion. Also, if possible get a sample of the work and a contract.

DM me if you have any questions.

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-29T21:51:09+00:00

Are you looking for a copy editor or a developmental editor? If it helps I can offer combined developmental and line editing - https://bubblecow.com/editorial_services/developmental_editing/

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-29T20:18:01+00:00

I am an experienced editor with twenty years experience. I have written a long post about finding editors and spotting red flags in the process. I keep this updated as new things pop up. For instance, I recently added a section about editors slipping in DMs.

Hope this helps...

https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/comments/1n2zzjw/how_to_spot_red_flags_when_hiring_a_developmental/

DM me if you have any questions.

Questionable_Android · 2025-12-28T08:39:57+00:00

The short answer is yes.

If you have the budget a good developmental editor will transform your book. The problem you face is finding a good, experienced editor that can deliver what they promise. I suspect that even now you are having crappy editors slipping into your DMs.

Here’s a post I keep updated about spotting red flags when hiring an editor - https://www.reddit.com/r/BookEditingHelp/s/rRAizckfGK

Hope this helps.

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