Author Topic: Help Proofreading a submission (Read 25,142 times)

wraith808 · « **on:** August 26, 2013, 01:58 AM »

I'm putting together a submission for an anthology from the Upgraded Kickstarter:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/clarkesworld/upgraded-a-cyborg-anthology-edited-by-neil-clarke

http://neil-clarke.com/books/submission_guidelines/

I was looking for some readers- I've finished the first chapter and wanted to get some feedback as I go into the second (looking at 3 chapters, approx 7500 words).

My submission is called 'Forgotten Heroes', and I was wondering if anyone would like to read/give feedback? Let me know, and I'll e-mail you what I've written. I will warn you that the first chapter might seem jingoistic, but just hang in there... it's a progression

4wd · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2013, 02:18 AM »

That depends, I'm crap at review stuff, (even simple ones), but if you don't mind me limiting myself to typo/grammar/structure/logic I'll give it a go.

Obligatory Contract: I reserve the right to shoot myself in the head if the going gets too tough. Failing either eyesight, hand coordination, nerve, or caffeine to accomplish such, I offer to bow out gracefully. All provided electrons will be returned to their rightful owner.

Renegade · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2013, 02:24 AM »

Dropping you a PM.

wraith808 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2013, 02:25 AM »

Any help at all will be ... well, helpful! And very much appreciated! This is the first time I've really tried to publish anything anywhere other than just my site, so I'm a bit nervous

I've sent you the link... I'm writing it in Yarny, and it lets you share snippets so I've done it that way. If you'd rather another format, I can do that too. And you can post any feedback here. Thanks again!

Renegade · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2013, 02:42 AM »

To proof/edit I'll need to do it in MS Word. But copying & pasting isn't very hard.

4wd · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2013, 03:45 AM »

epub would be nice thanks so I can read it on my phone, (I hate sitting in front of the computer to read).

Bit busy today, so don't expect anything from me yet.

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2013, 04:03 AM »

I'll try. Where's a good link to download from?

wraith808 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:13 AM »

To all that are reading, I have updated the dropbox with the latest edits. Thanks for your help!

4wd · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:21 AM »

Just a question, how would you like corrections/suggestions/etc made?

I hate to say it, but Google Docs where it can be commented against is probably great for something of this length, (the constant refreshes with resultant loss of focus where a PITA with the length of K's book).

Or just a PM with anything?

Or the whole thing with bits highlighted?

wraith808 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:25 AM »

I'm not opposed to anything

How did you guys set it up for K? Was it a Google Doc with the contents of the document? Or was the google doc just a list of the edits?

4wd · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:41 AM »

BTW, both the docx and rtf downloaded were identified as a pdf when they were downloaded here. ie. Contents are PDF not Word or RTF.

Perry set up the Google Docs thing - I'm just having a play with Google Docs now but it seems straight forward.

Log into Google Drive, click Create->Document, paste in your text then you can click the Share button up the top ~~left~~ right, (your other left I meant to say), to enter in gmail addresses in the Sharing settings screen, selecting Can Comment next to them.

They'll then get a link to the document.

Plus you can export in the most common formats which might save on the uploading to DropBox.

wraith808 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2013, 05:09 AM »

Done in regards to sharing the Google Doc, and annoying with the dropbox. Apparently, unless you download a zip, it autoconverts to pdf. I don't know when they started doing that- but it's stupid and annoying.

What you have to do to get it to download in the original format is to click on it and let it open as pdf... then in the upper right hand corner, there is a download button- that downloads it in the original format.

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2013, 05:35 AM »

I dunno, I got a text file okay...

4wd · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2013, 02:41 PM »

Just tried it again, epub is OK because it's basically a zip file, txt just gets displayed, and as Wraith has said, docx and rtf are converted to PDF and then sent to you automatically.

I have to cancel the download and choose Direct Download for the original ... that's just retarded.

Oh well, lots easier in GDocs anyway.

kyrathaba · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2013, 01:39 PM »

Here's a good site that can convert from just about any format to another: http://www.online-convert.com/

mouser · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2013, 02:02 PM »

Where do we download your submission to proofread?

wraith808 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2013, 02:14 PM »

I'm keeping it updated on dropbox in several formats: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gix779x61pgibl7/NuWnSvXsB3

There's also a google doc that 4wd is already using for comments; if you're interested, PM me an e-mail address and I'll share it with you.

wraith808 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2013, 10:08 PM »

Very aggressive round of edits just finished- updated all formats on DropBox and on Google Docs.

4wd · « **Reply #18 on:** August 29, 2013, 05:38 AM »

I just realised why you're really doing this:

Quote from: wraith808 on July 26, 2013, 03:03 PM

I want one! LOL

wraith808 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2013, 01:14 PM »

You found me out!

kyrathaba · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2013, 12:38 AM »

wraith, I converted to mobi and read it on my tablet. Please tell me you're going to epublish and have Createspace make a paperback... it's really excellent!

wraith808 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 30, 2013, 02:51 AM »

Quote from: kyrathaba on August 30, 2013, 12:38 AM

wraith, I converted to mobi and read it on my tablet. Please tell me you're going to epublish and have Createspace make a paperback... it's really excellent!

Thanks!

A lot depends on if I can get it done by the deadline and if it's accepted. If it is, then this will serve as the intro and I have an idea how the rest of the book will go. If not, I have the idea of either making it a stand-alone introduction and working on the book as a separate idea, or making it the first few chapters of the book. But thanks- that does good to hear

kyrathaba · « **Reply #22 on:** August 30, 2013, 03:01 AM »

You could also release what you have as a novella, with succeeding novellas down the road. 30k to 40k word each, maybe...

wraith808 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 30, 2013, 03:09 AM »

That's a good idea, also!

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #24 on:** August 30, 2013, 03:14 AM »

What is the deadline and for whom?