GRAMMAR

A client informed me that he didn't need to worry about grammar. "After all," he said, "Faulkner had lousy grammar." True, Faulkner also aggravated every publisher and producer with whom he came into contact. Wealth and fame can get you past some major hurdles. For those of us who can't rely on money or notoriety, I have a suggestion. Find a copy of Strunk and White's Elements of Style and memorize it. I don't exaggerate, this book has much the same information as the The Chicago Manual of Style/the Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (14th Edition), which most publishing houses use, yet is easier to read.

Some clients expect copy editing and/or ghost writing done on their manuscripts. They think we should do it for one dollar and ten cents per page. Have Mercy! Full-blown copy editors make an hourly wage (the 1998 Writer's Market : Where & How to Sell What You Write (Annual) says sixteen to forty dollars per hour), and ghostwriters get paid a hefty rate (the 1998 Writer's Market : Where & How to Sell What You Write (Annual) says either 100% of the advance and 50% of the royalties or a flat rate between $5,000-35,000).

Sometimes a writer pays us to copy edit a major piece of work. Every time I read and correct somebody else's work, it takes away time from my own writing, but every time I exercise my editorial judgement, it improves the quality of my own writing. I enjoy the challenge and the exposure to a fellow writer's thought processes. We tend to tell our clients about the contents of their manuscripts for free. We like to express our opinions.

People always ask us to ghost-write. We usually decline. Writers should develop their own voice, not rely on mine or that of the dominant personality in their writer's group. We can make exceptions in extreme cases. If I like the concept, I might collaborate for an anonymous percentage, otherwise we request an exorbitant hourly rate in the hopes of discouraging young writers from this behavior. We maintain strict confidentiality as far as our clients are concerned.

For more information, Fax questions with your name and address to (228) 497-5874 or E-mail us at: Curious Cat Productions

Last Revised: 02-Dec-97

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