I am doing a bit of freelance work through Upwork. (https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01b342ac09e29f5b3a)

For many years now, I have been an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) reader, beta reader, and “proofreader” for different online platforms, including Reedsy and Booksprout. I have read numerous ARC copies and other newly published books. Most of the books I read are fictional, but I have chosen some nonfiction, so I do have some experience. All of the work up to now has been free and voluntary.

I’m also taking some online courses on copy-editing, line editing, etc. and hope to begin marketing myself for potential income.

There is an author whom I have read multiple works of and have given feedback. The stories themselves are good, and some of the ideas I would say are actually brilliant. The problem with this author’s writing is that there is a lack of consistency. The last book I read was interesting; however, there were so many problems. I wrote the author, as this book is already published, and told them that there were a lot of inconsistencies. I wrote page numbers and quoted lines from the text to “show” the inconsistencies. For example, in one chapter, the character is in the kitchen reading something, but then all of a sudden puts the papers “under her pillow”. I point out stuff like this.

This was the response I got, and it is astounding that an author would not want to have anyone read their work before publication.

Thank you again for such careful and thoughtful feedback. I wanted to clarify that much of the disorientation in the story is intentional — the reader is meant to experience the same uncertainty and shifting sense of reality that ****** does as she’s being gaslit. Spaces, routines, and even people subtly “move,” creating doubt about what’s real and what’s been altered. That said, I truly appreciate you pointing out where the line between intentional confusion and clarity could be stronger, and your notes will help me sharpen that balance in future revisions. Thank you for engaging so deeply with the story.

I wrote this post just to share….All of the writers here will know that editing before publishing is so important. I am NOT saying that blogging follows this rule. We, as bloggers, break some of the rules. I intentionally mean authors publishing books that are for sale!