I don’t think this is mean. Controversial? Perhaps, but this is exactly the issue I am speaking of. I recently was asked to read a work that had numerous 5 star review on amazon, and had many indie writers crowing about it as well. The author in the 1st three paragraphs contradicted herself twice – stating a fact and then showing action that put the lie to the fact. If done for humor this sort of linguistic reversal can be very effective. In a purported para-normal fantasy, it was irritating. Worse because I could tell it was down to poor vocabulary. The author had the word Guardian firmly in her head in its parental function, forgetting that it also could mean bodyguard.

As an Editor I would have had this entire passage excised. As a reader, it made it impossible for me to read the book because in my head I was lecturing the writer, not getting to know the characters.

Most of the time, spelling and grammar mistakes can be fixed by any good editor, but the underlying work is still going to stink (unless the editor pretty much rewrites the whole manuscript). The end product is just well-edited crap. Cardboard characters. Stilted dialogue. Plot holes. Boring prose.

I’m glad that professional editors have a bigger pool of potential customers, but honestly, I have no idea how you guys can bear working with what you undoubtedly see. And then there’s the problem dealing with the reactions to your suggestions. Cluelessness is too often accompanied by thin skin.

It must be teeth-gnashingly aggravating.

Cheers!

On the other hand, it’s really no different than any other business–there are competent people and incompetent, ego-driven folks with nothing to back it up, and hard-working, driven folks determined to make a name for themselves.

Great conversation.

And it is also why we (at least in my experience) keep schtumm when met with inferior writing in the indie world. In the world of big publishing, if a book is published with poor writing there are many places to spread the blame, in indie writing, it is nearly always because a writer has published something without the business framework you mention.

But is keeping quiet serving anyone in the long run?

That being said, you have two choices, really–either stop reviewing indie writers or ask for a sample page (that should be all you need) before you agree to anything. Speaking out about that writer will probably only amount to heartache for you and them. It’s a sad fact, and no it isn’t fair. We’ve seen both traditional and indie writers melt down over just such issues, often messily and in public. I wish you luck!