After editing many large projects (two of which I was agenting who waited until the work was complete before firing me – ergo, free editing and manuscript polishing) I had to sit back and wonder what time is worth. To me, time is worth a lot, because I have private clients, Apex and Lachesis scheduled for almost every day of the week, not to mention my own writing and I want to have time with my kids.

Enter harshness:

I used to edit/read for friends, but don’t anymore as it’s rarely if ever reciprocated. I stopped this entirely when a former friend continuously expected me to follow along with the numerous re-writes on more than one novel, but told others she had no first readers or editors. Ever. I’d been doing it for her for years, and had NOTHING in return by way of similar work. Nothing. In fact, over last summer I attempted to urge her on to at least answer me if she’d even looked at it. Nada – so therefore – I won’t read/edit for friends anymore. One person ruined the entire thing. Actually, if it had just been the once, it would have gone by. But it was years of work for nothing. I just won’t do it anymore.

Ok, that’s not entirely true. I will so long as there is reciprocity. I will do it once, and if it’s not reciprocated, I’m done.

I absolutely miss the crit folder from a message board I was on once. There were five of us who regularly went over each other’s work and commented. It was almost steady, and it was most certainly a group event. Rarely did any post go unnoticed or unread/uncommented. It was lovely. I am part of a discussion list where there are crit opportunities, but again – I put in more than came out. I didn’t mind at the time as I wasn’t with Apex or Lachesis and wasn’t busy with private clients.

I live and raise two kids on a limited and restricted budget. We rarely if ever get our wants, but we do get our needs (well, most of the time) covered. I don’t bleg (except for votes and the like..LOL). I work every day to make sure I have resumes out and applications filled out, my work for clients, Apex and Lachesis done, or a large chunk done, before I work on my own writing. I mean, it’s a matter of responsibility. I have a responsibility to maintain my end of the working bargain. I even manage to get blogging and commenting done, and occasionally manage to post to discussion lists, too!

And you know what? I even have time to do things with my kids. BUT, my time is worth something. Get it?

The world revolves around give and take, and eventually shove. That’s my keyword for 2008. Take more than you give, you get shoved. Period.