The hardest part

I have literally been searching for an editor, for book one of my trilogy, for months. And I have decided, that finding a book editor is on the same level as finding a new apartment or house to live in. To say it sucks, would be an understatement. I would rather pack up my old place, clean it and single-handedly do all the moving than look for a new place to live. Ditto with book editors.

Why don't you just get Ai to do it? OMG! Are you serious? The way society is headed, by the time I find a real live human editor and get my book published, they'll be no one left who can still read. And there I will sit with 300 books - crammed into my new apartment, sipping on some tea and deciding which Ai dating service I should use. As you may already know, Ai is the epitome of laziness and any author or editor who uses it is a lazy bastard! There is no grey area here! LAZY BASTARD! Hmm, maybe that's a bit unfair? What I should say is anyone who uses Ai in their writing or editing is a talentless LAZY BASTARD!

Which reminds me, how do you know who uses Ai or not? We'll, it's quite difficult to find out. As a rule of thumb, I would say if an editor doesn't state it on their website or bio, they're using it. Of all the websites I have scanned, I have only seen one editor state that they don't use Ai in their process.

So, my search for an editor has not gone well.

There's a very good independent bookstore near me whose proprietor is super friendly and knowledgeable. I asked her one day if she knew of any editors that might fit my needs?

She did and gave me the information for fairly established publisher who had a host of editors that freelanced. So far so good. Then I had a look at the publishers website. The first thing I always look at is the copyrite info at the bottom and specifically the year. This information speaks volumes.

As I write this blog, the year is 2025. It's the eighth month of the year, not the first one.

The publishers copyrite year was many years out of date. Which tells me, they don't care! Nope, don't give a shit or a flying f%ck! This company is to be avoided at all costs. Oh, but wait, there's more! I was reviewing an editors website, the one who plainly states that she doesn't uses Ai and her copyrite date is 2020! Eep! Five years out of date. What pray tell is your excuse for letting that slip?

I can see this happening just after new years and eventually whomever runs the website gets to it and changes it to the current year. More than one year though, is a red flag. And the person waving around the red flag is saying I don't care!

Websites are funy things. Some are outstanding and others are not and with sites like this (wix) and their competitors, it really doesn't take much effort to get a good one published.

And most of them now have Ai assistants to help those of you who are talentless LAZY BASTARDS! Why there's an Ai assistant lurking just off to my left had side right now. Lurk all you want you soulless cretin - you will never assist me!

In my search for a real live human editor, I have seen many abominations of websites. Remenber when Homer Simpson created his own? We'll, his was quite accomplished compared to some I have had to look at. And I can't unsee them now!

What to do?

Keep looking I suppose and perhaps fate will look kindly upon me and send someone my way.

But don't wait too long. I'd like to at least publish book one before the Ai overlords take over completely and unopposed. Before they decide that reading to us, as a mother does to a child, is all we are capable of - intellectually.