As a service to potential clients I offer free edit of up to 1000 words to help them in their editor selection process. It helps me too, as I can see the depth of editing that will be required and decide whether or not I wish to continue and how much I’ll charge. This way the author and I have a chance to decide if we’re compatible. Obviously not all sample edits end up in a working relationship for a wide variety of reasons.
This past week I did sample edits for two different writers. Both of them were completed and returned within 24 hours of my receiving them. Both of them had the same result. No response whatsoever from the writers.
No, “Thanks, I’ll think about it.” No, “Thanks, but I’ve gone with another editor.” No, “Thanks, but I think you’re too strict.” In short, no thanks, no nothing.
Is this the trend with the new writers of today? Writers who just expect a stranger to put in an hour or more of his time, in most cases on an extremely rough draft that they couldn’t be bothered to even proofread before sending it out.
I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt and just assume some family emergency or power blackout prevented them from being polite. But two in the same week? It’s beginning to look like just another example of people feeling entitled and being short on manners.
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