Launch Week!

Launch Week hit my editorial website last Sunday and God's blowing the trumpets of celebration. A tiny budded flower emerges from my inner shadows, blooming for the first time into the light of purpose. I've never felt this way before. I've dived into a world filled with my greatest passions: writing and editing. Who thought I'd actually have the opportunity to do this full-time? I never did.

So, in celebration and to spread the word, I'm posting my Launch Week announcement and special on this blog and my book review blog. You may not be a writer, but you may know one. You may not even enjoy writing, but you're witnessing a hopeful writer entering into a dream. I can't believe God picked me.

The Announcement:

It's Launch Week at last!

This means you can get a substantive edit for a $150 flat fee if your manuscript is 80,000 words or less and for $200 if it's between 80,000 and 120,000 words.

This is a HUGE bargain, both in the freelance editing world and on my personal site. After this week, my prices will settle to 0.0035/wd (ex. 80,000 wd manuscript = $280). Please see my Editorial Services page for more details on what your edit will entail.

Important to Know:

• The Launch Week Special begins Sunday, March 17th and goes through Saturday, March 23rd.
• Your manuscript must be fiction (thumbs-up if it's speculative...my favorite!). I do not edit non-fiction or poetry.
• Priority is given on a first-pay, first-serve basis
• I accept Paypal to this email address - nadine.r.shea@gmail.com (this is not a contact e-mail!).
• If you don't have your manuscript quite ready, go ahead and schedule it with me to get your discount. I'm happy to help you and happy to wait! If you need a critique ASAP, please mark your payment as such.

Please understand that, though I will be as speedy (and thorough) as possible, depending on your place in line, it may take several weeks for you to receive your edited manuscript. You may schedule your edit anytime between now and August 31st.

Contact:

If you are interested in the Launch Week Special, please e-mail me with your name and "Launch Week" in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, please include:

• Your name
• The genre and current length of your manuscript
• The intended age group of your manuscript
• A small description of your manuscript
• Whether or not you consider your manuscript "Christian"
• Any questions about my services
• How you heard about this special

Please share this special with fellow writers so they may all have an opportunity to take advantage of this special. Thank you!

Freelance Dreaming

Have you ever experienced the innate whisper telling you you can't pursue dreams? It sounds a little like this:
.

That dream doesn't make enough money for you to support a family.

This dream isn't what people expect from you.

That's not really a dream, it's a sporadic urge.

That can't possibly work out!

God wants you to do unpleasant things for Him. 
 

Why is it we think we can't pursue dreams?

Perhaps there is no "we" in this; I may be alone with this brick wall. I don't know when it started to build, but with each brick came the repeated thought, "If I want to do it, God probably won't let me." Every time this thought repeated, my cement grew harder.

From where does this message arise that God desires to douse us in a begrudging life of self-sacrifice and grim determination through things we hate?

In the past few months, I've neglected my blog and wondered what my returning post would look like. I was going to paint a picture of my ideal future--a vision of dreams, per se. Sometimes it's just fun to examine your dreams with raw honesty. I was going to paint Nadine Brandes as the successful writer on one hand and freelance editor on the other, but because I hold a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, I've always felt freelance editing would never really be in my future.

Why?

An exceptionally difficult day two weeks ago led me to re-think my income prospects. This is when freelance editing swam into my mind again. And this time, God asked, "Why not?"

So I asked, "Why not?"

 

My knees hit the carpet and stayed there for two weeks (figuratively). Like swirls of smoky magic, I prayed my way through creating a freelance editing website (yes, another site....).  I "launch" it Sunday (March 17th). 

So what is it exactly?

I'll be offering substantive edits of complete or partial fiction manuscripts (preferably Christian). I want to help Christian author-dreamers hone their writing so they can continue to impact the world. I've recently been strongly affected by Christian speculative fiction. I see the power it holds compared to secular novels. Both hold adventure, but the Christian ones bring something so much more fulfilling. I find myself pursuing God more, seeing Him in new lights. I want to help with this. 

I truly believe God's blessed me with editing eyes. I dedicate my very pupils to Him. So, March 17th (Sun) through March 23rd (Sat) is Launch Week. I'll be offering full fiction manuscript edits (80,000 words or less) for $150 and 80,000+ for $200. I can't wait. 

This post may sound a little like a business pitch, but it's more like a life update. I'm following passions. It's terrifying and yet beautiful. Fully committing to something completely out of my control is the best type of adventure.