Sounds like an interesting project - though personally I'd like to see some samples of his writing if I was considering whether to support it or not. I couldn't see any, but I've not gone and googled him either...

I'm a bit torn about projects like this - but really because there's a bit of me thinking that it's really way too cheeky, and wouldn't it be nice if I could promise to self-publish a book if only a bunch of people paid the US$3000 that it would cost me to live for a month or so with no other income whilst I wrote it... (which isn't what he's asking for, I admit!) I dunno though - okay, professional editing, but if it's a) that bad to start with, then why should other people pay for it to be fixed, but b) if it's that good to start with then aren't there cheaper ways around paying for a professional editor before sending it off to a publisher (which presumably is something he wants to skip anyway), which... which all very much makes me feel that I want to see his writing... *g*

But I did go and look up the Bechdel test, on the basis of his post at Kickstarter, and that was a very interesting and cool thing, and I wonder why I've only just heard of it now!

And oh god, I've just realised that all that was really just a way to delay getting back to work...

[Unknown LJ tag] pointed out below that they're already up on amazon and frankly I have changed my mind about wanting to read these.

I don't have any problems with the kickstarter funding, though; it's up to individuals to decide if they see worth in the project. Good luck to him if he gets it.

A friend of mine tried crowdsourcing for funding to write. I can't actually remember what the outcome was!

Anyway, I was really intrigued by your writeup of it, and actually went to make a kickstarter account. And before giving, I went to see what else he had written... and then I got completely confused.

Because Amazon UK seems to be selling them already, complete with 'click here for sample'. So is this the unedited version, or something different?

Bit perplexed now!

But at least we - well, I! - can click on samples to download and have a browse. Let me know what you think.

Mate you're not the only one who's confused - I didn't know that these were on amazon already (although the first one appears marked "no pricing information available") but I can see why he wants an editor. The writing is very stilted and exposition-y, full of tell rather than show. By the first clothing description I was ready to bail, but kept going a bit longer in case it got better. And then bailed once she got to the club. I'm disappointed now; the premise was such a good one but I don't think I could slog through that.

I'm actually a bit relieved, because I didn't even get that far, and I am good at giving things a chance! Initially I glanced at the first page and thought "Ow". I've read the whole extract now. It's still "Ow".

Maybe he knows he has problems with that, though, and that's why he wants the editor? Although I am not sure whether editors edit style to that extent.

But I must say, if I had paid £6 for the paperback and got that, I would not have been impressed.