I did something to myself at the gym. I’m pretty sure how I did it, too. I had an exercise where I knelt on a bench supporting myself with one arm and one knee, one leg extended and the opposite arm curling 25 lbs. At the time I didn’t notice anything and finished my work out pain free. I’d walked on the treadmill for my usual 100 calories.
I probably pulled a muscle in my thigh and late in the day it must’ve contracted with a vengeance, because yesterday the muscle over my hip hurt like a sonovabitch. I couldn’t get off the couch. Sitting down was an issue. Sleeping was a huge issue. It is a bit better today – I am typing from my chair – but that sucked so much. Ugh.
So picture me hobbling around in the house going, “Ow! Ow!” and asking Gordon embarrassing things like, “Could you please pull me off the couch?”
I don’t see the audio of Sweep of the Blade? Where is it?
We have gotten about 10 of these in the past three days. Do you see the listing for the ebook of SOB? No, because we haven’t even settled on a date. It will likely be the second Tuesday in July. The audio will be a little behind the ebook, because we are in the process of selecting the audio reader. We found someone who we think will doa good job and asked her to do a short demo of the fight scene.
We are also waiting on additional artwork. Because the story is no longer a novella, we asked Doris to create a couple of new illustrations.
You mentioned that it’s hard to find a good content editor. I’m wondering how does one get into genre and fiction content editing? (Especially if one already has an related Bachelor’s and doesn’t want to go back to get another degree.) Any resources, articles, blogs etc you can recommend?
A
It depends on what route you want to go.
If you would like to be an editor for one of the major publishing houses, they hire just like anyone else. For those jobs, your best bet is Publishers Marketplace. If you click on the link and scroll down, you will see current jobs available. Most editors start as assistants and work their way up.
If you are trying to be an independent editor, things are a bit more complicated. Most people will probably point you to some websites, like guru.com or getafreelancer.com. The truth is, this business works on word of the mouth and a handshake. Our content editor, Sandra Harding, worked for Penguin for 15 years and was once a Senior Editor at New American Library. She was recommended by our agent. Stephanie, our CE, originally volunteered to proofread one of the Sweeps and Jen, our new proofreader, was also one of the volunteer editors. We liked the quality of their work and we hired them. Writers get very comfortable with their editors, because it’s so difficult to find a good one, and we tend to hold on to them.
As far as I know, there is no centralized hub for independent fiction editors. I would suggest making a website – wordpress is easy to set up – and then volunteering to either proofread or content edit so you can accumulate some testimonials and recommendations. You can also get some mileage out of attending conventions that cater to independent authors. Arrive armed with some business cards and try to network.
You can also try to do some digging and find agencies that help their authors self-publish. They often use editors, but they usually prefer someone with experience. Content editors who work for a flat fee make anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 depending on the depth of edit, sometimes more if the project really needs help. Content editors who work by the hour tend to be more expensive and least preferred by writers. I won’t work with a content editor who charges by the hour, for example, because I want someone who will think about my work instead of staring at the clock. For that amount of money, people prefer to have some assurance of competency, which is why I recommend getting experience first.
I hope the hip gets to feeling better soon! I am trying to kick the last bit of the cold my nephew gave me, it’s down to an occasional annoying cough now. Now that I have energy again, I am doing a big laundry day and I hope to do at least a partial re-organization in the kitchen with the next day or two!
The editorial process is interesting to me, just because it must be such a fine balancing act so thank you for sharing all the information you do! =)
Thank you for all the great info!
FYI: https://reedsy.com has 1000+ editors. You can see what they’ve edited and who they’ve worked with.
You always give the best advice. Thanks for being a gem!
Ouch! Sorry you’re hurting. May I recommend Hylands Leg Cramp ointment? It works beautifully:)
Hyland Ointment Leg Cramp 2.5oz pack of 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRGWB9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kC9.CbMGVF4PX
I “slept wrong” a couple of months ago and did some serious strain to the muscles in my arm, ribs and shoulder. I had pain killers, muscle relaxers, doctors appointments (and a whole bunch of cardiac tests because shoulder pain and nearly 60 year old = possible heart attack). I went to the chiropractor and that just made everything worse… My doctor recommended a deep tissue massage. I’ve had 3 and holy cow did that work… I’m moving and feeling a lot better. (And, because my doctor recommended it, it’s a medical expense for my taxes.)… you might try that if it doesn’t get better “on it’s own”.
My kid two fell, broke S1 vertebrae and had surgery. Constant pain two years later and massage is a major help. I just texted her your info, that if she itemizes it can be deductible, so a big thanks!
For others in similar situation, her office bought her a standing adjustable desk as well as ergonomic regular chair and desk. Now she can work away without sitting constantly.
My massage therapist told me that if you strain something, most muscle issues will sort themselves out in about three days. If you’re still in misery on day four, make an appointment for your first possible chance. It’s served me well over the years, and I’m clumsy to the point of ridiculousness.
!
Hope you can get better! It sucks to be all “ow ow ow” , I relate, thanks to the night fury(the cat that adopted us) I messed up my left ankle(the only reliable one I had left lol). Wish you a speedy recovery!
I’m so curious about the new narrator! I’ve become addicted to audiobooks and I so plan to get it!
Btw
I’m the only poor soul that never imagined Lady Ilemina that hot? Loved the look! Reminds me of this actress…Margo something.
Margo Robbie? I agree with that assessment. 🙂
It sounds like you were doing an exercise called, at least in my conditioning classes, a bird dog. I can totally see how you would pull/hurt something because the balance is hard to maintain while keeping hips etc aligned. Do you have a roller pad? Sometimes, rolling on the IT band or other spots can help loosen the muscles though at the time of the rolling, it hurts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoHBDim_fzk
Good luck!!!
I used to think those cartoonish ideas of “pulling a muscle,” especially in the back, and being unable to move were exaggerations. I have such a high pain tolerance I’m sure I could work through anything like that, my naive young self thought. And then the last time we moved, the next morning I woke up walked around and literally collapsed unable to get off the floor from the pain in my back. No matter how much I told myself I wasn’t old and this wasn’t me, I stayed there all day while my husband dealt with the kids hahaha. Muscle pain is the worst! I regularly see a massage therapist for cupping in my neck and it is delicious. Hope you get some relief soon.
I hope you feel better soon. I am having health issues and it’s not fun.
Really looking forward to the next book. I love your books and re-read them often.
I hope the muscle gets better!
Also, thank you for telling us it’s Ilemina. I was wondering if she was Seveline. The image is incredible and I pretty much love everything about it.
Good luck with the hip! I got my hip problems from corckscrewing a crecent kick in my kickboxing class. (Your foot is supposed to pivot with your body, mine stayed stationary…) Ah, the things you do in your youth that then decides to catch up with you again like an old friend later in life.
Thanks for the interesting info on proofreading as well!
Excuse me while I be a man and try to solve a problem…but I would suggest watching this, as I’ve seen a lot of similar injuries with the dumbbell row in the gym. You’re not at as big of a risk as men, but is still a fairly risky exercise:
https://youtu.be/GLHGa2MCI_A
I just pulled a muscle in my back. Got stuck a couple times. Once on the bathroom floor. And swore to myself that the minute I’m better, these floors are getting cleaned…after such a close inspection.
I just pulled a muscle in my back. Got stuck a couple times. Once on the bathroom floor. And swore to myself that the minute I’m better, these floors are getting cleaned…after such a close inspection.
Lol, I was about to post the same video!
Good luck with the hip, I can empathize! Also, interesting info on how to become an editor, thanks!
Tiger Balm, they have it at WalMart with the ace bandages. It’s like a miracle. It stinks, but it works.
Sorry about the hip, hope it heals quickly. Just got over a pinched nerve in my back that was causing severe (completely debilitating) sciatica in my hip/leg. Physical therapy was a life savor. Getting older sucks! Lol
I’m a copy editor for an educational organisation (staying anonymous here) and for those asking about how to start working in editing, sfep (the society for editors and proofreaders) has been an invaluable resource. They have online courses and a great range of products available, and while they’re UK-based, I don’t think participation is limited to the UK—I hope not, since I’m based in NL and have had no problems.
This is a good place to start to get to know them and their services: https://www.sfep.org.uk/training
Good luck! It’s rewarding, yet occasionally very frustrating, work. It’s fun to shape something to be the best it can be.
The SfEP is one of the best ones out there. 🙂 If you’re in the US, check out the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). There are also some excellent regional US groups, like the Northwest Editors Association. Our northern friends have Editors Canada.
I’ve heard the EFA has some classes for developmental/content editing. There’s also the Author-Editor Clinic, which has both an online class and a book that covers much of the same material. Their approach is somewhat formula-based, but it’s a good place to start.
Everyone does developmental editing differently. Like Ilona said, the best way to learn your own style is to volunteer your services for a while and ask the authors to give you feedback. Also make sure you’re reading current books in the genres you want to edit. Be wary of over-correcting or adhering too closely to beat sheets and craft book advice. There’s no one true way to write any book, but you can help an author write a better version of the book they want to write. Good luck!
*Sorry, that should have been Northwest Editors Guild.
Thank you for replying with more resources! And for the proper capitalization of my suggestion—you have no idea how many attempts it took to get my tablet to stop correcting it to “step”. (Enough times that I gave up and didn’t even attempt it in this post.)
I did something to my shoulder a couple of months ago. My husband thinks it’s a rotator cuff thing and has given me some exercises to do (he’s, of course, pulled, torn, broken pretty much everything at one time or another). The worst thing is that Sunday was the first day it was hot enough to use our pool and I’ve found swimming makes the pain in my shoulder worse. So depressing. So I’m going to be stuck doing shallow end calisthenics instead of my laps.
Hope you feel better soon!
I had the same hip issues for months. I started taking Pilates instruction and discovered that instead of using my core and inner thigh muscles for stability I was using my hip. We took away all weights and worked on using the right muscles then slowly added ankle and hand weights as I got stronger and maintained my form. I can’t say enough about how great it’s been. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Sorry about the hip – was in a car accident at 19, the Dr. said “you will have arthritis in this hip.” Young Me – “yeah right”…Now Me – “OMG Ow, ow, ow, freakin’ ow!!!!” especially on rainy days.
Hah – I was right!!! Picture of Arland’s mom in SOB – thank you for confirming 🙂
Feel better soon!
You have my sympathy with the hip hurting and asking someone to help you off the couch or anywhere for that matter. The best thing is to relax and sleep. I know it’s easier said than done. When the muscles in the hip stop hurting, so slowly with the exercise.
That said, barometric pressure changes don’t help either. There are days I feel like I am a walking barometer in that my muscles ache and hurt in places.
Feel better soon.
Go slowly….not so slowly. See I need an editor. 😀
Deep deep experience here. You might consider me evodokias auntie. Betcha getting early stage auto immune inflammatory illness. Sorry. Mostly don’t kill you but definitely annoying. First STOP WORKING OUT!!! You need to heal using ONLY hot water bottles not heating pads and NO ICE!! Use CBD massage cream plus etechcricy 2 station heated massage pad. Get all the trixvfor less than $100 on Amazon . Get a new work chair. Add padding under desk elliptical foot thing. Finally check PINTEREST!!! Yep for info on piraformis issues. If you get to go to Dr you get to be embarrassed. Again. Good luck. Sigh. I’m gonna go spin my house around now and check the soup pot.
Thank you for your concern, but according to my latest physical, I do not have an autoimmune disease. I pulled a muscle. It happens.
The thing I dislike most about being 60+? People keep telling me bad things happening with my (knees, shoulders, eyes, etc) are “normal” like that’s somehow supposed to make them OK.
Kate – My 80+ grandma says surveys/applications usually have a single age range for seniors, like 65+. It is one of her pet peeves. She says each elder decade is really different health and mobility wise just like when are younger.
Perhaps you can switch your physician to someone who specializes in your age group and tries to improve your quality of life? There’s options including physio, diet/exercise changes, medications, and surgery just like they’d look into for a 30 year old who came in complaining of the same ailments. Grandma also said “some generalized new young thing Dr. isn’t as likely to understand how to treat the elderly because she doesn’t really understand what I want. Nothing hurts daily for her, yet.”
You may want to consider acupuncture as well. I have chronically acute fibromyalgia along with osteoarthritis and lumbar spine damage. About 25 years ago I was being urged by my many physicians to go on full disability. I was only 32. I was being tortured in physical therapy. You don’t want to know how many pain meds and other meds I took. I found an acupuncturist who also performed massage. Within 3 treatments I was off all medications and back to work full time. It certainly can’t hurt!
I was recommended and (attempted) acupuncture. I was unable to continue even with the first attempt!
I would echo the massage idea. As a lifelong health issues person, this has been the most successful way to help with various things over the last 40 years.
My point is though, people respond in different ways to the same type of treatment.
It also depends on the weather, but that is another story…..
Good Luck Ilona, and I hope things improve soon.
Sitting at the desk all the time….the muscles adhere to bone…check out Rolfing…..deep tissue massage. I have rheumatoid in shoulders and wrists plus no rotator cuffs – they don’t work! I have no idea how that happened!?
The deep tissue massage has kept me going for last 15 years….One visit a month… I call it maintenance and at 76 its a life saver!
Over the years, doing very deep splits and leg over head postures in yoga really did my right hip in (1 year and counting). I take this medicinal soup 3 times a month. You need to go to a Chinese apothecary for some of the herbs. It says for two pax but I finish it. Please look up the double-boiling method for brewing Chinese medicine. Brew for 4 hours.
Good recovery!
http://www.ellenaguan.com/2010/02/double-boiled-tian-qi-with-pork-muscle.html?m=1
I spend a lot of time in the swimming pool these days walking in the water, stretching and treading water. It makes a difference on my aging body to be sure. I took a bad fall in February and the gym is still not on my agenda because of my back. It’s healing, but it’s a slow process, I tell ya the water really helps. Sorry about your injury.
My mom had a serious problem with spinal stenosis, and she did water exercises in the pool into her late 80’s. She believed it was the only thing that kept her walking so long. She kept doing the water exercises even after she had to start using a wheelchair to get around. I agree with you, and do the same thing myself.
Hate pulled muscles but love massages. Time sure catches up to us I guess. Hope you feel better soon.
Ow, I hurt just reading your injury. Get well soon.
In addition to the Tian Qi herbal medicinal soup I drink sbove, I also use this ointment.
(btw pork “muscles” in the Tian Qi recipe is just pork.. find a cut for stewing. Chicken works too. I use Black Chicken which is always used for medicinal soupd but I don’t think you can find it unless you venture to an Asian supermart).
https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Lock-Oil-Wong-Yick/product-reviews/B00382JMYM
Pregnant women avoid since moving the Qi or prana during pregnancy is best avoided. The ointment helps to move congested Qi in the injured area. The Chinese does know a lot about injuries due to the tradition of martial arts.
Rub in a couple of drops of the ointment. Briskly but without pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat this process for 5 mins. Twice a day.
Also avoid water for 2 hours. Yes it means you can’t use wash your application hand ?
Couple more suggestions, try magnesium and potassium (if low) to help get rid of the cramps. Also try rolling a tennis ball over the area or a hot pad to relax the muscles. My hips float sometimes and will use a cane to keep the weight off of the hips.
My sympathies on your hip pain. I hope it is better soon. I am glad you are healthy (and smart!) enough to do the gym when you don’t have pulled muscles.
I am older than you (70) and had some health issues recently. Add to that some stupid stress eating and I’m trying to get healthy enough to find a trainer to start me back on exercise. Walking and exercising in the pool is helping, I assume, but I’m determined to get better. However, just whining about it is so much easier!
Keep up your good work, when you can.
Thanks for the ID on the illustration. I love it and really did not want it to be Seveline. The krahr slipped past me as an identifier. Yes, Lady Ilemina is very hot!
Muscle and nerve pain are the worst. I use Salon Pas (small ones in strategic places work better for me) but due to glue intolerance (I blister) I can only keep on a few hrs. I still get a red rectangle that lasts a bit, but it helps me break the migraine cycle until I can get to my chiro to adjust the neck and get off the nerve. Since you have hip pain, they also make a lidocaine patch. Worth trying. Target or Walmart carry all of the stuff. I would get an appt now with the doc, as you can cancel if you feel better. Fingers crossed and good energy your way.
I agree about the lidocaine patches. They’re wonderful. Hope you’re better soon.?
Sorry to hear about the injury. Hope you’re recovered soon. The lady in the illustration is beautiful. It’s always interesting to compare the mental image I get when I read the story to what the artist’s image is. In the illustration she looks younger and skinnier than I had envisioned Lady Illemina to be. I had a mental image of her as having much broader shoulders and facial features and a more worn look after her years of leadership. I look forward to seeing what the artist comes up for the other characters.
+1 I think our mental images are similar. ?
I realize the vampires look younger, but I hadn’t imagined her that young. (I totally missed what the animal on her shoulder was supposed to be!) It’s a beautiful illustration. ?
I hope you start feeling better soon! I’ve dealt with muscle pain and spasms and the like since 2007, it is not fun in the least.
While picking up a book for my Dad from the local public library, I thought I’d see what they had of yours. [See image]. They look well loved to me!??
Does anybody else re-arrange library books so they’re grouped by series and in order? (Btw, I don’t work there.) ?
Yep, It just seemed reasonable. No one seemed to mind.
🙂
So I had the right house and the right family, just the wrong branch. (And Lady Ilemina’s son Arland is how old? Don’t tell me she uses Oil of Olay….)
That sounds more like a sciatic nerve being pinched than a pulled muscle. A trip to the doctor would not go amiss.
Last year I was doing similar exercises and a Farmer’s Carry. I overloaded my hip and lower spine. Pressure on the Sciatic nerve in my lower back caused the pain to extend down over my right hip to my right thigh. After suffering, the Physical Therapist had me bend backwards over an exercise table ten times, not holding the bend but straightening up right away. Alternate exercises are pelvic thrusts and bridges with the upper back flat on the surface and your arms extended on the floor parallel to your torso. I did my exercises at home bending backwards over my kitchen counter. The pain was reduced in a day and gone in three days.
Right now, there is no bending. 🙂
I second the Salon Pas patches. I don’t have an allergy to the glue and have worn them overnight.
I feel you pain. Quite literally! I have had pain in the hip area since February that did not get better no matter what I tried (and kept getting worse). I finally went to an orthopedist who misdiagnosed me with bursitis. Since I was already scheduled to go to a physical therapy I began PT. It kept getting worse and I was in so much pain by then. An MRI revealed a 2 degree strain of the quadratus femoris (means a pretty good tear in the muscle belly but not all the way through) and also some 1 degree strains in adjacent muscles.
All of that to say, I feel your pain and hope you heal quickly!! Also, getting old sucks.
Editorial Freelancers Association has excellent courses and membership.
As a content editor who freelances, thank you SO much for explaining it in such a loving way. Not all of us are charge-by-the-hour-monsters, LOL.
And for the record, not only do I use your books as case studies for my clients, I’ve even given a fan shout out in my own novel. Coming soon!
Thank you for the clarification on “the blond.” I can’t believe I never noticed the Krahr on her shoulder! That looks like the sort of extra bits “the bad guys” add to their armor to look nastier in fantasy stories! 🙂
Hope you feel better real soon! No advice from me, you’re an adult who does adulting very well.
Glad I was right and it was Ilemina, it was the hair colour, fangs & the Krahr on her shoulder that did it for me 😀
It’s fascinating when you tell us about the behind the scenes publishing stuff, very like a whole different world.
Hope you heal soon. getting old sucks…we don’t heal like we did in our 20’s. <3 Lady I!
I’ve always wanted to be an editor, but couldn’t figure out quite how to break into fiction editing. People kept telling me I could edit textbooks, which holds absolutely zero appeal for me. Unfortunately, life happened and I had to get a job that pays the bills. However, should I ever have an opportunity to pursue editing full-time, I’m ditching my current job. I don’t care how many benefits I have; it doesn’t feed my soul. Thanks for the advice!
I have felt your pain. Usually I overdo squats or calf raises— they feel like nothing at the time, but, a few hours afterward, I’m hobbling. And I think, “Body, couldn’t you have warned me this was going to be a problem?”
Sorry to hear about the muscle pull, but it sure happens. The suggestions and advice has been rampant, but thought I’d add my two cents. I’m mid 60s, exercise hard (boot camp) and muscle soreness happens every time we do something slightly different. My only suggestion is the anti inflammatory of your choice and lots of soaking in a hot tub of water. Since getting up and down is a bit painful right now, could try a heating pad I dare say. Hope you feel better soon!
On another front, I get the anxiousness about SotB, boy do I. But I figure there will be an announcement when it’s available. So stop bugging the authors! That’s got to be annoying and no one should want them to be annoyed!!
I wish you a quick recovery and marvel at your workout. I can only offer myself as a control. I’ve had two friends work towards running in the Boston Marathon, they made it, and another who was a good female triathlete. I do nothing more strenuous than walk a couple times a day and throw a ball for a dog, but I can applaud those who do workout and encouragement is the name of my game.. Go Ilona! After you heal of course. No reinjuring allowed.
Huh, I didn’t think that was Ilemina if only because she seemed too.. slender? I felt like she was described as being a very built, solid woman. And the image looks too slender for what I had in my head. Also younger than I’d imagined. Oh well. I never thought it was Maud though, we’ve already seen Maud and Helen together too.
Hope you recover and feel better soon.
I just started back at the gym after having to take 6 weeks off to recover from abdominal surgery. I am just doing the bike at this point. I am scared that when I go back to the weights I will tear something:)
I loved the illustration thought it was gorgeous. I didn’t think it was Maud because blond hair, long hair and fangs clearly showing. Thank you for the peek at how amazing the book art is going to be 🙂
For the narrator, I am hoping you will once again use Renee Raudman. She does such a great job on the Innkeeper series. I have had the experience of being drawn out of a story because the voice of the character is so different from the previous books. Renee’s take on Maud came to life in my mind and I could see the character as one who embraced the Vampire culture. If Renee is unavailable, well, that is life. Whomever you choose, I look forward to listening to the story.
Ilona, are you having pain/tenderness when you sleep on the affected hip/side? If so, I would consider doing a test to see if this is trochanteric bursitis? Basically if you feel on the side of your body and feel for the top edge of the upper wing of the pelvic bone/iliac crest (located in the lower abdomen), you stick your thumb at the top of it and stretch out your hand and down your hip toward the greater trochanter (located on the lateral/out side of your leg/hip, see diagram in below link) and you notice a very tender spot located at the very tips of your finger when strength your hand, then you likely have trochanteric bursitis or inflammation of the fluid filled sac there. Ice and NSAIDs (ibuprofen or topical diclofenac) can help but you might want to make sure if those are okay with a physician first.
If you are noticing any numbness, tingling or weakness, there might be a nerve or tendon injury involved and you might need further evaluation.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4964-trochanteric-bursitis
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wfGhQOXBd-w
P.S. if you aren’t tender to direct pressure, it’s not trochanteric bursitis
If no one has mentioned it, you can try http://www.naiwe.com – the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors. Great information available for editors and those looking for one.
Total sympathy. I pulled my right hip deadlifting a few weeks ago. Pain was an issue, of course, but not nearly so annoying as the recovery time. “Hold up, I have to wait HOW LONG until I can get back to my normal lifting schedule?” Silver lining: so much bench pressing.
Amazing the variety of stuff that works for people. I’m a big fan of the MELT method and my current client, who has Parkinsons, is getting relief from Hemp Cream $19.95 off Amazon. It relieves the twitchy muscle stuff when her meds run out. Helps me too when my muscles complain about all the lifting.