Writing a specific number of words with the correct grammar, spelling, and syntax represents the smallest part of assembling a book. Consider the story structure for example. How do your acts and plot points line up? There’s also continuity to maintain. If someone revs up a chainsaw in act three, but your story involves a world without gasoline, you’d best explain to the reader how that works. If you don’t, it breaks the spell which immerses your audience.

All of that plus character development, active language choices, and bringing scenes to life with rich descriptions fills your head fast. Mistakes creep in when you least expect them. That’s when a good editor comes into play.

If your manuscript passes through a publishing house, an editor there will help buff down any remaining sharp edges. However, I plan to self-publish The Cinders of Your Mane as an e-book. So if I want a final editorial pass, I need to locate and pay one at market rates — around $400-500 for a 20,000-word manuscript.

My problem revolves around the content of that novella. It features lots of anthropomorphic animal (“furry”) characters, so a furry editor would work best. Good luck tracking one down. I’ve contacted the Furry Writers’ Guild, individuals I know from the furry publishing scene, and even tried social media appeals. No joy.

Maybe I could try to use a more mainstream editor, but will they “get” the material? Also, there’s a lot of gay sex and violence in my work. That could create problems. I’m not writing cookbooks here.

Since I won’t release anything I haven’t polished to a glossy shine, I find myself at an impasse. If I don’t locate someone to review my work soon, I may need to try unconventional options. But I won’t let this break my momentum.

Beasts & Brutality, the full novel which follows The Cinders of Your Mane, has reached the 80,000-word mark. Act three is coming together nicely. I expect to complete a finished rough draft in a month or so. I’m also taking a slow polishing pass over Dot-God-Damn simultaneously. But writing and editing constitutes only a slice of the time I’ve invested in my budding venture.

Building something for yourself takes hard work. When I’m not balancing a day job with writing, I’m handling all the business details surrounding Ursine Underworld™. Yesterday, that meant lawyer calls and banking information. Other days, that involves arranging an artist for the cover. (And I can’t wait to show it at release!) I’m not Stephen King or John Grisham. I can’t afford “people” to handle these things. And I’ll need to fill even more duties — like marketing — as “launch day” approaches.

It’s a good thing we bears are known for our fortitude!