Foreword, where your book comes together

For the past 20 years, I’ve wanted to create a web site or application that would provide an unaffiliated, independent social workspace for writers. Everything a writer needs to do between finishing a draft of their manuscript and selling or publishing the work is painful. There is no one place to go to find the finishing services writers may need - the cover illustrations, professional reading, and freelance editing, without wasted time searching for and evaluating results. Most opportunities for these services are scattered independent contractors, publishing houses, or networks that an author may not want to use.

This web application still hasn’t been created, so I’m going to do it myself. And I’m going to need a village to help me out. Have you ever used one of those homeowner apps that help you find electricians or painters? Foreword - where your book starts. It will be independent and unaffiliated with any specific publishing groups.

I’m going to provide access to professional readers. They will provide 2+ pages of meaningful commentary, not just a couple of lines and a thumbs up or down.

I’m going to provide freelance editors and they will be dedicated to editing your structure and/or your text with no strings attached to publishing houses.

I’m going to provide access to illustrators for children’s books and book covers. We need artists, photographers, and the rest of the village to get our manuscripts in shape.

This is where I’m trying to go with this:

• Everybody (writers or services) can set their preferred rates per thousand words

• Everybody will configure a profile to advertise their specific manuscript services, targeted by genre and sub-genre, and/or word count or platform type if needed.

• Everybody can share samples of their recent work as examples, per genre or per pen name.

• Everybody will be rated on a 5-star system.

• This application will provide secure communications between members when using the site, with secure access to your art for those who need it.

• When we get fully rolling, I intend to provide access to research services, and even formatting services for complicated nonfiction books.

I’m actively soliciting ideas at this point. What do you need help with? What is frustrating you right now?

If you join this funding, you’ll be first in line to give me your ideas on what else an application like this might be able to do for you. What do you need help with? What is frustrating you right now? I want to help the writing community.

About the founder:

Tim Pontious is a US Navy veteran who enlisted in the 1980s and was recalled to active duty to cover Operation Desert Storm. He was trained as a cryptologic linguist.

Tim has been involved in software development since the 1990s, doing everything from front-line technical support to Business Analysis and Product Owner/Manager roles for projects involving the US Government, telecom and mobile services, finance, and the State of Indiana. Red Desk Enterprises is incorporated in Colorado.