Submitting A Manuscript For Editing
Work you send must be your own original work. Plagiarism is not only morally
wrong, but also unlawful and results in heavy fines; it's not worth the
risk.
Manuscripts may be sent by standard mail or electronically. International clients
are welcome, but please contact me first to discuss arrangements.
Do consider a Mini Edit if you are unsure of which
type of editing your manuscript needs and deserves.
Below are details of:
- Hardcopy Manuscripts Sent by Standard Mail
- Electronic Submissions
- Specific Requirements and the Process for Each Service
Hardcopy (print-on-paper) Manuscripts Sent by Standard Mail
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Do tell me what type of service you want. This might seem obvious, but you'd
be surprised how some people assume others are telepathic.
Do please use my Formatting Tips as guidelines
for how I would like your manuscript to be laid out. Apart from ensuring a pleasing
and professional start to our working relationship, it is good practice for
submitting your work to publishers.
Do print off, fill out and include the Project Information Sheet
as this provides me with important background information
on your experience, expectations and manuscript.
Do make sure you include a Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope with the appropriate
amount of postage paid and of suitable size to ensure the safe return of your
edited manuscript.
Do send a clear and clean copy of your manuscript.
Do use one or two rubber bands or ribbon to keep your manuscript together.
Do not staple or bind the pages in any way.
Do not send your only copy. I take all care once the manuscript is in my hands,
but accept no responsibility for the whims of postal services, marauding weather
(yes, we do get the occasional tornado), or natural disasters and would hate
the original manuscript to be lost or damaged.
Do include appropriate payment as a Money Order (available from Aussie Post
Offices) or Cheque.
Work will not begin until your payment arrives and is cleared.
If you are unsure what the cost should be, according to the Rates
or you wish to discuss options for paying in instalments for large
works, please contact me.
Electronic Submissions
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I accept manuscripts via e-mail.
Do tell me what type of service you want. This might seem obvious, but you'd
be surprised how some people assume others are telepathic.
Do use the Project Information Sheet as a guide for what I need to know, as
this provides me with important background information on your experience, expectations
and manuscript. Please include it in your e-mail message.
Do attach the document to the e-mail as a Word document.
Do please use my Formatting Tips as guidelines
for how I want your manuscript to appear on-screen. It should look the way it
would if you were submitting it to an agent or publisher in hardcopy.
Note: All manuscripts sent electronically are printed out. Why? No matter how
expert the editor, reading a manuscript solely on the screen often results in
things being missed, and I want to do the best possible job on your work. Changes
and comments are made on the hardcopy and duplicated onto the electronic file.
(Two files may be returned, one showing the editing structure and comments,
and the other as a 'clean' copy with changes incorporated, if that
is what you ask me to do.)
Electronic submissions incur an extra fee of 30 cents per page for printing
the manuscript.
Specific Requirements and the Process for Each Service
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Formatting of manuscripts - the complete manuscript is sent electronically
only and payment on its way.
- Mini Edit - payment accompanies the first 15,000 words of your manuscript, along with a Project Information Sheet. (See Mini Edit Page)
Agreement of Service
For all editing services except a Mini Edit and Formatting, a simple Agreement of Service is sent to you after I have looked at your manuscript. This is proof of our mutual understanding of what you expect and the work I agree to do for you. It includes the set price for the requested service, timeframe and terms of payment. It must be read, signed and returned before work can begin.
For all editing services except a Mini Edit and Formatting, a simple Agreement of Service is sent to you after I have looked at your manuscript. This is proof of our mutual understanding of what you expect and the work I agree to do for you. It includes the set price for the requested service, timeframe and terms of payment. It must be read, signed and returned before work can begin.
-
Preliminary Structural Edit - the complete manuscript, payment and
Project Information Sheet are sent.
-
Proofreading - the complete manuscript is sent with payment.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have requested a Proofread, but this service will not encompass all the editing your manuscript needs to bring it to a professional standard, I advise you of this. It is pointless for you to pay for Proofreading, only to have your manuscript rejected by a publisher or agent because other editing needs have not been addressed - your money and my time would be wasted.
- Copyediting and Substantive Editing
-
The entire manuscript is sent with a completed Project Information Sheet.
Alternatively, the initial 50 pages may be sent with a completed Project Information
Sheet from which I can assess your manuscript's editing requirements and
give you a firm price.
-
The entire manuscript is sent with a completed
Project Information Sheet.
Alternatively, the initial 50 pages may be sent with a completed
Project Information Sheet
from which I can assess your manuscript's editing requirements and
give you a firm price.
-
Upon receipt of the manuscript I return to you the Agreement of Service to
sign, as well as the firm price for editing. (As a guide for expected costs,
minimum and maximum rates are given on the Rates page.)
-
When the initial payment and the signed Agreement of Service are received,
work begins.
- The edited manuscript is returned to you in accordance with the Agreement and is ready for you to make the suggested changes.
-
The entire manuscript is sent with a completed Project Information Sheet.
Alternatively, the initial 50 pages may be sent with a completed Project Information
Sheet from which I can assess your manuscript's editing requirements and
give you a firm price.
There may be a time when compatibility between a particular manuscript and myself
is not what it should be to do the manuscript justice. If I think the expertise
of a different editing service would be more beneficial for you and your manuscript,
I will let you know. Money already paid will be fully refunded and your manuscript
returned.
