EDITING SERVICES
STEP TWO:
SUBSTANTIVE EDIT
GOALS
ensures the manuscript entertains, transports, illuminates or provokes as per your goals
READERS
identifies your target market, market trends and reader expectations
STORY
shapes the flow of the story, the complexity of the plot, and the effect of the climax
VOICE AND CHARACTER
ensures an original narrative voice, and plausible, memorable characters
THEME
clarifies ideas and symbols throughout the manuscript with a focus on subtlety
PACING
fixes the pace of sections that drag and those that move too quickly
GAPS
queries the ideas, events, and character motivations that are missing
Includes:
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Your professionally edited manuscript with highlighted issues, queries, explanations, and suggested solutions to problem areas
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A phone conference to discuss my edits
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As you revise and update the manuscript after my edits, we'll repeat this process up to three times.
STEP ONE:
ASSESSMENT
CONCEPT
Is the story intriguing and original?
PLOT
Are the main storyline and subplots carefully interwoven? Do they hold the reader’s interest?
CHARACTERS
Are they unique and memorable and complex? Do we care about them?
STRUCTURE
Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? Does each component serve the story as a whole?
POINT OF VIEW
Is it consistent throughout? Is it effective?
PACING
Does the plot move along and hold the reader’s interest? Does it drag in places?
LANGUAGE
Is the language fresh, appropriate to the characters, necessary, and immediate? Is it authentic? Is the dialogue realistic?
Includes:
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A full review of your manuscript
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A manuscript assessment of 10-12 pages, with examples, references, explanations, and creative solutions
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A phone conference to discuss my assessment
STEP THREE:
COPYEDIT
APPROPRIATENESS
ensures your work is appropriate for your intended readership
CLARITY AND ACCURACY
ensures accuracy and clarity of English
STYLE, STRUCTURE, AND FLOW
improves the structure, style and flow of your work
JARGON AND REPETITION
checks and corrects jargon and redundancy
SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION
checks and corrects spelling, typos, and punctuation
GRAMMAR AND USAGE
checks and corrects grammar: subject / verb agreement, tenses, active / passive voice
INTERNAL CONSISTENCY
checks the consistency of names, places, characters, events, facts and presentation
Includes:
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One page summary of the copyedits
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Style sheet: 2 to 7 pages of word choices, spelling, syntax, etc
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A manuscript with detailed copyedits (using the TRACK CHANGES feature in Microsoft Word)