Book Editor - Author - Book Reviewer
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Book Manuscript Editing
For most writers, having another person or several other people read the manuscript for substance, grammar, syntax, and punctuation is essential to developing a publishable book. The pre-publication readers must be experienced in the genre and willing to provide an honest appraisal of the work (which usually leaves out family members who will want to protect feelings). I would advise beginning writers to seek out a writers group to provide ongoing chapter-by-chapter guidance during the plot development process. Check with your local bookstores to see if they have a writers group meeting there or look for online writers groups. Once the manuscript is completed, it should be offered to several additional readers for their critiques. After all readers' suggestions for plot or other changes are incorporated, the book manuscript is then ready for professional editing. Most book editing projects involves two phases. The first phase is story editing. The second is line editing. If the manuscript is a fiction novel or memoir, editing for a consistent and compelling story is just as important as line editing for good grammar, syntax, and punctuation. When I undertake a book editing project, I work from a printed copy of the entire manuscript rather than the computer file. I read the entire work from start to finish, reading for story structure, plot, and overall writing quality. I mark areas that need to be tightened or eliminated. When I find plot glitches -- parts of the story too inconsistent with other parts or too improbable for a reader to continue reading -- I mark those and make suggestions for improving the plot or structure of the book. When I see obvious spelling, grammar, or syntax errors, I mark those as well. Then I return the story-edited manuscript to the author for the author to correct the manuscript file. Once the author has made the story edit revisions and resubmits a revised manuscript file, I read the entire manuscript again from the computer file onscreen, correcting any remaining spelling, grammar, and syntax errors as I read. As to my rates for editing a book manuscript, each book project is different, but in general my editing services rates are spelled out here. Before I undertake a book editing project, I must see a portion of the manuscript file to determine the overall quality of writing and whether the project will be a story edit or a line edit. Most writers will also want me to do a sample chapter to see the quality of my work. I generally ask that your book in "standard manuscript format." Standard manuscript formatting means an 8-1/2 by 11 inch page with 1 inch margins (top, bottom, sides) using 12-point Courier New or Times Roman font and double-spaced text. A full manuscript page (double space with 12-point font) is generally about 250 words. I generally work in Microsoft Word.doc file format but can convert from and to other file formats. Please email at roger@rogerpaulding.com to discuss your editing needs and time-table for getting the work edited. If I can meet your schedule, then I'll ask you submit a chapter so that we can determine whether we like each others work. If after you see my work, you want to proceed, I will give you a firm quote and an estimated time of completion for the project. If my quote is acceptable, you then make payment by PayPal, submit your manuscript file by email attachment, and mail me a printed copy of the manuscript. For a manuscript story edit, I will return the marked up printed copy of the manuscript to you. For a line edit, I will return the edited manuscript file by email. The editing services that I provide are strictly that -- editing. I do not do book page layout or "printer-ready" book file creation for submission to a book printer. However, if you need a "printer-ready" professional text layout or cover design for your book, e-book creation, or website design to promote your book, I can refer you to an associate who does that work. Contact: roger@rogerpaulding.com. Credit card payment accepted through PayPal - Email for invoice.
Home About Roger Paulding Book Reviews About Writing Historical Fiction Book Links Editing Services Book Editing Editing Services Rates
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To
sell fiction or any other kind of book today, you have to carve off the fat and
quickly get to the meat
of what you're trying to say. You must spark the reader's
imagination in the first couple of pages, and you must produce a compelling read from page
one all the way through to "The End." That's a tall order that
most writers need a little help filling.