THE EDIT GATE SERVICES
Manuscript Critiques
A critique is an overall honest response to your book’s structure and your writing technique. A critique consists entirely of comments and revision suggestions pertaining to character, story, motives, point of view, stilted dialogue, plot threads, pacing, flow, and other big picture issues. It does not involve changes or edits. I recommend a critique as a first step. It is a good opportunity to learn your strengths and weaknesses enabling you to better self-edit your manuscript prior to a copyedit or a final proofread. I am gentle but firm in my critiques.
I offer three levels:
Mini-Critique
This is the Does it Stink? Mini-Critique. Be honest. You just want to know from a professional if your story is strong or weak, or if you’ve crafted it with skill, or if it has potential. You will receive a one-page story analysis to help guide you with your future self-edits or rewrites. If, after receiving your evaluation, you choose to hire me to edit your manuscript, I’ll deduct the cost from the price of a complete edit.
$2.00 per page
(1 page is Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced)
(I offer Beta reads without a report; just a brief summary of my thoughts: $1/page)
First Fifty
Great value if you want a thorough and honest response to your opening hook, your all-important first pages, the introduction of your characters, plot, voice, and writing style within your first fifty pages. You’ll receive a descriptive detailed review of your implemented story elements and recommendations for how best to proceed.
$150.00 (double-spaced pages)
Comprehensive Critique
The Comprehensive Critique includes a detailed analysis of characterization, plotting, transitional arcs, structure, strengths, and weaknesses. I’ll then brainstorm ideas to clear the path to a more focused story. You’ll receive several pages of notes and I’ll make comments within the manuscript using Word Track Changes.
$3.00/page for books 50,000 words or more. (1 page=250 words)
($50.00 added to shorter books for time spent writing the report.)
Manuscript Coaching
This is a mentoring service for new fiction writers. The purpose of coaching/mentoring is to assist the writer in self-revising the rest of their book. Includes a line-edit with editorial suggestions and recommendations.
First three chapters: $200
Subsequently: $30 to $50 for each additional chapter the author has revised according to editorial suggestions.
Manuscript Copyedits
A copyedit involves cleaning up awkward sentence structure and word choices, applying appropriate rules of grammar, replacing passive voice with active voice, searching for redundancies and inconsistencies, etc.
If I am performing a substantive edit, I’ll also look for the big-picture issues. I want your premise to be evident and strong. I’m listening to your voice. I’m flagging flat characters and POV issues. I’m alert to your pet words and cadences. My mind is wrapping your story in all the techniques unique to fiction and weighing their strengths and weaknesses. I’m also reading for clarity and focus. If I am having trouble following the story, so will your readers.
I use Word Track Changes for comments and changes.
Keeping it REAL: A full copyedit can average 250-1250 words per hour depending on the author’s skill level. This includes reading,
in-manuscript commenting and correcting, and writing up the editorial letter.
The Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition, p71) says:
“A 100,000-word book manuscript, edited by an experienced editor, might take seventy-five to one hundred hours of work before being sent to the author, plus ten to twenty additional hours after the author’s review.”
For this reason, I charge by the hour for edits. By number of words, this will average out between $5.00–$8.50/page depending on the manuscript and the amount of complications and also the higher-level thinking and analysis required.
Are you struggling with your story?
Other Services
Proofreading
Proofreading is usually the last step in the writing/editing process. It includes checking over your manuscript for spelling, grammar, silly little punctuation foibles, typos, and spacing mistakes prior to publication.
Query Critique
A check for proper query letter structure, opening hook, content, sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar. (Single-spaced, double-spaced between paragraphs, one page) $25.00
Novel Synopsis
A check for point of view, tense, content, sentence structure, clarity of story line, plot progression, and character summary. One page, single spaced. $50.00 Includes two revisions.
Novel Synopsis Critique and Condensation
The basic novel synopsis critique and also includes shortening the synopsis to the required length. $60 – $150 Depending on depth and length of synopsis
Novel Proposal Edit
Substantive critique for all components of a novel proposal, including query letter, synopsis, author biography, marketing analysis, cover page and formatting. $200 (does not include the first three chapters) $325.00 (includes first three chapters)
Children's Books
Substantive critique Children’s Books: PICTURE BOOKS: $150 flat fee. CHAPTER BOOKS: Between $5/page and $10/page (based on sample edit)
Memoir
Memoir contains many of the same elements as fiction: plot, characterization,narrative, personal vision, and voice. I’ll identify these problems plus the ones unique to memoir such as TMI and liability.
Literary Magazine Submissions
A review of your literary magazine package submission. Includes your introductory letter, biography, and up to three poems or one short story.
Poetry and lyrics
This includes a proofread of content for punctuation, the musicality, adherence to form rules (or not), all while keeping your voice blended with the phrasing, mood, and tone. I’m looking for images and patterns. I want to feel your poem or lyric. $35.00/1 page. $12.00/each additional page.
Short Stories
A substantive copyedit of your short story. Note: short stories contain many of same elements as a novel within its own parameters. $200.00/5000 words $5.00 each additional page
Website Content
Your website content mirrors your professionalism. A thorough proofread shows your potential customers that you care about your image and your business. $300/5 web pages.
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