Good communication skills are critical in business. Suppose you received a letter requesting your presence at a meeting, and the person who typed it had the wrong day of the week associated with that date? What if you showed up on the wrong day and missed the meeting? Typos, misused words, poor punctuation, and run-on sentences are just a few of the mistakes that can create a bad impression of your business. It says the source of the communication didn't care enough to proofread the material before it went out.
Proper editing comes even before the proofreading stage. At BonMotsandProse Publishing, your business communications will receive the kind of editing your clients deserve to read.
Do you have a fiction or nonfiction manuscript that needs editing? Do you want to write a book but have no idea where to begin? Do you need someone to read your manuscript without editing? Has your manuscript been rejected by an agent and you want to know how to fix it? I can help you with that as well. I do not work with all genres, so please query with the details first.
Email me at [email protected]. Please include the following: Your name, email address, home mailing address, contact phone number How did you find out about my services? The title of your work and the number of words in your manuscript The genre you are working in and your audience Send the first ten pages in the body of your email. Do not send it in an attachment The number of drafts you have already written Describe your writing background Have you already worked with an editor on this? Anything else I need to know?
The following services are also available:
Fact checking Researching Writing
PROOF READING
If your story or article has already been through the editing process and is ready for publication to journals and magazines, proofreading provides a final check comparing the latest stage of text with the preceding stage for any discrepancies. :
Spelling and capitalization errors Reading for typographical errors, or for sense, without reading against copy Punctuation errors and inconsistencies that may have escaped an editor Formatting: checking proof against typesetting specs Minor grammatical errors Verifying links in online publications
Fee: Based on 9-11 ms pgs/hr @ $35/hr (Industry standard of 250 words/pg); or 1.5 cents/word
BASIC COPY EDITING
If your manuscript just needs a polish, the basic copy edit is ideal for authors in need of minimal editorial assistance involving:
Fixing typos and inconsistencies Spelling and capitalization errors Errors in punctuation Minor grammatical mistakes Formatting Sentence structure and word usage Pointing out errors in commonly known facts Denoting content that may require permission from a third party to use their material: (including, but not limited to poems, articles and text, photography, lyrics, illustrations)
The basic edit does not include:
Paragraph, or chapter restructuring Alteration of words, other than checking for misuse and spelling mistakes Checking for repetitious words or phrases Choice of overall structure Clarity and sense Characterization Plot development Rhythm and timing Securing permission from third parties to use their material No editing of revised draft included
Fee: Based on the number of words in the manuscript (Industry standard of 250 words per page) 5-7 ms pgs/hr @ $35/hr, or 3 cents per word
COMPREHENSIVE COPY EDITING
Comprehensive editing is useful to authors who need more in-depth help in developing their story. In addition to reviewing the manuscript for everything covered under a basic edit; sentence structure, as well as the overall structure, narrative, word choice, style, voice, rhythm and timing, and the basic story arc are reviewed.
This editing process includes two rounds. In the first editing round, developmental feedback will be offered to improve various parts of the manuscript. In the case of non-fiction, how well you adhere structurally to your thesis, and its overall clarity and developmental arc. In the case of fiction, plot development, characterization, story arc, clarity, and dialogue are reviewed. Text which is repetitious, erroneous, or extraneous will be highlighted for deletion.
After the first editing session is reviewed by you, a 30 minute telephone consultation will be included to answer questions, either before the author writes the second draft, or afterward.
When the author completes the second draft and sends it in for review, the editor will edit it for the final time, but only for typographical errors and other inconsistencies in the revised manuscript. Any errors or changes incorporated into the manuscript after the editor’s original revisions have been accepted will remain in the final manuscript.
Comprehensive copy editing includes:
All of the editing under basic editing, plus the following developmental feedback suggested for improving the manuscript:
Sentence structure Checking for consistent style and format Choice of words, including spelling, repetitious words, and misused words Clarity and sense Rhythm and timing Plot development Characterization Overall story arc Dialogue
Comprehensive copy editing does NOT include: Fact checking Obtaining permission from third parties for use of their copyrighted materials Further editing of any author revisions after second edit
Fees based on number of words in manuscript. (Based on industry standard of 250 words/pg) 2-4 ms pgs/hr @ $50/hr; or 5 cents per word
SUBSTANTIVE LINE BY LINE EDITING
Some manuscripts require a good deal of work to help them realize their full literary potential. In many cases, the book’s overall structure may be poor; or perhaps the plot is not clearly defined. In worst case scenarios, word usage and sentence structure is so poor it makes for a badly written, hard to follow book that would not hold a reader’s attention. Line by line editing is similar to rewriting the manuscript. Basically, it is editing that pulls together all the aspects that go into crafting a well-written manuscript, on a line by line basis. Every line that needs correcting is highlighted with the “correction” in the margins. Because this type of editing is the most thorough and takes the longest time, it is charged at the rate of $50/hr. This includes phone consultations, charged separately, as needed.
Substantive Editing includes:
All previous suggestions under comprehensive editing Identifying and solving problems of overall clarity and accuracy Writing, deleting, or rewriting segments of text to improve readability and flow of information Revising any aspect of text, or all aspects to improve presentation Reorganizing paragraphs, sections, and chapters to improve flow of information and rhythm Fact checking Solving problems with characterization and dialogue Incorporating responses to suggestions and creating a new draft of manuscript Phone/email consultations per scope of contract Rework print copy for online publication
Fees: Based on number of words in manuscript. Editing at 1-5 ms pgs/hr (based on industry standard of 250 words per page): @ $50/hr
All editorial work and writing will be done through a letter of agreement outlining the project’s terms, scope of services, estimated time schedules, and payment of fees.