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Submissions
We accept manuscripts and other written material in electronic formats (e.g. e-mail attachment, CD, DVD) only.
Documents must be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf).
When submitting samples, please indicate the type and size (in '000s of words) of the complete document.
Manuscripts submitted for appraisal should be accompanied by a short (no more than two pages) synopsis.
NB: When submitting material, you must warrant that you own the copyright to the work.
See
Proofreading
Proofreading (also known as copy-editing) consists of identifying and correcting (or marking for correction) all spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.
Spelling is checked according to Australian, British, or US conventions, as required.
Punctuation is tested against modern practice, while accommodating an author's personal preferences (e.g. Cambridge versus Oxford commas).
Grammar is examined for compliance with accepted basic rules (e.g. subject-verb agreement, dangling/hanging/unattached participles, capitalisation, wrong word selection, and so on).
Editing
Editing may be carried out at two levels: light and in-depth.
Light editing focuses on clichés, clumsy or inelegant wording, repetitions, over-use of certain words and phrases, vague or imprecise wording, and so on.
In-depth editing takes light editing to the next level, where inconconstencies in subject matter are highlighted (e.g. the hero's eye colour is blue on p.17 but brown on p.26). The extent of deep editing is dependent on the nature of the material under review.
Rates
Rates are indicative. Only after we've received a sample of the review material are we able to provide a firm quote.
See Rates for current prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of material do you review?Fiction (but not poetry), non-fiction, technical, business, scripts.
See Type of Material for a comprehensive list.
How long does it take to complete a review?There are many factors affecting turnaround time, including length and complexity of the review material and our current workload. However, we will indicate a likely completion date before an assignment is accepted.
Are you a literary agency?No.
Do you have any influence with agents or publishers?We wish...
Do you provide manuscript appraisals?Yes. This service is separate from proofreading and editing and needs to be done earlier. Manuscripts are appraised for suitability of structure, plot, characterisation, style, language, pace, dialogue, narrative, and formatting.
When should I have my work proofread or edited?It should be the final step before submitting your work to an agent or publisher. Any earlier and you risk repeating the exercise following a rewrite or significant revision.
