Manuscript Copyediting

You've spent countless hours on your book. At last, you have a finished draft ready to send to a publisher or agent. The problem: it's not always easy to see mistakes in our own work. And a manuscript riddled with errors reflects poorly on you as a writer.

The solution: copyediting services through Fat Plum. It's the fine-tooth comb your manuscript needs before submitting it to an agent or publisher.

What it is: Manuscript copyediting is not just about catching typos. It's about improving the overall quality and readability of your writing. You'll receive a line-by-line check of your manuscript for spelling, grammar and punctuation, noun-verb agreement and verb tense. It also includes looking for awkward or poorly worded sentences, clichés and redundancy, as well as alerting you to problems with clarity, point-of-view, organization, word usage and syntax.

What it isn't: Copyediting is not the same as a manuscript critique of the strengths and weaknesses of your story, its market potential, and so forth. If that is what you are looking for, see our Manuscript Critique service.

FAQs

Is it really that important to have my manuscript "polished"?

Dozens of manuscripts cross an agent or publisher's desk everyday. A clean, polished manuscript shows that you value your work and that the agent or publisher should value it, too. A sloppy manuscript makes you look careless - and may cause your work to get sent to the circular file (read: trash can).

What's the procedure?

Send 10 consecutive pages of your manuscript for a free sample edit. Pages must be in standard format:

  • Double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5" x 11" sheets
  • Courier/Courier New font, 12-point size
  • 1.25" margins
  • Numbered pages

Our copyeditor will look over your work and, if she feels she can help improve your manuscript, she will mark the pages and return them to you within one week. (She also reserves the right to pass on the project.) She'll include two copies of a letter quoting a price-per-page rate to copyedit your manuscript. If you wish to employ her services, sign one copy of the letter (this serves as your contract) and return it to her, along with your manuscript and a check payable to Beth Polen.

Please note that payment is required before copyediting services commence. You may choose to send the entire manuscript at once or send portions of the manuscript and pay as you go. A minimum of 50 pages is required.

How much does it cost?

Copyediting ranges from $2.50 to $4.50 per page. Your rate is determined based on how limited or extensive it is believed the number of corrections will be. You'll also be charged a flat rate of $3 for return shipping. In addition, if you wish to email your manuscript, you'll be charged 10 cents per page to print an electronic file.

Use the following formula to calculate the amount due:

Copyediting

Quoted price-per-page X # of pages

_____

Shipping charge

# of pages 50 X $[tbd]

_____

Printing charge (electronically-sent manuscripts only)

# of pages X $0.10

_____

TOTAL DUE

Add all lines

_____

 

 

 

 

Who does the copyediting?

    Beth Polen, Editing and Proofreading

You know those people who notice the little mistakes in movies - like the vase on the table that's gone in the next scene? Well, Beth has that kind of eye for manuscripts. She spots all kinds of slip-ups: misspellings, wrong words, grammatical goofs, punctuation problems, misuses of verb tense, awkward changes in point of view. Whatever mistakes might slip by an author, you can bet Beth will catch them before the manuscript gets out the door to an agent.

Beth has always had an editor's eye. She sharpened her focus during three years as a freelance editor for Dorrance Publishing. There she edited more than 30 book manuscripts on a variety of subjects, including general fiction, science fiction, romance, children's, self-help, travel, biography, religion/spirituality, history, and health. She also wrote flap copy and author bios for Dorrance books.

Since 1999, Beth has served as Technical Editor at Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University. She has edited botanical and bibliographical publications, including the highly praised Flora of North America series. For six years, Beth worked as editor of the Flora of North America Newsletter , a biannual publication.

Beth has participated in two Fat Plum Book Boot Camps, where her co-campers as well as camp leaders found her input invaluable. She is currently at work on the first in a series of children's novels. It's a great read and, to no one's surprise, her first draft came out as polished as a completed manuscript. (We're having a contest at Fat Plum to see who can find a grammatical glitch).

Can I see a sample of copyediting?

Yes! To see sample pages of Beth Polen's copyediting click here. You can also send Beth 10 pages of your own manuscript for a free sample edit.

How are changes marked?

Changes and suggestions are made in pencil on your hard copy. If you are unfamiliar with standard editing marks (insert word, delete, transpose, etc.) an explanation sheet can be provided.

How do I pay?

When you employ Fat Plum copyediting services, a check payable to Beth Polen must be received before work can begin on your manuscript. Send your check to Beth Polen at 69 Ridgewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15229.

How do I submit my manuscript?

We prefer that you send your manuscript by mail to:

    Beth Polen
    69 Ridgewood Ave
    Pittsburgh, PA 15229

If you must send your manuscript as an email attachment, you will be charged 10 cents per page to print the electronic file. Electronic files can be .

How long will the copyediting take?

This depends on the length of your manuscript, how much editing is required and Beth's current workload. After she completes your free sample edit, she will include a time estimate with your quoted price.

I have a question you haven't answered.

Contact us and let us know. We'll get back to you directly.