Copy Editing
What is Copy Editing? | When to Get It | What You Receive | The Process
Process Length | Formatting Guidelines | Cost | How to Book |FAQs
What is a
Manuscript Assessment?
A Manuscript Assessment is an informed review of your story. It allows The Story Mentor to bring his storytelling experience and fresh eyes to your manuscript to determine whether the concept and story works as a whole.
During a Manuscript Assessment, The Story Mentor:
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Reviews your story with experienced eyes;
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Assesses the story as a whole;
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Offers suggestions on how to improve it;
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Identifies any sections that need clarification;
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Recommends what to add or remove;
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Pinpoints plot holes and errors in logic; and
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Advises your next best course of action.
When Should I Get a
Manuscript Assessment?
A Manuscript Assessment is recommended for writers with a completed early draft of their story.
Often writers become too close to their stories and struggle to recognise its quality components from its obvious flaws. If this has happened to you, then you need a Manuscript Assessment.
The Story Mentor approaches your manuscript with fresh eyes, allowing him to see clearly what works and what needs improvement.
What is
Copy Editing?
Copy Editing is a word-by-word line-by-line examination of your story that ensures the grammar and punctuation are correct, the language is consistent throughout, and that each word is the strongest representation of what you mean to say.
During Copy Editing, The Story Mentor:
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Examines your manuscript, word by word, line by line;
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Corrects the grammar and punctuation;
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Queries sections where sentence and word meaning is unclear; and
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Ensures a consistency of:
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style
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terminology
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spelling
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capitalisation
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hyphenation
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shortened forms
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and more.
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When to Get
Copy Editing
Often the complexities of language confuse and bewilder writers who just want to tell a good story. Since readers and publishers expect professionally reading prose, it is highly recommended you employ a Copy Editor to correct the grammar and punctuation and clarify the intended meanings of your story.
Copy Editing is recommended for writers with a final draft of their story.
The Story Mentor specialises in Copy Editing. He approaches your manuscript with fresh eyes, allowing him to identity and correct any language errors and unclear meanings.
What
You Receive
As well as ensuring your manuscript conveys your intended meanings and reads without errors, The Story Mentor provides you with:
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2 Story Meetings;
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Generous manuscript Mark-ups correcting errors and questioning meaning; and
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General notes.
The
Process
Once you have made contact with The Story Mentor, he will provide a quote for the cost and length of the work and arrange a time and centrally neutral place, usually a cafe or library, for the Initial Meeting.
During the Initial Meeting, you get to discuss your story with the Story Mentor before handing over your manuscript and making payment.
The Story Mentor takes your story with him, edits it within the agreed upon time, then contacts you to arrange the Final Meeting.
At the Final Meeting, The Story Mentor discusses his findings with you and hands over his report and your marked-up manuscript. During the meeting you have the opportunity to discuss The Story Mentor's findings with him.
Process
Length
The time it takes to complete a Copy Edit depends upon both the length of your story and the schedule of The Story Mentor. Use the following as a rough guide:
The Story Mentor will provide an approximate time for completion in his quote.
All meetings are limited to a strict length (see above). If you require a longer meeting, any additional time will be billed at $30 per hour in hourly increments.
Formatting
Guidelines
When submitting your story to The Story Mentor for Copy Editing, please use the following formatting:
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Line Spacing: 2.0
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Margins: 4.0cm top, bottom, left, right
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Font Type: Times New Roman or Arial
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Font Size: 12pt
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Document Format: .doc or .docx only
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Printed Manuscripts: One sided only
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Page Number: Place inside Bottom Footer
Copy Editing
Cost
The cost of Copy Editing depends on the length of your story. Please see the table below for pricing categories.
All prices are in Australian Dollars and include GST.
How to Book a
Copy Edit
To book or enquire about a Copy Edit, please contact The Story Mentor using the form below.
In your message, please outline your name, the length of your story, and your writing experience.
For more information, please read the FAQs page or contact The Story Mentor: andrew@thestorymentor.com.au