Services and Fees

WHAT WE OFFER

As a writer, do you sometimes feel you have no realistic perspective on your writing? Something is missing, but you just can't put your finger on it? Elizabeth Lyon and her experienced associate editors will help you get a new perspective of your own work.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO US?

Some people finish the entire book, proposal, or project before deciding they need an editor, while others find they can't get past the middle and seek help in completing their idea. Still others realize they need help when they receive rejection after rejection of their work. Most writers come to us at a point in their careers at which they feel stymied by some aspect of the craft. If you have done your best to bring your vision to light, but you still sense a lack of development, then it may be time to ask for help.

PERSONALIZED EDITING AND COACHING FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS

Technical editing: Whether it be business or science, you know your nonfiction subject thoroughly, but does your writing convey the significance of your work? We hunt down everything from misplaced commas to misplaced ideas and show you how to organize, clarify, and express the heart and application of your research.

Developmental coaching: Got an idea, but you're not sure what direction to take it? Maybe there is a crime screenplay struggling to escape from your romance novel. Are you unsure of the difference between creative nonfiction and memoir? You're trying to write an article but you fear it's turning into an essay. We'll help you explore the potential and marketability of your idea before you decide on the best presentation.

Substantive editing: When you began your novel or memoir, the idea seemed so simple, but somehow it has taken on a life you never intended. It's out of control. We'll show you how to develop a strong theme and consistent story line, always respectful of your right to choose your own story. We're here to support you through the revision process.

Read and evaluate: Your mother loved the book, but can you trust her to tell you the truth? Should you send it out, or should you rewrite it? With our professional knowledge of the market, we'll give you an honest, comprehensive evaluation based on our experience advising hundreds of successful writers.

Copyediting: Line-by-line, our eagle-eyed editors will catch those common writing errors that your spelling and grammar programs don't recognize. Through the marginal notes on your manuscript, you'll learn how to recognize recurring problems such as misplaced antecedents, passive voice, and punctuation mistakes that will make a publisher fume.

Proofreading: Whether you're a writer or a publisher, let us handle those last-minute corrections to galleys, proofs, and final copies before you go to press. We provide a simple key to the standard proofreading marks.

"Elizabeth Lyon and her team of editors are the professional equivalent for books of NASA engineers for the space program. They offered thoughtful and useful guidance, precisely what I needed to master a rough draft into themes that mattered, and writing that made sense."

- Glenda Burgess Grunzweig, author of The Geography of Love,
a memoir, Doubleday/Broadway 2008.
www.glendaburgessbooks.com

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM A CRITIQUE

As fiction and nonfiction writers ourselves, we believe in keeping your spirits and enthusiasm up while still giving you honest feedback about your work. One of the most valuable perspectives any writer can gain is the value of his or her own work. We make a point of:

showing you what you've done brilliantly
offering tips on how to broaden your knowledge of the craft of writing
filling the margins of your manuscript with supportive, respectful suggestions at every level of critique
showing you exactly how to correct common errors and bad habits
pointing out how to shape your fiction scenes for greater emotional impact
helping you emphasize the point of your nonfiction chapter or proposal.

We include suggestions on new opportunities for extending the ideas you've already come up with.

The extensive evaluation you receive as part of the package will provide instructional support that illustrates basic strengths and weaknesses of your work, including examples drawn directly from your own pages. You'll receive a mini-course in craft and often one or more writing craft books, including ones by Elizabeth Lyon, specially chosen to broaden your understanding of how to present your own work.

When you feel ready to send your work out to publishers and agents, Elizabeth will guide you through her insider target lists and personal contacts. Although Editing International can't guarantee you a contract, we'll do everything in our power to help you succeed.

SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO EDITING INTERNATIONAL

Editing work is initiated with an e-mail or phone call to Elizabeth Lyon, describing your manuscript and your needs. Most of our is on partials of novels and nonfiction books as well as complete proposals with their sample chapters. We also edit query letters and synopses that accompany these manuscripts. Often, Elizabeth has several months of editing commitments and recommends that you reserve a spot in your calendar (after e-mail acceptance) at your earliest convenience. In other words, if you still have revisions to go or can estimate your own completion date, don't wait until that time to contact her. Once an agreement is reached and prior to initiation of the editing work, you'll be sent a contract that specifies what you will receive for what fee and retainer and by what return date. This contract, usually sent by e-mail attachment, is signed by a typed e-mail signature by both editor and author (although printed out, signed, and mailed is acceptable as well). Once the retainer and manuscript have been received by Editing International, the work begins.

Half of the fee, in U.S. dollars, is due before we begin work on your manuscript. The other half is usually due when you receive the finished package. We accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards, checks, and money orders.

** RATES: $100/hour (US currency or equivalent)

We now accept:

We prefer a retainer of one half of the total fee, payable by check or by Visa or MasterCard phoned in or written on a cover letter accompanying the hard copy of the manuscript. The final balance is due upon notification of completion.

** We at Editing International acknowledge and understand that in some countries, rates are negotiable. In order to serve all our clients fairly, we keep our rates firm. We hope this does not offend those who are familiar with another way of doing business.

FORMAT

With prior approval, hard-copy manuscripts are sent to Elizabeth Lyon by mail or, with prior approval, electronic submissions are sent by e-mail attachment. To complete the contract, you'll be asked to provide a computer word count of your total submission to be divided by 250 to get the billable fee per page. You'll be asked for a retainer of one half of the total fee, payable by check or by Visa or MasterCard phoned in. The final balance is due upon notification of completion. In brief, use the following guidelines:

Double-space all manuscripts for editing purposes.
Indent paragraphs of double-spaced manuscripts with the standard five spaces (tab).
Single-space all business letters (including queries).
Use block left (no indentations) for single-spaced manuscripts.
Leave a blank line space between paragraphs in single-spaced manuscripts.
Margins should be one inch all around.
Preferred font for letters and synopses is 12-point in Bookman Old Style, Century Schoolbook, Georgia, or Book Antiqua. Times New Roman is "okay" but does condense the characters. Use only if you need the space to keep a query letter one page.
Preferred font for chapters, essays, or short stories is 12-point in Bookman Old Style, Century Schoolbook, Georgia (no Times New Roman).
Preferred font for nonfiction book proposals is 12-point in Bookman Old Style, Century Schoolbook, or Georgia (no Times New Roman).
Preferred font for proposal sample chapters is 12-point in Bookman Old Style, Century Schoolbook, Georgia (no Times New Roman).
Paginate your work, usually in the upper right of the header.
Use a header for proposals and novels. It contains a few words of your title, a slash / and your last name.
For novels and memoirs, include a short synopsis (five pages). For novels, indicate intended genre.

TURNAROUND TIME

Elizabeth often has waiting lists several months long. Once work begins, you will generally see a return of your manuscript with full evaluation and educational materials within six weeks or less from the date she receives it.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND COPYRIGHT

Your story is safe with us. We never share your work with others, not even with agents or publishers unless you ask us to do so. Client confidentiality is sacred to us and as integral to our mission as doing our best to help you realize your own dream of becoming a published writer. With your permission, however, we are happy to publicize your success on our web site, in seminars, and in our literature.

LIMITS

We are not acquisitions editors and we do not buy works for publication, but we have developed close associations with many agents and publishers who are looking for new material. We are always happy to make marketing suggestions or refer you to our contacts in the industry.

We are not responsible for unsolicited material. We reserve the right to refuse your manuscript without prior notice, citation of a reason, or reference to other editors. We do not edit pornography, hate literature, or other socially offensive material.

CONTACT US by e-mail: elyon123@comcast.net