A finished manuscript is just the start of a good book.

Creating a great manuscript is a daunting task for every author. It takes research, organization and most of all, discipline. However, a book manuscript isn’t necessarily complete just because you’ve finished saying what you wanted to say. Hardly! The next steps, which are crucial for every serious writer, are editing and proofreading.


The book editing is the phase where you, as a dedicated author, can make your book manuscript content the best it can be. Meanwhile, book proofreading insures that your book manuscript reads professionally. Book editing and proofreading literally separate good books from the bad; the authors who get reviewed from those who don't. That’s why hiring a professional copyeditor and proofreader is a step that, as an author, you cannot afford to skip; a fresh-pair of eyes will work wonders for your book manuscript!

Proofreading Services* - $3/pg ($20 minimum charge)
Spell check is great, but it’s no replacement for a keen, trained eye! Request our proofreading services to insure that the grammar, spelling and punctuation in your manuscript is correct. To maintain consistency in this service, manuscripts should be submitted as a MS Word document. The page size should be 8.5” by 11” with 1” margins; all text should be double-spaced, 12-point Arial font.


Editing Services* - from $125
When you’re writing a manuscript and finally complete it, you think it’s great...and you should because it’s your baby. However, a manuscript can always be better and that usually comes from having a professional take an objective look at it. We provide two types of editing services: 

• Copyediting (Line Editing): Copyediting / line editing services are ideal for those who are confident that the intended message for the reader is clear and who seek only to polish their manuscript. This service includes review and correction of the grammar, spelling and punctuation in the document as well as review the manuscript for style / format consistency. Pricing is as follows:
  
  
  • up to 10,000 words: $125.00
  • 10,001 - 25,000 words: $175.00
  • 25,001 - 50,000 words: $250.00
  • 50,001 - 100,000 words: $350.00
    
    
• Substantive Editing: For more intense editing that's designed to not simply polish a manuscript but enhance it too, consider substantive editing. When you hire us to complete this service, you'll receive all services included in our copyediting / line editing service. In addition, we'll reorganize manuscript paragraphs, sections and chapters for improved information flow, rewrite content for improved clarity or readability, write new content as warranted (lead-in, transitions, chapter conclusions, etc.). All of the aforementioned will be provided as needed. Of course, we’ll maintain your voice as we do this! 
  
  
  • up to 20,000 words: $250.00
  • 20,001 - 50,000 words: $550.00
  • 50,001 - 75,000 words: $800.00
  • 75,001 - 100,000 words: $1000.00
  • 100,000+words: $1,000 + $50 per 3,500 words 

Want to "try" our editing services before you fully invest? No problem. We will provide a sample copyedit of your first chapter for just $35.00 or a sample substantive edit of your first chapter for $50.00. (Note: The content submitted for either type of editing sample should be at least 750 words and cannot be more than 1,500 words.) Once you've confirmed that you're happy with our work, we will proceed with the editing--copyediting or substantive editing--of your entire manuscript. In this case, the fee paid for the sample will be deducted from the cost of the complete editing project.

Dual Check Content Copyediting* - from $225.00 
Every time edits are made to your manuscript, you should also have your document—or at least the changes and sections related to those changes—proofread as well. Why? It’s the best way to catch mistakes that eyes familiar with the content usually cannot see. Our Dual Check Content Copyediting service is designed specifically to help authors as they are refining manuscripts.  This service includes a round of copyediting and up to two revisions of the edits, followed by a “second look” proofreading by a different reviewer who has never read the piece before. Please follow the rules for submission of manuscripts for copyediting and proofreading as previously listed. Pricing for dual check content copyediting is as follows:

*Style Note: Scribe, Etc. is a writing services firm. We prefer that works express the writer’s writing style. As such, we do not edit based on MLA, APA, Chicago Manual, or any other specialized style of editing. Instead, Scribe, Etc. edits for grade school style and author's style. That means that the punctuation, spelling and grammar will be corrected as if your sixth grade English teacher was reviewing a report. If fact, sometimes it just might be a former teacher reviewing your paper as Scribe, Etc. does occasionally outsource proofreading projects to former teachers with whom the company is partnered for such services. Other times, we will be doing the proofreading / editing in-house but the same style techniques apply. Need more clarification on this whole grade school / author's style thing? Well, it means that the spelling is corrected, the grammar is corrected, and the punctuation is corrected too but there is some leniency for the latter two if they are the result of the author's writing style. If you would like content proofread based on MLA style, you must specifically request this.