When we edit your printed manuscript (hard-copy editing), we use red ink and give your manuscript a complete line edit, which means we repair errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax, clarity, and compliance with Chicago Style, plus we may make suggestions on how to strengthen the writing and make it even more creative or compelling. In addition, you receive a printed evaluation that explains all our changes and suggested changes, and it addresses elements that may aid in marketability. The evaluation is like a road map to take your manuscript to the highest level it can go.

For fiction those elements include characterization; dialogue; point of view; creative issues; beginning, middle, and end; plot; and other issues, including marketability.

For nonfiction the elements include organization, pacing, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and other issues, including marketability.

People who choose hard-copy editing are writers eager to improve their books as much as possible, learn from the experience, and apply what they have learned to future books. They are people who like the total control they have over making changes to their manuscripts, or they are folks who plan to have an assistant make the changes to the electronic file.

For hard-copy editing the manuscript must be in standard manuscript format, printed, and mailed. Standard manuscript format consists of 12-point Courier type, double-spaced, with margins of at least an inch on all sides. This format is standard for manuscript submissions to agents, editors, and publishers. Print out your properly formatted manuscript and ship it to us.

Hard-Copy Editing Cost: $5.95 per standard manuscript page plus shipping and handling*

Shipping and handling charges
Up to 200 pages - $10.00
201-400 pages - $12.00
401 pages and up - $15.00

For all U.S. deliveries, we return manuscripts by Priority Mail with Tracking and send you a tracking number, so you can track and confirm delivery. If you live outside the United States, we ship in the manner that is best for getting valuable packages to your country.

Do not send pre-paid return postage, because you will be unable to estimate the weight and size of the evaluation that will accompany the manuscript.

Advantages of hard-copy editing

• You receive a permanent reference manual. We send you a valuable, printed report that addresses every element of the manuscript, as well as suggestions for improvement. The report even includes creative writing tips specifically geared to your writing style. You can use the information to upgrade your current manuscript and all your future manuscripts.
• You learn more. You get to see every suggestion clearly. We line edit the manuscript, which means we correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and noncompliance with Chicago Style, and the written evaluation explains the rules behind the technical flaws, so you can avoid them in the future. The evaluation also teaches you a great deal about the elements of a book or story, and gives you tips regarding your writing style.
• You get the highest quality of editing available. The human eye sees more when items are printed, rather than displayed on a screen, so our eyes naturally catch more issues, so we can make suggestions for improvement.
• You maintain complete creative control. In hard-copy editing we do not touch your electronic file. Instead we make suggested changes on the hard copy, and you can choose to make the changes to your electronic file, as you see fit and in your own words. You can even ignore our suggestions, if you disagree with them.
• Your mastery of writing increases. You learn a great deal through the process of reading the report and applying our recommended changes. Many of our clients say our hard-copy reports are better than any creative writing class they've ever taken.

• You must format the manuscript correctly. You have to format the manuscript in Standard Manuscript Format (12-point Courier type, double-spaced, with margins of at least an inch on all sides with all pages numbered), print it out, box it up, and ship it to us.
• You pay for shipping. You must to ship the manuscript, both to us and from us.
• You may waste a little time. Shipping does take a few days, even though we ship by Priority Mail when available.
• You do more work. You are responsible for making our suggested changes to your electronic file.
• You don't get any added protection. We keep no copies of your work, so if you lose the edited manuscript, it is lost forever.

We can even print it out for you, if you wish

We offer a printout service, too. You can send us your manuscript as a Microsoft Word file in SMF and we will print it out. You won't have to bother to package or mail your manuscript and will save on shipping costs to us, but you will have to pay 15 cents a page for us to print it out. The Editing Request Form does not have a line for this additional service, so be sure to add it in and include that amount with the payment. You still have to pay the return shipping and handling, but sending us the electronic file may save you a few days as well as keep you from having to find a shipping box and go to the post office to ship the manuscript. If you choose to use this service, send us the file electronically with an e-mail explaining that you want to pay for us to print it out for a hard-copy edit. You then have the choice of printing out the hard-copy Editing Request Form and mailing it with your check or using the electronic-copy Editing Request Form and paying by PayPal or by calling us with your credit card information.

People who choose hard-copy editing are eager to improve their books as much as possible, learn from the experience, and apply what they have learned to future books. They are people who like the total control they have over making changes to their manuscripts, or they are folks who plan to have an assistant make the changes to the electronic file.

The price for hard-copy editing is based on Standard Manuscript Format pages, which are 12-point Courier type, double-spaced, with at least an inch margin on all sides. The average word count per page is 250 words, and the price per page is $5.95 plus shipping and handling, which is explained on the Editing Request Form.

If you are ready to send your manuscript in hard copy, click on Editing Request and follow the prompts. As soon as we receive payment, we let you know an estimated turnaround date.

*$100 minimum per submission.