Happy New Year!

I am pleased to continue my December special into the new year, with a Developmental Edit for $2 per page. 2017 was a fantastic year, and the talent I got the opportunity to work with was incredible! As a writer myself, I know the struggle is real, so I wanted to celebrate 2018 and keep this amazing discount available. 

At $2 per page, you are getting the chance to have a quality Developmental Edit for an even better rate than my referred clients typically receive. And if you consider the standard rates for this kind of editing at $7-$10 per page (or $25+ per hour), you’re getting a STEAL!!

If you are interested, email me (scribblerservices@gmail.com) or message me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. My calendar has limited availability, so act soon to take advantage of these amazing rates. 

Email: scribblerservices@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scribblerservices
Instagram: @scribblerservices
Twitter: @ScribblerSvcs

Time for a Tune-Up?

Another one of my passions is music. I've been playing the piano for over thirty years - wowsers! - and the one thing that makes the music sound best besides practice is a well-tuned instrument. When a piano is out of tune, even familiar songs lose their appeal. A great book is much the same way when there are developmental problems. You might be the next big thing, but poorly tuned writing will make it hard for you to get your big break.

Like a piano tuner, a developmental editor goes through every note of your manuscript and fine tunes it. Maybe there is a secondary character that is more like a two-dimensional distraction instead of the charismatic confidant you'd intended. Maybe there is a subplot you've delved into that leads the reader down a rabbit hole from which he or she may not return. Or maybe you have written your magnum opus, submitted it and keep getting form rejection letters but have no idea why.

A developmental editor can find the discrepancies in your words and help you deliver the music the way you want with the impact you need. If you find your manuscript isn't resonating with agents, please consider having your project professionally edited.

As a writer myself, I have learned the importance of having my work reviewed by a professional editor who is not a friend, family member or fan. I also know the value of a dollar, and how hard struggling writers work at their day jobs waiting for their publishing dreams to come true. For the past 1.5 years, I have been working as an intern for a successful west coast literary agent, and I have learned a lot about the publishing industry and writing books as a whole. I'm also an avid reader of all genres, and becoming a literary agent myself is a goal of mine. However, I'm taking my time to learn all that I can from some amazing women in this business, so this is a goal for a year or two down the road.

What I can offer now is my keen eye for detail and a meticulous review of your work. I am efficient with my initial review and I also offer a follow-up after the first revision, which is atypical.

I provide my services at an affordable rate (between $5-$7 per page depending on your referral status), which is half of what most developmental editors charge. I'm a human, a writer, and I understand. Life is expensive, and the costs of being creative can be a deterrent no matter how much you might need certain tools to make your creation better.

My goal is to help make your project the best it can be; therefore, I aim to be cost-effective, efficient, and a guiding light to help you get your polished manuscript out into the world. If you're interested in my fine-tuning skills or learning more about how I may be able to help you improve your novel, please feel free to email me or message me on Facebook.

Email: scribblerservices@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scribblerservices
Instagram: @ScribblerServices
Twitter: @ScribblerSvcs

Saturday Series: Lessons in Grammar

At the end of July, I started a Saturday Series called "Lessons in Grammar". I have found as a Developmental Editor grammar tends to be a struggle for many writers.

Every Saturday since, I have posted a "post card" grammar lesson, which you can find on my Facebook page and Instagram feed. Each "lesson" is a common mistake I have seen or have made myself. From easily confused words like their/they're/there to information about the order of adjectives, there are fun, easy tips for everyone.

What I Offer

First, and foremost, I am an authors' editor. As an authors' editor, I work for the author, not any publishing houses or literary agents. I work with new, unpublished, and established authors to identify concerns and provide creative solutions to resolve those concerns.

Have you written a novel but aren't getting much traction when you query agents? Are you getting requests for partials or fulls but then getting rejections? A developmental edit may be what you need. 

Developmental editing does not address grammatical errors or other copy editing concerns. It addresses the story and what is moving the story forward or keeping it stagnant. There may be characters who need more development or are not necessary. There may be an undercurrent in the manuscript which is not fully fleshed out. There may historical or cultural references which may need clarity, especially in a climate where diversity and accuracy is so important. A developmental edit can identify these issues and more and offer suggestions on how to fix them. Developmental editing gets to the root of your story and makes sure it's growing in the way the author wants.  

I offer the following with a developmental edit: 

1. A meticulous, comprehensive edit of your manuscript with multiple readings to ensure full understanding of the story at its core.
2. Detailed feedback regarding plot, character, pace, tone, and engagement - what works and what doesn't. 
3. Suggestions on how to improve what is not working as well as guidance on topics which may be historically inaccurate or culturally insensitive.

So, why should you hire me? I am highly organized, efficient, and college-educated. I have studied English, Theatre (specifically Playwriting), and Classical Languages. I have written three novels, which have yet to be published, and I am a published poet and playwright. I have been an intern and assistant for a successful west coast literary agent, who has taught me so much about the publishing industry, the publication process, and editing for publication. I also have been mentored by a successfully published Young Adult author and an editor with an imprint at Penguin Random House, both of whom provided excellent guidance and invaluable advice along my journey.

I provide feedback typically within 4-6 weeks from the receipt of payment. I do require payment upfront, but my rates are well-priced as I understand developmental editing is an extra - though often necessary - expense authors must incur. 

The standard pricing for developmental edits is $10+ per page, which can mean thousands of dollars out of pocket. However, I offer significant discounts due to my own experience as a writer working on a budget. I also frequently offer promotions, which provide additional opportunities for savings as well. 

Below is my current price list:

• Non-Referral: $7 per page on first project with a discount on future projects.
• Referral: $5 per page on first project with a discount on future projects. 

Please email me at scribblerservices@gmail.com for more information about availability and other author services I provide. Also, visit my Facebook page to keep an eye out on specials coming soon. Please like the page if you like what you see!

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Follow me on Instagram @scribblerservices

Terms and Conditions of Service

When I take on a new client, I typically explain what services I am going to offer in an email. However, I think it is important to also share my Terms and Conditions of Service for anyone interested in hiring me to edit their project. 

The Terms and Conditions of Service are standard to most freelance editing contracts and fair to both parties involved. Please take a moment to read this important information and reach out to me with any questions or clarification you may need. 

At the end of the day, it is my hope to help you, the Author, write the best novel you can so you can achieve your publishing dreams. I want to see you succeed and I want your story told. I hope you will consider working with me; I thank you for reviewing my terms and conditions of services; and I look forward to whatever challenges may lie ahead.

Terms and Conditions of Service

1. Services Offered. The Editor agrees to provide a substantive Developmental Edit to the Author within the agreed upon time (typically 4-6 weeks from the date of payment received. The Developmental Edit will examine troublesome writing habits on a large scale which permit fatal errors in structure. This includes examining the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript relevant to engaging the target audience, character development, and the construction of the plot and story arc. A Line Edit or Copy Edit may be offered additionally but will be negotiated separately from the Developmental Edit. 

2. Author Responsibility. The author will promptly review the completed deliverable and notify the Editor within 5 business days of any issues. The Editor will then make any necessary corrections at no additional cost to the Author. If the Author does not notify the Editor of any issues within this period, the deliverable is considered accepted and the work complete. 

3. Cancellation of Services. All sales and payments are final after 7 calendar days for services rendered. Should the Author decide to cancel payment, he or she must do so before the seventh calendar day in order to receive a full refund. Once the project is in process, either party may terminate the Agreement in the even of material change of circumstance within the first 7 calendar days. Notice must be sent in writing to the other party at the email address provided. If the Editor terminates the Agreement, the Author will pay the Editor for the work done up to the date of termination, and the Editor will refund over-payment. If the Author terminates the Agreement, the Author will pay the Editor for the work completed up to the date of termination, but this amount will not be less than 50% of the estimated total for the project. 

4. Payments. Prepayment is required via PayPal or Walmart-to-Walmart transfer. However, if payment arrangements are provided, the Editor retains ownership of all work performed, including all relevant intellectual property rights, until the Editor receives full payment from the Author. Use of the work before that time by the Author represents a violation of this Agreement unless said use is agreed to in writing by the Editor.

5. Refunds. All refund requests must be submitted in writing and will be processed within 6-8 weeks via PayPal or Walmart-to-Walmart transfer. Full refunds will only be processed in the event of the following two scenarios on a case-by-case basis: 

• The Agreement is terminated in writing within the first 7 calendar days.
• The Author has secured promotional pricing with advance payment but services have not yet been rendered. 

6. Privacy. The Editor agrees not to reproduce, give, or show to anyone any material sent to her by the Author for editing purposes, unless consulting services from a third party are agreed to by the Author in advance. 

7. Guarantees. No guarantees are made as to the salability or marketability of the edited manuscript. Nor is there a guarantee that the manuscript will be completely error-free, though all efforts will be made to make it so. No guarantees are made as to whether the edited manuscript will secure literary agent representation, although all efforts will be made by the Editor to improve the manuscript provided by the Author. Unless a co-writing/co-authorship arrangement is agreed upon in writing prior to publication, all royalties and monies gained by the sale of the book will be the sole property of the Author.

8. Indemnity. The Editor will provide only those services specified in the initial offer letter or email. Because the Author and its representatives are the experts in the subject matter, and the Editor is not, the Author assumes full responsibility for verifying the validity of the work submitted by the Editor. The Author shall thus hold the Editor blameless for any unanticipated consequences of accepting the Editor's work, and agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Editor from any and all claims or demands, without limitation, arising out of any alleged libel or copyright infringement or other problem committed by the Author in creating the work. The Editor shall make every effort to bring questionable information to the attention of the Author, but shall not be held responsible for any failure to identify such information. 

©2017-2020 by Tara Goodyear. All Rights Reserved.