Your story must be in English and completed. We do not edit partial works. We have no restriction on length. Remember, our fee is based upon your page count.
DO NOT SUBMIT EROTICA, ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE, OR STORIES INVOLVING GRATUITOUS SEX AND/OR VIOLENCE (sex and violence are fine if they are essential to the plot and carry the story forward).
FORMATTING:
1. Microsoft Word or RTF (Rich/Revisable Text Format) only. WPS and other formats are NOT accepted.
2. Times New Roman 12 font only.
3. Double space your lines. Use your word processor’s double spacing function. Do not use hard returns within your paragraphs, and do not add more than one hard return between paragraphs.
4. Header must have Your Name flush left, Story Title centered, and Page Number flush right.
5. Do not use a footer.
6. Use underline for text to be italicized. There should be NO bold or italicized text in your manuscript.
7. Use hyphens or em dashes. Never use en dashes.
8. Use three dots together (…) with no spaces for ellipses, and no spaces before or after the ellipsis.
9. Use an ellipsis for sentences that trail off, with no period. You may use a question mark after if necessary.
10. Use 1 inch margins all around.
11. Do not use embedded images.
12. Use centered asterisks (* * *) or pound signs (# # #) to denote scene breaks.
If you have questions concerning formatting, you may e-mail us with a subject line of “MS Formatting Question(s).” See our contact information on the contact page.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY, WITH YOUR MANUSCRIPT AS AN ATTACHMENT.
The attachment file name must be the “title of your story.rtf (or .doc).” Subject line must read“Edit my story - Your Title” (Example: Edit my story - Green Pastures at Dawn) or we may not open your e-mail.
In the body of your e-mail, we need:
1. Your full, real name and current, reliable e-mail address.
2. Your phone number(s).
3. One short paragraph describing what your story is about. Limit your description to 5 lines. If you go longer, we may not be able to properly process your request for edit.
NOTE: All information you provide is held strictly confidential and is NEVER released to third parties.
Submit to: bethritzler@noveledit.net
TO CANCEL A REQUEST FOR EDIT:
1. When we send you an e-mail notification that your manuscript has reached the next edit in the queue and that you may pay your edit fee, you can recall your request by replying with a subject line of “Recall edit request for ‘title of your book’.” OR
2. You may e-mail us before your manuscript comes due on the queue by using the same subject line.
NOTE: If you have paid your fee and we have begun work on your manuscript, you cannot cancel. Paying your fee will be construed as a seal on our arrangement, and you will receive a fully edited manuscript in return for your payment.
NO REFUNDS.
YOU MAY EXPECT FROM US:
1. A reply to your e-mailed request for edit within two weeks (our goal is one). Our reply will either inform you that your story has been selected for edit and placed in the queue, or that we are unable to edit your story and a reason why.
2. An edit involving comments on both your writing strengths and what works in your story, in addition to suggested changes and correcting marks. You will never receive a malicious, negative edit from us. Our goal is to help and encourage you, and our success comes from yours. If you achieve publication and believe our edit helped you reach that goal, please allow us to add you to our list of successes by e-mailing Beth Ritzler with a subject line of “‘Publisher Name’ contracted ‘title of your book’.”
3. We will store our edited version of your manuscript for exactly one year. We understand that accidents happen, and nothing is more devastating than losing such an important file. Remember to include the title of your book in the subject line of your e-mailed request for your archived file so we can check it against our database. You may request that we not archive your manuscript.
4. Once we begin on your manuscript, we will try to deliver your edit within two weeks (unless your story is longer than 500 pages). If we cannot get the edit done in a two-week period of time, we will e-mail you and give you and expected completion date.
WE EXPECT FROM YOU:
1. Timely payment. Once we e-mail you notification of our impending edit on your work, we need to confirm payment of the fee in our paypal account within five days. Sooner is better. IF YOU CANNOT PAY WITHIN THE REQUISITE TIME OF FIVE DAYS, YOUR MANUSCRIPT WILL BE PLACED BACK IN THE QUEUE SO THE AUTHORS BEHIND YOU ARE NOT LEFT WAITING FOR THEIR EDITS LONGER THAN NECESSARY.
2. Patience. Once we begin work on your manuscript, please do not e-mail us to learn of the progress. If we cannot get the edit done in a timely manner, we will contact you immediately.
3. Graciousness. We understand how hard you worked to write your story, and how important it is to you. Because we are not a review service, you may not find the glowing praise in our edit that you expect. But know that we will never say anything in our edit that is intended to hurt or discourage you in any way. We are here to help, not harm. 