Frequently Asked Questions About Editing
If my book get published, won't the publisher edit it?
Nowadays, it is extremely difficult to get an unsolicited manuscript published. If your book is one of the lucky few to be accepted for publication, then, yes, the publisher will put it through the editorial process, however... having to extensively edit a manuscript, rework sections or add or remove chapters or dialogue is costly. Like all publishers, they'll want to minimise their costs, and having to carry out any large edits might just give them the excuse not to publish your story. Even if you have a scintillating tale to tell, a suspense-laden plot or wonderful, lovable characters, just a few grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors, or the smallest slip in the plot, can send you straight back to the slushpile. Having your manuscript professionally edited before you submit it to a publisher will place your manuscript one step ahead of unedited unsolicited manuscripts.
How much does editing cost?
The cost of having your manuscript edited depends on a number of factors: the length of the manuscript, the quality of the writing, whether any structural editing or reworking is necessary, the style of the writing (for instance, is it all written in American English but for an Australian market?), and the format of your manuscript. Based on her assessment of what your manuscript needs to maximise its chances of being published, Karin will provide you with an estimation of the hours she will require and a firm quote before she begins work on your manuscript.
How long will editing take?
Again, the length of time it will take for your manuscript to be edited will depend on its length, layout and the overall standard of your writing. It will also depend on Karin's availability. Often Karin is working on a number of projects concurrently and it may be that she has to schedule your manuscript edit in for some weeks or months ahead. When Karin provides you with a quote, she will also give you a "deadline" for the completion of her work. Karin is extremely deadline-driven with an excellent track record of delivering on time or early.
What if I want edited text changed back?
The author-editor relationship has to be a strong one, and usually does not end once the editor sends back the file or manuscript. It is natural that the author will have some queries or amendments once the file is returned to them. Karin Cox is happy to work with her authors to ensure that they are happy with the edited manuscript. If you find that there is something you don't understand or want changed back, please let Karin know. After all, there may be a grammatical or other reason for the change that you're not aware of. Karin will then work closely with you to ensure you are happy with the text. If you do find that there is still an error in your work, the best thing to do is to alert the editor to it. It may be that it is not an error at all, or it may be that it is one that has slipped in during the editorial process.