Copyright © 2007 Balliett Editorial Services, a division of Balliett Enterprises. All Rights Reserved. |
Offering copy editing, complete line editing, content editing, in-depth editing, pacing plot,
developmental editing, tightening the prose, book doctor, personalized editing and ghost
writing. We also offer critiquing services on special request.
Editorial quality of your work will make the difference of getting published or receiving
loads of rejection letters that will fill a filing cabinet. No one wants to read a book that's
riddled with grammatical errors, typos and incorrect punctuation. However, even the best
writers make mistakes and miss errors while editing. Good writers can miss poor sentence
structure and missing nouns while editing their own work- the writer doesn't "see" it
because he knows what he is saying and becomes blind to the errors, yet his reader won't.
I call editing "removing my writer's glasses and putting on my reader's glasses."
Editorial services are your "reader's" glasses.
If you've finished your manuscript and your friends and relatives have told you that your
book is good, even great, then you probably think the next step is finding a literary agent,
or submitting your manuscript to publishers, or maybe you are considering self publishing
your book. But, have you asked yourself if you should have your manuscript edited and
critiqued by an editing service? Have you talked yourself out of it because you have a
spell checker and have proofed it many times yourself? Have you convinced yourself it's
unnecessary or too expensive?
Whether traditional publishing is your choice or self publishing is, both demand the same
attention of editorial expertise. If you are serious about your writing and it's not just a
hobby, then you will increase your chances of getting published by having your manuscript
edited by a professional editorial service. You can have peace of mind knowing it is a
professional manuscript when you submit it.
Publishing editors read manuscripts and if yours is full of errors, however slight, they will
most likely put it aside or throw it in the slush pile then pick up another manuscript to read.
While they are looking through numerous manuscripts to choose from, their first choice
is an obvious, the professional manuscript that catches their eye. They know the author is
a professional, whether a new unknown writer, or a published one.
There's far too many manuscripts submitted (if the publisher accepts unsolicited
manuscripts at all)to spend time with one that has author errors and the lack of
professionalism needed to grab their attention. It's too expensive and time consuming for
the publisher to edit an error-riddled manuscript in order to ready it for print on the basis
the author is a talented writer.
Literary agents won't accept new writers as clients when they read a manuscript full of
errors. Their first impression is that the writer isn't ready and the obvious fact, he didn't
invest in himself and hire an editorial service to prepare for his publishing venture that
he's about to embark on. Literary agents are the writer's partner in the venture and he has
to know you are ready and marketable, just as you have to know he is a professional and
can market you.
Talent isn't the only requirement needed to get published. Talent and professionalism
is the winning combination to impress editors and to noticeably increase a positive
impression. Editors will continue to read a well-prepared manuscript that is professional
and free of errors, easy to read, interesting and outlined well, and written by a talented
writer.
You can choose to skip this important step of utilizing an editorial service and self publish,
but once in print, the errors can't be corrected- or undone. And choosing to skip editorial
services does not save you money as one might think- it actually cost you money and time.
Money that's wasted mailing manuscripts that won't be read, not counting your printer
ink, and your time waiting weeks with anticipation, for any kind of affirmation and the
long-awaited letter of interest.
I invite you to peruse our menu of editing services then select the service(s) you are
interested in, and e-mail me for recommendation to customize a service that suits your
individual needs. I look forward to working with you in your success.
- "In every talented person with a small desire to write-- hides
a truly gifted writer, once armed with a little knowledge." --
Jannie Balliett
- Balliett Editorial Services
- "remove the writer's glasses and put on reader's glasses ...
- ... editorial services are your "reader's" glasses"
