Introduction to Cornerstones

Transcription

1 Introduction to Please read this terms and conditions letter before opting for a report. If there is anything unclear do call or and we ll be happy to clarify. NB: If you live outside UK don t forget to tell us as you won t be liable for VAT. is a leading UK literary consultancy established in 1998, with its children s division, Kids Corner, set up in We re passionate about writing, editing and launching new authors, and we scout for literary agents. Our 60 plus editors have been chosen for their agenting, publishing or writing experience, specializing in a range of fiction, non-fiction and children s writing. They bring their working knowledge of the UK market to show you what agents and publishers are looking for. Kathryn Price who was the co-director for 10 years now works purely in editorial and spearheads the Director s Choice. Write a Blockbuster and Get it Published by Lee Weatherly and Helen Corner, published by Hodder, is based on our teaching techniques and covers all aspects of self-editing and how to submit to the trade. is included on the Society of Authors list of recommended literary consultancies. Please visit our website for more information on author journeys and agent contacts. Quotes from the industry Thanks to I was able to leap off the slush pile and into the arms of an agent with a single bound! Sarwat Chadda, Devil s Kiss, Puffin & Disney Hyperion. recommended a writer to me. Within days of receiving the script I knew I had to represent it; within ten days of sending the book out, a publisher offered for it. How s that for a success story! Laura Longrigg, MBA Literary Agents. feedback was always spot on and, above all, honest. Now thanks to them, I am signed up with a top London agent and publisher. Ava McCarthy, The Insider, HarperCollins. We ve been recommending for a long time and have had some first class children s and adult manuscripts from them. If an author is not sure whether their book is ready to submit, or what they can do to develop it, they can expect a comprehensive review from this long-established consultancy. Eve White Literary Agency. Registered Address:,,,

2 First steps in contacting The Team Please phone or Helen Corner (Director) or Ayisha Malik (Managing Editor) so we can take you through your options. Though we don t take on every project, we re always happy to chat through any queries by or phone. We pride ourselves on our personalised service and ongoing support, and will tailor our services to match your needs. Helen and Ayisha are on hand to answer your queries at any stage during the process and because we work as a team we re able to respond quickly. Please bear in mind that if you have a query that s specific to one of us the response may take a little longer. The ultimate aim is to see you get published, although this can never be guaranteed; our first goal is to show you how to strengthen your work, edit and submit professionally. We have a filter system where we look at your first chapter and synopsis, at no charge, to see if your writing is at a stage where it would benefit from critical feedback. This also allows us to get a feel for your writing and to match your work to the right editor. Please us your first chapter and a synopsis in one word document. Services Copy-editing and proofreading For authors who are self-publishing or polishing their manuscript prior to submission we offer copy-editing and proofreading services. Contact us to discuss your requirements. As these services are priced on an hourly basis we will provide you with an approximate figure and timescale, invoice for half up-front and the rest once the project has been completed. Industry edit This is a line-by-line structural mark up on your manuscript with an overview letter (2-3 pages). It is ideal if you are near submission level, short on time and looking to do a final industry polish, pre copy-edit/proofread. The editor will identify every instance of structural issues so that you can self-edit quickly and with confidence. This package includes a Masterclass worksheet to explain technical terms. Mentoring The mentorship package allows you to book one-on-one time with an editor to use however you want, whether that s reading your full MS or just a few scenes; working through show not tell; brainstorming your plot; or preparing your submission package. With the mentorship scheme you pay for 15 hours Registered Address:,,,

3 minimum, dealing directly with your editor, and they will help you to devise a firm way forward for your writing. Brainstorm your Plot Ayisha and Helen will assess your synopsis and first chapter or up to 10 pages, double-spaced and then in a one-on-one session we will discuss how to take your story forward. The service is designed to kick-start your writing and set you on the right path. This involves a day of reviewing material and a one hour brainstorm meeting. Commission a Report If you re looking for feedback on your writing strengths and weaknesses, and how to go about redrafting, then our reports offer a range of options. Reports will vary depending upon a specific manuscript s needs and will cover areas such as plot, characterization, pacing, marketability and style. Please note, reports are designed to flag up and discuss problem areas using a few examples in the MS to illustrate the editor's point with potential solutions. This is not a line by line edit and will not highlight every instance of a problem. Once the editor has received your manuscript, the report will usually take 4-6 weeks. If there is any delay you will be kept informed of progress. Types of Report The Synopsis Check is a mark-up of your one-page synopsis including an 8-step worksheet. If you're struggling to summarise your book or have an idea for a novel and want to know if it will work before you begin then this package will be invaluable. The Mini Critique (5-8 pages approx) offers feedback on the opening chapters and synopsis to see whether you re on the right track. It can also be used for short stories. The General Report (6-10 pages approx) provides an overview of a manuscript for authors who ve been through the editorial process with us before, or who feel confident about self-editing techniques and terminology. This report is ideal for experienced writers seeking a second opinion of their work. The In-Depth Report (8-12 pages approx) provides a thorough critique of the manuscript, with specific examples of problem areas. Relevant writing terms and techniques are explained, and authors are shown how these concepts apply to their own work. With an In-Depth Report annotation or margin notes on the manuscript may occur but these are not part of the report and are more for the editor s reference: all essential information will be in the report. This report is ideal for manuscripts that need involved assessment. Registered Address:,,,

4 The Consultancy Report (8-12 pages approx) provides a manuscript with specialist attention and involves a structural critique, mark-up where required (not copy-edit), and a 1.5 hr brainstorm session (inc preparation) with the editor post-report. Our editors live all over the UK and it s helpful to us to assign the right editor rather than one who lives near to you. If you don t feel able to travel to them you ll want to conduct the brainstorm session via Skype or phone. This report is ideal if you have agent or publisher interest, are on the cusp of being published, or looking for a more hands-on editorial approach. The Non-fiction Proposal Report (5-10 pages approx) covers up to 50 double spaced pages of a manuscript and includes an assessment of: sample letter to the agent/publisher, contents list with a brief description of each chapter, biography, and author introduction. The Non-fiction Report (8-15 pages approx) is for an assessment of the whole manuscript. This is essential for academic or specialist non-fiction. Discussion with your editor can be arranged at an hourly rate. The Are you Ready to Submit Report (5-10 pages approx) looks at your submission letter, synopsis and first three chapters or up to 30 pages to assess whether your package is ready to send to an agent or editor. The report also includes a 24-page guide on how to approach agents/editors. The Interim Read is a read-through of the full MS, with a one page summary and optional phone chat with the editor afterwards. This service is perfect for returning authors who've made revisions and want to know if they're on the right track but don't require a report. If you are unsure which report you need, or have never had your work professionally assessed, we strongly recommend at least the In-Depth Report as a comprehensive introduction to the self-edit process. The Consultancy Report is a worthwhile investment as the brainstorm session can really set you on the right track, saving you time and money in the long run. Scouts for Agents and submissions process If the editor recommends your manuscript for submission to agents, we ll let you know that we d like to consider this, post revision, when we send you the editorial report. This may be your first editorial report or a further one down the line. Once you ve redrafted, you ll post and us the first 50 pages which Helen or Ayisha will consider. There is no charge for the submission process, see below on the % remuneration on a publishing deal. Submission can be an involved process which differs for every author. It may be that we request the whole manuscript and sell you straight in to an agent or we may want to work with you personally before submitting. At this stage, there is no charge for our feedback. We may turn you down if we don t feel we can pass you through; if we re interested but there s significant revision to be made we Registered Address:,,,

5 might recommend another report. We don t suggest this lightly and you re under no obligation to undertake this step. Submission of work to agents is by invitation only, at our discretion, and it also has to work for you. If your manuscript reaches this level we ll discuss the process with you in more detail and send you an agreement. If you feel at any stage you d prefer to submit your work yourself then you re free to do so, as long as you let us know. If you get a publishing deal as a result of us placing you with an agent our success fee will be 10% plus VAT of the initial worldwide advance you receive, with no ongoing royalties. This works on a no-win/no-fee basis. Rates Fees are payable in advance at the time when the services listed below are first commissioned. All prices include VAT at the appropriate rate where applicable. Please note that a surcharge of 1.93% applies to all the above amounts when payment is made by credit card and a 10 transfer fee for international online payments. Brainstorm your Plot session 245 Synopsis Check 49 Mini Critique Report 180 for manuscripts up to 30 pages double-spaced inc. synopsis; 1.20 per additional page up to 50 pages General Report 250, or 5 per 1,000 words if greater than 50,000 words In-Depth Report 300, or 6 per 1,000 words if greater than 50,000 words Consultancy Report Minimum 400, or 8 per 1,000 words if greater than 50,000 words. For Director s Choice, minimum 500 or 10 per 1,000 words. Non-fiction Proposal Report 300 Non-fiction Report Are You Ready to Submit Report Interim Read Copy-editing 400, or 8 per 1,000 words if greater than 50,000 words. Discussion with editor 60 an hour, optional extra for MSS 50,000 words and under, or 4.50 per 1000 words. Discussion with editor 60 an hour, optional extra Minimum 200. For manuscripts above 20,000 words 36 an hour Registered Address:,,,

6 Proofreading Industry edit Mentoring Publication Commission (refer to section on submission to agents) Minimum 185. For manuscripts above 20,000 words 32 an hour Minimum 250. For manuscripts above 20,000 words, 46 an hour. For Director s Choice, minimum 280 and 52 an hour. Minimum 750 for 15 hours and 50 an hour thereafter. For Director s Choice, minimum 1050 for 15 hours and then 70 an hour. Our fee is 10% of the initial Worldwide deal plus VAT Additional Information We have an immediate refund policy if you decide not to go ahead with our service. As soon as a project is in progress and an editor has started to work on a manuscript a refund will not be possible. If you require a faster Report turnaround than the normal 4-6 weeks, a speed read can usually be arranged at an additional cost. We offer a 5% loyalty discount for repeat editorial reports (not applicable during additional promotional offers). Submission guidelines The first step is to contact us by calling or ing with your query and we will you our introductory letter. Then you us the first chapter and synopsis so we can guide you through the process. There is no charge for this process. We don't take on every manuscript. We're all about guiding an author on how to self-edit and revise, so if we feel you're still at creative writing stage we may turn you down, with feedback. You're welcome to contact us at a later stage with revised material or with a new story. If we do think we can help, then we'll be with you every step of the way. Once we've discussed your options and decided on your next step: You make the appropriate payment to. You can pay by card or online transfer or via our website. Registered Address:,,,

7 We will then you a receipt of payment and the name and address of the carefully selected editor for you to send your manuscript to. You send your manuscript directly to the editor - standard Royal Mail is usually best - enclosing: a synopsis and your material, with a title page listing the manuscript title, your name, word count and address. Please ensure that your manuscript is double-spaced, paginated, unbound, at least size 12 font, and not your only copy. Please call or once you ve put your material in the post. We'll you the editor s report when it is ready, normally within 4-6 weeks. Where applicable the editor will send back your manuscript separately.* Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for loss of manuscripts in the post. *The editor will not return the manuscript unless you specifically request it. If you would like it returned, please enclose a stamped addressed jiffy bag. Please use stamps and not the dated white sticker that the post office will try to issue, as it goes out of date immediately. If there is no stamped addressed jiffy bag enclosed with the manuscript we will assume that you do not want it returned. Receiving the report and what happens next You will receive your report by from along with notes on how to use it. If you ve included a stamped jiffy bag the editor will send your manuscript back directly. We recommend that you allow at least a couple of weeks to digest the report before you decide how to proceed. All advice should be clear but if you feel it's not, please let us know - our editors are happy to answer essential questions on the back of their reports. Once you have revised your MS and again, we advise you take your time you may decide to come back to us for a second report (charged at the above rates with a 5% discount as a returning author) to check your revisions. You can request the same editor, or ask for a new one to get a fresh perspective. If you have any queries at any stage, please do contact us. We pride ourselves on our ongoing, personal support. By submitting your manuscript to you signify your agreement with the terms set out in this letter. A personalised service and an ongoing relationship with our authors Registered Address:,,,

8 We believe in offering a personalised and outstanding service and we hope that your experience of working with us is more than satisfactory. If for whatever reason you re not happy with any part of the process please do contact us and we ll look into it immediately. Many authors keep in touch long after they ve used our services and we like to know of any developments or book news so please do or call us with your news, or send us a card - we love getting cards in the post. Finally, we realise that these editorial options may initially feel confusing so please do call or us to chat anything through and we ll guide you through the process. Warm wishes, Helen and Ayisha Registered Address:,,,