“A good many young writers make the mistake of enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope, big enough for the manuscript to come back in. This is too much of a temptation to the editor.” Ring LardnerEvery writer knows what Lardner is alluding to: The publishing industry is brutal.
Agents and publishers are flooded with manuscripts every day, and the majority land in the "slush pile", where they languish before being dumped in the bin. So to entice an agent or publisher into reading your manuscript, you should have it professionally assessed (structurally edited) and then copy-edited, before posting it. And don't forget Lardner's tip—avoid including a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
For scientific and technical manuscripts, there is also the problem of finding an assessor comfortable with scientific argot and style. With these manuscripts, the combination of scientific and writing prowess in an assessor is an advantage over having an assessor who is only confident in writing or editing. At Proton, you get the best of both worlds—an assessor trained and experienced in writing and science.
Our structural edits and manuscript assessments are exhaustive and include suggestions about:
- writing style, tone, language, jargon, unity of tenses and pronouns
- use of active verbs and active sentences, punctuation, grammar, composition
- simplicity, clarity, clutter, wordiness, word usage
- subject organisation, logic, sequence of explanations
- evidence-based conclusions, the scientific method, speculation
- technical concepts, mathematical formulae, audience accessibility to ideas and language
- writing for your target market or audience
- publication potential.
We will also tell you if your manuscript is ready for copy-editing or presentation to agents and publishers.
Format and time frame
Upon receipt of payment and acceptance of agreement, an assessment or structural edit is completed in less than a month and presented to you in a comprehensive report. Lengthy or complex manuscripts, however, may take longer than a month to complete. In any case, you may ask for a specific time frame to meet your demands.
Fees
- Structural editing fees are $0.01 to $0.02 per word.
- Manuscript assessment fees are $0.01 to $0.02 per word.
Instructions for payment and online agreement
Please read carefully the following instructions and conditions for a nonfiction manuscript assessment.
- Make sure your manuscript is complete. You may include a title page, total word count, synopsis (500 words), market analysis (500 words), and writer’s bio (300 words).
- Manuscripts should be formatted in the following way: double-line spacing; 12 pt font size for body text (no fancy fonts); start each chapter on a new page (about halfway down the page); and keep everything simple and consistent throughout.
- Manuscripts sent by post should be printed on A4 paper (single side), and each page must be numbered. You must also include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript. Please make sure the envelope is large enough for your manuscript and that you have included enough stamps. Proton does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage of your manuscript by post. You must keep a copy of the manuscript, or the original, with you at all times. The safety of your manuscript is your responsibility.
- We prefer to receive manuscripts by e-mail. Make sure your manuscript is saved as a Microsoft Word document—less than 3 MB in size—and attach this saved file to your e-mail. Send all submissions to: submissions @ WritersMarke.com
- Use the price quoted by a Proton representative to arrive at your fee. For further information about fees, read the previous section titled “Fees”. All prices on this website are quoted in Australian dollars and include GST. If you are making a purchase from outside Australia, please make sure your payment is in Australian dollars.
- Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd accepts payment by cheque, money order or electronic bank transfer. Make all cheque and money order payments payable to: “Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd”. Please do not forget to include “Pty Ltd” in the name. If you would like to pay by electronic bank transfer, please send an e-mail with a request for our bank account details. Send the e-mail to: submissions @ WritersMarke.com
- Post your cheque or money order to: Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd, PO Box A2379, Sydney South, NSW, 1235, Australia. If you are sending your manuscript by post, include the manuscript with your cheque or money order in the same postal package—and do not forget to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript (see Condition 3).
- Finally, you must read carefully, agree to, and fill out the online agreement form (contract)—see link below. Your manuscript will not be assessed unless you agree to all Proton’s Terms and Conditions, and fill out the online agreement form.
