Mad About Books     
Editorial Services     
Marie Goodwin, Editor     

So you’ve written a novel and you want to get it published.
What’s the next step?

In today’s publishing market, many books vie for the customer dollar. Fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, self-help books, children’s books, poetry and many other genres compete. YOUR book is adult fiction, which can be hard to get published.

To attract the attention of a publisher, you usually need an agent. Most agents have a large backlog of manuscripts to choose from. HOW CAN YOUR BOOK STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD???

The only answer to that question is this: YOUR BOOK MUST BE PERFECT. But since none of us is perfect, it’s better to have someone trained in standard English usage and editing practices to critique your manuscript. Here’s where I can offer you help as you ready your manuscript for the publishing market.

You have a better chance of finding an agent and a publisher if your manuscript meets certain criteria:

MECHANICS: Fiction manuscripts must be free from errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and diction. Many of my clients have found this feature of my editing service to be indispensable.

PRESENTATION: The appearance of a manuscript must follow the publishing industry’s standards of presentation. Your manuscript should be formatted in a standard type and font, double-spaced, and with one-inch margins. It must be printed on the front side of the page.

GENRES: Your manuscript should fall into a certain category or genre. Agents and publishers like to place the book within a specific marketing scheme. Popular novel genres today include thriller, romance, mystery, horror, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, and mainstream literary fiction. I offer practical suggestions about matching your work with the appropriate market.

PLOT and CHARACTERIZATION: Your plot must be clear and exciting. Characters should hold the reader’s interest, as well as being consistent and believable. Extensive dialogue makes for a fast read, but it should follow the rhythms of everyday speech, without awkwardness or cliches. In page notes and my critique letter, I offer you guidelines to help your manuscript flow more smoothly and professionally.

Please note: I would be honored to help you achieve your goal of publication. For the affordable price of $1.50 per page, I will read and critique your book according to the above criteria. Good luck on your writing!

Mad About Books, Editorial Services
Marie Goodwin, Editor
Phone: (504) 831-7740
email: marie@madaboutbooksmarie.com

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