How should I format my manuscript?

Please only upload Word documents via the online submission form. Don’t forget to number your pages and double space your lines, and use an easy-to-read font like Times New Roman 12. Editors would prefer if you could also indent your paragraphs and use page breaks throughout the manuscript.

How long will it take to match my manuscript with an editor?

We aim to match you with the right editor within 2-4 days. We’ll get back to you as soon as the choice has been confirmed.

How do you choose the editor?

We match manuscripts based on over 20 years of experience working with our editors. We consider editor experience, their genres of interest, and whether they themselves feel they are the right fit for your work. As all our editors are freelance, this depends on availability.  

Can I choose my editor?

If you have a particular editor in mind, we will of course do our best to match you with them. We cannot guarantee this, however, as all of our editors are freelance and there are times when they are unavailable due to demand and/or other commitments.

Once you have placed your order, you’re welcome to send a shortlist of 4-5 editors from our website (and we’ll do our best to place you with your preferred editors).

What if my book is good enough? Will you help me find an agent?

On some occasions, an editor will flag a manuscript as submission ready. When this happens, a member of the Jericho Writers team will look at the author’s agent submission pack and provide some free advice on it, plus access to AgentMatch. On some occasions, where the manuscript shows real promise, we’ll also approach agents on the author’s behalf.

It’s worth noting however, that this service is reserved for manuscripts which editors believe have strong commercial potential and are of a very high quality. Please don’t be disappointed if yours isn’t selected – most manuscripts require quite a few rewrites before reaching submission standard!

Which editorial service is right for me?

We offer quite a few editorial services, so you’re right to take the time to consider all of your options. The writing process is a long one, so whether it’s line editing or copy-editing, or something on a larger scale, like a manuscript evaluation or developmental edit, we have the service for you. You can take a look at all of our editorial services here. You might also like to read our article explaining all the different types of editorial services. If you’re still not sure, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to offer more advice.

How and when do I submit my manuscript?

After purchase, we’ll invite you to upload your full manuscript via our online submission form. Once we’ve received your submission, we’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve matched your work up with the right developmental editor.

How do I know if a developmental edit is the right choice for my manuscript?

We recommend our developmental editing service if:  

• Your manuscript is in pretty good shape (ie: this should be the last major round of work before submitting to publishers or self-publishing the manuscript). 
• You want both broad and narrow comments. 
• You want the opportunity to talk at length with one of our developmental editors. 
• You are OK paying for a premium service. 

We recommend a manuscript assessment if: 

• Your manuscript is still at a somewhat earlier stage in its journey. 
• You feel able to handle the narrower issues yourself, so long as you have reasonable guidance from your manuscript assessment report.   

What does a developmental editor work on?

The developmental editing process looks at both the broad and the small aspects of a manuscript. Your professional developmental editor will write a long written report containing structural commentary that looks at the big picture elements of your story, such as themes, characterisation, and your narrative arc. Developmental editing involves the more minute details too (like sentence structure, unclear dialogue, and grammar), and our freelance developmental editors provide page-by-page feedback along with annotations on the manuscript itself.

What is the difference between substantive and developmental editing?

Developmental editing is also called substantive editing, and the two services are now generally considered to be one and the same. Though this hasn’t always been the case. While developmental editors focus on both large and small scale edits, substantive editors have traditionally dealt with improvements made at the scene, paragraph, and sentence levels. However, the terms are now largely used interchangeably, with both offering enhancements that can be made on a small and a large scale.

How long will my editorial report be?

Editorial reports are usually around 3500 words long*. However these can range from 2500 to 4000 words depending on the length of the manuscript.