- Why should I have my manuscript edited before I submit it for publication?
- Is it cheating somehow to have someone else edit your work?
- Do you ever work on dissertations or theses?
- Will you do the actual writing of a dissertation or article for someone?
- Can you help with book, conference, or grant proposals?
- How about help with c.v.'s, application letters, annual reviews, tenure and promotion materials, recommendation letters, etc.?
- Do you ever work on scientific or technical manuscripts?
- What's your success rate?
- How much do your services cost?
- Do I need to pay for your services up front?
- Where am I going to find the money?
- But what if I'm not fully employed?
- How long will it take?
Why should I have my manuscript edited before I submit it for possible publication?
Responding to financial pressures, university presses are increasingly seeking books with crossover possibilities and rejecting interesting but troubled manuscripts. This has resulted in increased competition for the relatively few places on a publisher's list and a bias toward unproblematic and already well-written manuscripts. (Similar forces are at work at many scholarly journals.) Our clients have found that working with us to revise or polish a manuscript greatly increases its chances of appearing in print.
Publishers' belt-tightening also means that most can no longer afford to edit the works they do publish as closely and thoroughly as they once did, as is evident in the prevalence of errors and muddled passages in many new academic books. A round of substantive and/or textual editing by our editors before the final manuscript is submitted for copyediting and production can noticeably improve both the quality of a work and its scholarly reception.
And as every writer knows, it takes more work to write short than it does to write long, and many journals and presses refuse to consider works that exceed their length guidelines. We are skilled at helping authors prune redundancy and unnecessary words or material from their manuscripts, resulting in clearer, more concise writing without sacrificing essential content. We can also suggest strategies for larger cuts where necessary.
Is it cheating somehow to have someone else edit your work?
The collaborative nature of most published academic writing is one of the best-kept secrets of the academy. Generally, the better the final piece, the more eyes and hands that have been on it during its development. Good editors don't write or even rewrite an author's work; rather, they question and advise. It is as ethical (and smart) to seek an editor's advice on matters of presentation as it is to heed the counsel of friendly readers, conference participants, peer reviewers, or dissertation committee members on matters of content.
Do you also work on dissertations or theses?
Yes. We've worked with scholars at almost every stage of the dissertation writing process—developing a research plan, staying on track and motivated, organizing research findings, and drafting, revising, and editing the final manuscript. Among our intentions while editing dissertations is to render them as article- or book-ready as possible, saving authors time and expense in rewriting for later publication.
We also mentor thesis writers on how to deal with unhelpful or difficult advisors or committee members, respond to requests for changes at various stages of the process, and prepare for their defense. (And if you are entering the academic job market, we can also help you prepare effective, professional-looking vitas, application letters, and personal statements.)
Will you do the actual research or writing of a dissertation or article for someone?
No.
Can you help with book, conference, or grant proposals?
We can help clients at every stage of creating successful conference or grant proposals, from conception to responding to reviewers' reports. We also have considerable experience in helping scholars re-conceptualize dissertations or unwieldy book manuscripts into publishable projects and effective book proposals.
How about help with c.v.'s, application letters, annual reviews, tenure and promotion materials, recommendation letters, etc.?
Producing effective work-related documents can be essential to a successful academic career. Yet most academics (especially early in their careers) have little experience, few models, and limited mentoring to rely on in creating such documents. We have helped many clients better understand the conventions, institutional expectations, and strategic dimensions involved in the crafting of these vital forms of self-presentation.
Do you ever work on scientific or technical manuscripts or grant proposals?
We do work with authors in such fields to ensure that their arguments are coherent, clearly and concisely expressed, and accessible to the intended audience, and have helped clients secure many millions of dollars in grant money. We are not technical editors, however, and do not copyedit manuscripts for correctness in scientific accuracy, terminology, or format.
What's your success rate?
We have been extremely successful in helping clients improve and publish their work. To date, we have helped BN&A clients create and publish nearly three dozen scholarly books and more than a hundred articles, dissertations, reports, and reviews, as well as scores of successful conference and grant proposals, job-application materials, and tenure and promotion dossiers.
Perhaps the best indication of past clients' satisfaction with our work is that more than half have enlisted our help on multiple projects, and most of our new clients are referred to us by other authors with whom we've worked.
How much do your services cost?
Our competitive rates vary by specific services and the condition and length of a manuscript. Contact us, and we'll be happy to provide you with our current prices and with an estimate after having a chance to discuss and examine your manuscript. We recognize that cost is a significant issue for many of our clients and are committed to giving authors the best help possible in the fewest hours possible.
Do I need to pay for your services up front?
Generally, you will be billed at the end of each segment of the work (article, chapter, etc.). Clients are free to discontinue or delay work at the end of any stage of a project for any reason. For large projects to be completed as a single unit or in a short period of time, we may require a partial payment, purchase agreement, or contract before beginning work. If your institution is paying the cost of our services, we will invoice them directly. Clients may also pay by credit card through PayPal.
Where am I going to find the money?
Clients have employed all of the following to help cover the costs of our services:
- Research support funds provided by their units.
- A research or faculty development grant. We can help by providing cost estimates, written descriptions of our services and credentials, or assistance in writing your proposal.
- Their publisher. We can advise you on how to approach this.
- Their tax savings. Our services are tax deductible for most academics.
- The merit raises and/or promotions that result from their increased productivity.
What if I'm not fully employed?
Contact us about the discounts we offer to graduate students, independent scholars, or other academics making less than $35,000 a year.
How long will it take?
Deadlines are negotiable, though generally we are able to provide up to twenty hours of work per week on a given manuscript or project. Because of the demand for our services, there may be some delay in how soon we can start on a new project, so the more lead time you can give us, the better. Yet we understand the urgency of deadlines and the constraints on our clients' own time and therefore strive to complete our work as quickly as possible without compromising quality. Rush jobs can often be accommodated, though sometimes for an additional surcharge.
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