Contact me skysong@activ8.net.au
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SERVICES
A Maguire Editing provides editing services for fiction and nonfiction drafts for publication, specialising in developmental editing and book coaching for fiction writers entering the publication market.
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Many authors who have the necessary drive and determination to complete a novel for publication, either via traditional publishing or through self-publishing, fail due to simple lack of knowledge of story structure and the more advanced knowledge and skills of authors with many novels under their belts. This is something A Maguire Editing can provide to authors—the requisite skills needed to produce a professional manuscript ready to submit to agents and publishing houses, or to upload to self-publishing sites.
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All services are offered from simple proof-reading of copy, through to detailed analysis of novel structure, and restructuring designs, and the definitions of the different types of service are detailed below.
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Proofreading
Proofreading requires a single, careful pass through a manuscript, picking up typographical, spelling and grammatical errors, noticeable repetitions of words, misplaced words, missing words and noticeable undesirable patterns or rhythms in sentence and paragraph construction.
Proofreading is charged at $US0.01 per word of manuscript.
Line Editing
Line editing requires a single, careful pass through a manuscript, focusing on all the errors found in proofreading PLUS sentence and paragraph construction for flow, meaning, clarity, pace and tension in a scene-by-scene process. Overall pace, flow and logic may not be picked up on a single pass and is not a guaranteed part of the process. Line editing suggestions include rephrasing for clarity, pace and flow, dialogue expansion for characterisation, ease of understanding, action rephrasing, condensing of rambling wording, expansion of truncated or undesirable fragmented constructions.
Line Editing is charged at $US0.02 per word of manuscript.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing requires several careful passes of a manuscript to determine overall story plot, structure, flow, pace and tension; characterisation, subplot structure and effectiveness, tightening of prose at sentence, paragraph and scene levels, expansion required for clarity and engagement of characters for the desired reader audience.
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With several passes, both proofreading and line editing services are included in the cost of developmental editing, with a focus on improving both structure and execution.
Development Editing is charged at $US0.05 per word of manuscript. This fee includes two full passes to accommodate refining the suggested revision. Passes requested after that are charged at $US0.01 per word.
Book Coaching for Novels
Book coaching involves the same effort in review and analysis of the novel’s structure, but is offered as a two passes for revision without proofreading, line editing or suggestions for prose construction improvements. The aim is to aid the author in developing their own critical approach to each work.
Book Coaching is charged at $US0.03 per word of manuscript. Passes requested after the two included passes are complete are charged as proofreading at $US0.01 per word.
Original Writing
This includes providing content—fiction, essays, articles—direct to clientele or through different online and traditional publications on spec for income.
This has a variable cost according to project. Please provide a detailed specification of requirement for a quote.
Transcription
Scanned digital images transcribed to editable text or audio files transcribed to text available.
Transcription is charged at $US0.02 per word of manuscript.
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Please note: All prices are exclusive of sales tax at a rate of 10%.
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Proofreading & Line Editing
Developmental Editing
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Book Coach
Transcription & Original Content Projects
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A Maguire Editing Services aims to provide a personal service to authors, advancing their knowledge at the same time as providing entry-quality manuscripts for agent and publishing submissions.
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I have twenty-five years in editing and writing fiction and nonfiction works for publications and a dedicated work ethic to helping authors develop themselves as well as their work. So much has changed in the last twenty years for writers, aiding in the building of skill and style is as important as producing a polished final product.
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Offering lower rates than US or UK based editing professionals is a calculated move designed to match a market share that currently cannot afford the five-figure pricing models. Contracts negotiated specify the lower prices equate to longer delivery times (and the reverse) and to the ability of client to pay via an instalment plan rather than on contract completion in full.
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An analysis of growing publishing business for sites like Amazon, CreateSpace and Smashwords, shows a large market of writers attempting to produce quality products without the requisite skills to do more than appear and disappear into the mass of published works. The aim of the company in targeting this market is two-fold: to provide services to writers in need of that knowledge and those skills, and to raise the publicly perceived quality of work self-published or sold through genre publishing through affordable aid in producing such quality.
ABOUT ME
MY CLIENTS
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“The Mrs MacKinnons was my first novel, and Toni's help in knocking it into shape was invaluable. She pointed out where extra scenes were needed, which bits were padding and could be cut, when a character needed better motivation for their actions, when something needed foreshadowing, etc. Not only that, but she showed me how to include sounds and smells to make scenes more interesting, and how to intertwine action with narrative to keep the reader interested. Definitely recommended."
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Jayne Davis, UK author of The Mrs MacKinnons
“A. Maguire has a rare talent for pulling out the best in a story, helping it to reach its potential while remaining true to the writer’s vision. Her insightful criticism has made Freedom’s Knife and Frost’s Fall work I am proud of. I highly recommend her service. You will not find a better editor."
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Daphne K. Moore, US author of Circle's End, Freedom's Knife and Frost's Fall.”
“With a good editor, one looks for corrections and perhaps a little confirmation and some direction. A gifted editor sets a person on fire. Antonia possesses a rare empathy, an ability to see the direction the story should take, coupled with the discretion and humility to understand exactly how much of a role to take.
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The lag between initial inspiration and the time when the reading public sees a work is a long one. More often than not the reaction a writer gets from the public is just to have read, no feedback, nothing sustaining. The great editor is that live human sensibility that understands, feels, and lives the work, the one who can see the panorama, and know that getting there requires a delicate and sophisticated touch with every ellipses, every italic, and every paragraph break.
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Details matter. Antonia brings a consciousness to editing that transcends questions of usage. No editor can achieve true mastery before they learn to be a feeling, responding human being.
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With the right editor a writer never has to ask why because he knows the effort will never be wasted because there is that one person through whose eyes his work comes alive.”
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Edd B. Jennings, US author of Seal River, To Eskimo Point.
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CONTACT ME
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+61 02 4843 3175