Manuscript Critique Terms
This agreement is made between Standoutbooks Ltd. (“Standoutbooks”) and the copyright holder of said book, assignee thereof, or anyone authorized to execute this Agreement (“Client”).
The Client acknowledges that the manuscript submitted for editing must be a Microsoft Word document with double line-spacing. The manuscript must be submitted as a single document and not as individual chapters.
The Client acknowledges and understands that all edits are made in Microsoft Word using the “Track Changes” feature. The Client further acknowledges that it is his/her responsibility to accept and/or reject edits in Microsoft Word and that such training is not included in the editing fees charged.
Standoutbooks reserves the right to verify word count as reported by the Client and charge the Client any additional editing fees based on any discrepancies Standoutbooks finds in the word count.
There is no guarantee by Standoutbooks that the Client will like or accept the edits made by our editors. Once the editing process has commenced, the Client is not entitled to a refund of any kind, unless the editor fails to edit the manuscript in the times set forth below, and said breach isn’t cured within five business days.
Manuscript Critique Process
The following terms describe the responsibilities of our editors for the Manuscript Critique:
- After paying the deposit, and submitting his/her manuscript, the Client shall be assigned an editor who best suits his/her writing style and genre.
- The editor will read through the manuscript with an eye for craft elements such as plot, character development, pacing, tension, show and tell, dialogue, etc. (in the case of fiction), and clarity, consistency of argument, arc, etc. (in the case of non-fiction).
- The editor will write an editorial report (approximately 3-4 pages long) discussing the strength and weaknessess of the book, and providing suggestions/advice for improvement.
- The editor will make light annotations to the manuscript in the form of comments to explain the points in the report as necessary.
- The editor will conduct a 20-minute telephone or email consultation with the Client following the edit to answer any questions or concerns regarding the editorial recommendations.
Our editors will not:
- Provide a complete fact-check of the manuscript.
- Edit the Client’s revisions in response to the critique. Any errors incorporated into the manuscript after the Client has approved the editor’s revisions will remain in the final manuscript.
- Secure any necessary permissions for reprinted material including, but not limited to: song lyrics, photos, poems, newspaper articles, or text.
Timeframe and fees
- The fee for the Manuscript Critique is US$0.008 (or £0.005) per word. A deposit of 50% of the full fee is due at the beginning of the edit, prior to the commencement of work, and 50% at the end. The Client agrees to pay the final amount within three business days of receiving the invoice.
- The fee is to be paid by the Client to Standoutbooks by PayPal or Credit Card using the Standoutbooks’ Online Payment Processing System.
- The editor will have the original manuscript critiqued within fifteen business days from receipt of the deposit. In cases where the manuscript exceeds 80,000 words, additional editing time may be required.
Copyright
The Client shall retain sole ownership of the original manuscript submitted to Standoutbooks as well as any contribution of the editor through revision, editing, suggestion, or idea. Any contribution of the editor will be considered to be a work made for hire within the meaning of the U.K. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or by assignment.
Standoutbooks further agrees that any material submitted to the editor, including data, transcripts, ideas, and information and any association between the Client, the editor, and the submitted work will be kept strictly confidential.
Termination
This agreement may be terminated by either party in the event of material change of circumstance, with ten business days’ notice sent in writing to the other party. If Standoutbooks terminates the agreement, Standoutbooks will be paid by the Client for work done up to the date of termination. If the Client terminates the agreement, Standoutbooks will be paid by the Client for the work done until termination.
Indemnity
Editing is intrinsically a process of offering advice and suggestions to the Client. In addition to offering such advice and suggestions, the editor’s responsibility is limited to notifying the Client of any unresolved issues before the work proceeds to the next stage of production. While Standoutbooks will make every effort to bring questionable material to the attention of the Client, the Client agrees to indemnify and save Standoutbooks from any and all claims or demands, including legal fees, arising out of any alleged libel or copyright infringement committed by the Client in creating the work.
Applicable laws
This Agreement is governed by the law of England and Wales, and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. This contract may be changed only by written agreement between Standoutbooks and the Client.
