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Why Copy-editing?
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” (Mark Twain)
The ‘difference between the right word and the almost right word’ aptly describes the work of a writer, which consists of finding the right words. Unfortunately this is often easier said than done.
Have you written a manuscript that you would like to publish with a German publisher? A novel, a non-fiction book, an autobiography or the like? Would you like to sell an e-book?
Are you sure about the basic characteristics of your text, but wish for an exact and detailed examination, copy-editing, by a professional institution, so that your chances of getting the work published become higher? The author of a text often overlooks things that a second reader notices due to having more distance from the text as well as a different reading experience.
Copy-Editing at publishing houses
These days, conventional copy-editing rarely takes place in publishing houses. Due to difficult times for the publishing industry, editors can barely afford to spend time on such time-consuming work. Having to oversee the making of up to twenty titles in six months, editors are turning more and more into text managers, who coordinate the various people working on a book. This also means that there is less time and effort left for copy-editing. For this reason, a manuscript that is sent to a publishing house should be nearly ready for printing; nowadays, an author cannot expect the editor to work intensively with the manuscript anymore. Taking this into consideration, we highly recommend having a text copy-edited before sending it to publishers – so that you can submit your text to the publisher in the best possible quality. Copy-editing is the last editorial step before a book is published. We can take care of this for you.
Conventional copy-editing
We can copy-edit your text professionally und quickly in the conventional manner, be it in its final form or as the text is being developed. We work with your text, improve inconsistencies, unfitting phrases and minor stylistic lapses so that your text becomes “well-rounded” and coherent.
Accompanying Copy-Editing
Would you like a second opinion before you finish your text? Are you stuck and need help to continue? With our offer of accompanying copy-editing we copy-edit individual chapters or portions of your text. In this way, we can help you recognise and solve problems with the composition or dramaturgy of your text at an early stage. This flexible form of copy-editing enables optimal text production from the very beginning.
What is copy-editing?
In all cases we check and correct the text to make sure that it coherent and harmonious. In particular, we pay attention to the following aspects:
1. Structure
2. Storyline and dramaturgy
3. Character descriptions
4. Language
Furthermore, we check to make sure that there are no logical mistakes, missing information, false references, unclear and awkward formulations, unnecessary passive or participial constructions, unnecessary ‘filler words’ and repetitions.
Our copy-editing and your text
Please note that our copy-editing consists of recommendations that are formulated based on close personal consultation with you regarding the intention of your text. The sensitive handling of your text is very important to us. For this reason we strive for a process in which our work is transparent at all times and you, the author, are actively involved in the entire work and decision process.
Our work is based on a careful text analysis according to the standards of publishers. You can address any questions to us regarding the copy-editing process in a personal meeting (or by telephone or e-mail).
If desired, we can also proofread your text after copy-editing in order to check spelling, grammar and punctuation. For the authors represented by the agency, we complete copy-editing upon request at no additional cost.
Interested?
If interested please send your (complete) manuscript along with a synopsis to:
e-mail:
mail:
Schoneburg. Literaturagentur
c/o Eulenspiegel Verlagsgruppe
Torstr. 6
10178 Berlin
We will then send you an offer based on the number of standard pages (1800 characters) of your manuscript.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
We look forward to working with you!