The Prologue
Every manuscript starts with an idea. Sometimes these ideas flow freely and it’s smooth sailing from the start! In other circumstances, it can be tough to get the characters in line—we all know they’re the ones in charge!
That’s where we come in! By teaming up when the initial idea comes to you, we can help create a full manuscript map to keep all of your incredible thoughts, plans, details, and characters right where they need to be!
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CM Editing
CM Editing
This service includes:
-One-on-one meetings (virtually or over the phone) to map out as much, or as little, of your manuscript as you’d like!
-Detailed Google/Microsoft document with all planning notes and ideas
-Designing as many characters as you’d like—from main characters to side characters, furry friends and random extras—anywhere in between! Character trait maps will be included in our documentation.
-Review all aspects of and write out in detail as much of the plot as you’d like-World building if applicable.
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Cost: $20 USD per completed hour.
*This service is designed to be utilized before more than 10% of a manuscript has been written. It is not meant to replace developmental editing.
To Be? Or To Have Been?
Tense and point of view. We’ve all battled with these foes at one time! Changing a manuscript from one tense, or one POV, to another can be so time consuming! Let us take care of the headache for you!
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This service includes:
-review of manuscript to change all tenses to match your preference (past to present, etc.)
-review of dialogue to ensure all speech is consistent in tense
-review of character POV’s to ensure they match the tense
Cost: $200 for manuscripts up to 70,000 words
$350 for manuscripts up to 100,000 words
Once Upon a Manuscript
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
The story has begun! You’ve gotten the majority of the manuscript written, the characters are trying to behave, and you’re almost ready to move to edits! But before you dive into the phrases and grammar, it may be helpful to conduct a detailed review of the manuscript that focuses on improving its structure and content.
This service includes:
-Pacing
-Plot holes
-Under/overdeveloped storylines
-Themes
-Character Development
-World-building
-Structure
-Showing vs. Telling
-Overall consistency
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​We’re pleased to offer two options for Dev Editing:
1. On-Call Dev Edits (workshop through the novel together as you are writing!): $20 USD per completed hour. This can be a useful option for those who may not need a full dev edit, but also do not have an alpha team and would prefer live support.
2. $0.010 per word to review the completed manuscript independently. Final results will include detailed, in-line suggestions and edits, a summarization document, and continued support as needed. *One Pass.
What’s My Line, Again?
Line and Copy Editing
The manuscript is done! The plot is plotting, the characters are behaving, and you’re ready for polishing! Now it’s time to make sure your novel reads exactly as you want it to. Line and copy editing can be done separately, but at CM Author Services, we believe they are best approached together!
This service includes:
-Showing v. Telling
-Phrasing consistency
-Dialogue/narration style
-Sentence structure variation
-Word choice
-Grammar, spelling, and typos
-Adherence to Chicago Manual of Style
-Punctuation
-Hyphenation
-Spacing
-Dialogue formatting and punctuation
-Spacing between punctuation
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Cost: $0.009 per word. * One Pass.
$0.012 per word. *Two Passes.
Happily Ever After?
Proof +
Proof + offers a unique combination service for manuscripts that don’t quite need a full line and copy edit, but do need more support than just a proofread. This service is often identified within the first three chapters of a manuscript, and is a flexible option.
This service includes:
-Grammar, spelling, and typos
-Missing dialogue tags
-Punctuation and hyphenation
-Spacing between words and sentences
-Phrasing consistency
-Dialogue/narration style
-Sentence structure variation
-Adherence to Chicago Manual of Style
Cost: $0.006 per word *One Pass.
The Epilogue
Proofreading
Congratulations! The story is complete and desperate to get into the hands of your readers! We’re excited to make it to this final step, but first, let’s do one more review to ensure everything is as perfect as can be! This service is completed in one pass.
This service includes:
-Grammar and spelling
-Typos
-Punctuation
-Hyphenation
-Spacing between words and after punctuation
-Missing dialogue tags
-Capitalization
*Proofreading is preferably completed using a PDF in order to review formatting and page design for e-books simultaneously.
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Cost: $0.004 per word *One Pass.
Why Choose? Collaborative Editing!
As our business has grown, CM Author Services has decided to offer a brand new service. Collaborative Editing creates a dedicated workspace for the author and editor to meet virtually, weekly or bi-weekly, to edit the manuscript together. These meetings will provide a unique opportunity to approach any plot holes, inconsistencies, phrasing or structuring of sentences, and work together to build a polished manuscript.
The benefits of Collaborative Editing include the ability for the editor to complete developmental, line, and copy editing tasks at the same time, while doing so in real time. Our current completion rate is roughly three thousand words per hour, and these sessions will result in fully edited chapters at the end of each call. The best part? Our hourly rate for this service results in a discount on the total package pricing!
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Cost: $50 per hour
Your Mental Health Matters
Sensitivity Reading
It’s a common question in the book community: are you a trigger warning bestie, or a shopping cart bestie? There is no right or wrong answer—everyone has their own preferences! Whatever the answer, all readers are different and amazing.
Many authors utilize sensitivity readers to ensure their content is appropriately represented, or to gain insight on topics they may be less familiar with. At CM Author Services, we provide a judgement-free space to review any topics you would like.
If you are looking for sensitivity readers for specific topics, we currently offer support for the following content areas (with room to grow!):
​-self-injury
-being in an abusive relationship
-narcissistic partners/parents
-emotionally immature parents
-mental health struggles
-psychiatric hospitalization of teenagers and young adults
-eating disorders
-body dysmorphia and dysmorphic eating
-working with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
-ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety
-sexual assault
-suicidal ideation
-parental alienation
-single parenting
-rejection sensitivity dysphoria
-bisexuality/LGBTQIA+ representation.
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*Upon completion of this service, the author will receive a detailed document including notes, suggestions/concerns, and an opportunity for a follow-up meeting to review the summary.
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Cost: $50 for up to three standalone scenes
$150 for review for full manuscript up to 60,000 words
$250 for review of full manuscript with 60,001 to 100,000 words
$350 for review of full manuscript with 100,001+ words