Frequently Asked Questions

AuthorScope accepts only documents in Microsoft Word format (*.doc or *.docx). Please do not submit documents created in Open Office or other MS Word clone software as these systems may not be 100% compatible with the review features in Word, which all AuthorScope editors use. Delete all material that you do not want AuthorScope to edit. In addition, do your best to conform to the following recommendations:

We are generally opposed to all forms of censorship and will agree to edit most manuscripts, including highly controversial ones. However, we respect the preferences of our editors, and may decline projects if we are unable to find an editor willing to review material that he or she finds distasteful.

Your privacy and security are top priorities at AuthorScope. When you upload your manuscript, it will be accessible only to the editor assigned to your project and a select group of AS employees. All of our editors and staff have signed nondisclosure agreements that protect your intellectual property from being shared or used for any purpose other than what is expressly outlined in our Terms of Service. The truth is, if an author services company was ever involved in pirating a client's creative property, it would go out of business very fast. It's always a good practice to put the phrase "Copyright 2017 John Doe" in your document.

To preserve the objectivity and editorial integrity of August Editions and Calumet imprints (Wisdom Editions and Calumet Editions), AuthorScope operates as a wholly independent department entity. On a practical level, this means we prevent any conflicts of interest by ensuring that manuscripts must be submitted separately to our publishing entities and must go through same evaluation process for all submissions. That said, we like the way our editors and coaches do things, so it is likely that favorable reading will occur. However, our editors will preserve the essence of your writing; as a result, it is the author who is ultimately responsible for the final draft of any kind of submission.

In the near future, yes. But right now AuthorScope is focused on providing quality coaching and editing services..

Most of our editing plans include a set amount of phone consultation. We believe that a verbal consultation can be an important part of developing an understanding of the manuscript and the suggestions made by the editor.

Your AuthorScope editor will focus entirely on the craft of your manuscript. Depending on which level of editing you request, this may involve structural issues and character development, or grammatical and stylistic concerns. Marketability will not be addressed.

We aim for perfection, but it is not guaranteed. We do guarantee that it will be returned to you with great improvements, and that our work adheres to the book industry’s highest standards, including following the Chicago Manual of Style on most matters of grammar and style. But remember that almost every book published has some flaw in it.

Virtually all books published by the major houses go through multiple rounds of editing for a few reasons. First, different editors look at different issues. Collaborative editors are looking at the text as a reader or agent would: Is this a good story? Will it find its intended audience? Does the author have to address any high-level issues with style or voice? Copy editors, on the other hand, are ace grammarians and are looking at the text line by line from a technical standpoint: Is the writing comprehensible and free of typos? Are capitalization and similar style components consistent throughout, so as not to confuse or distract the reader? Though a few can do it all, many editors specialize in one type of editing.

Second, additional editing is essential anytime significant revisions are made, as rewriting will inevitably introduce new errors. Some of the titles you see on the shelves went through multiple rounds of developmental edits, line editing and copyediting before the authors and publishers were satisfied with the finished work. To ensure that your book can compete with the best books published by the major houses, we encourage independent authors to follow the publishers’ lead and put your book through at least two full rounds of editing if your budget and timelines allow. With three full rounds, our Professional Editing Package gives your manuscript the same thorough treatment bestselling and award-winning books receive.

You can request a quote from our editor. It depends on the number of words, and the amount and significance of the changes made during the earlier round of editing. In some cases only a portion of the manuscript may need an additional round. Your editor is in the best position to quote a price for an additional round. But a subsequent round of editing is almost always less expensive than the earlier round.

Editors help develop exposition—the surface of written language: style, the story's episodic flow, rhythm, vocabulary, dialogue orchestration, line editing, copyediting, punctuation et cetera. They are our window-dressers. Their duties often dovetail with coaching insofar as they might also supply further development of ideas and subtext. Writers can learn a great deal by closely examining the textual redlining and comments of their editors.

Author coaches consult with and mentor writers more on craft and business advice. They help make the author a better writer, support and aid with organization toward improving the author's writing (how to make a better story, learning how to help the reader stay focused). They can be invaluable in helping to navigate authors through the various pitfalls of publishing. Most coaches do not claim to be psychologists, but they may supply support for an author’s general and professional well-being in similar ways. Some AuthorScope coaches, however, are also psychologists.

These two types of coaching are very similar. You can think of an author career coach as being a life coach with deeper experience and understanding of the particular business issues, personal problems, artistic pressures and unique opportunities faced by authors.