We offer editing, manuscript assessment and mentoring services to individual writers, as well as working with universities, charities and other organisations.
We can help you assess your story and find ways to enhance your narrative power. And we can offer advice on how to keep going and write your way through any difficulties.
Editing
We can do a structural edit to help you frame and shape your ideas, or we can fine tune your work with a copy edit. We have extensive experience of editing English written by speakers of other languages. We will always respect the voice and purpose of your writing.
Cost:
15€ per 1000 words is our guide price for copy editing.
But please send us a message with a writing sample (around 500 words) and total word count and we will confirm the price and timescale with you.
Manuscript assessment
Introductory package:
- a 1500-word report on your manuscript noting its strengths and areas for development
- line edits on representative sections and guidance on how to revise specific aspects of your work (e.g. dialogue, scene setting, suspense).
Cost:
500€ for manuscripts up to 50,000 words
Then 10€ per 1000 words after that (so an 85,000 word manuscript would cost 850€)
Please send us a message with a writing sample (up to 2000 words) and an approximate word count. It is also helpful if you can let us know a little more about your writing project:
- What genre is it (e.g. sci-fi short stories, a literary novel, journalistic essays, a memoir)?
- What are your main concerns? A couple of sentences about this is fine.
- What’s the main idea or question you’re exploring? If it’s fiction, please send us a couple of paragraphs outlining the story.
Mentoring
Introductory package:
We read up to 5000 words, meet in person or online for 1 hour, and write a 1000 word report on your writing.
Cost: 225€
Please send us a message to let us know a little bit about your writing project:
- What genre is it?
- What concerns would you like to discuss with a mentor? If you don’t know, that’s fine — everyone’s approach to writing is unique! But please do tell us if you know you want support with structure, or technique, or writing habits, or tips and tricks to keep going…
As well as the introductory package, we offer mentoring tailored to your needs. So if you are just starting out on a new project or have got stuck half way through something, please contact us and we’ll try to help.
“I asked for Michael’s feedback after I completed the first draft of my novel. Michael’s editorial insights have been invaluable … The points he made were not general, or fluff: rather, he had specific ideas that greatly helped me as I proceeded with the novel’s second draft.”
Mark J.
“Melaina Barnes has been working with CESEM at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa since 2018 proofreading and editing musicological texts. We are very pleased with Melaina’s professionalism, fast service and efficiency.”
Vera Inácio Cordeniz
