Book Reviews and Summaries

We will read your manuscript and write a 750-word review that will address the following: 1) A few sentences about your plot, 2) Our frank opinion of your book.  Did the book touch us?  How and Why? 3) Comments on the writing style, characters, and setting. 4) Ways in which we feel your book is unique. 5) Our recommendation.

Summaries cover your brief plot and character description, touching upon a few of the most exciting aspects. In our reviews and summaries, we wouldn't think of giving away your surprise ending!

Consultations

All editing contracts include a free consultation to determine the required level of editing and the number of read-throughs necessary.  This pre-editing consultation is most often done using the first five pages of a novel or the first 500 words of a shorter work.  No editing is included.  A small consultation fee will be charged if, after the consultation, the job is not booked.

We also offer a progress consultation for unfinished works.  Impact, format, story-line, and general readability will be assessed.  Be prepared for honest, straightforward, professional feedback.  No editing is included.

In our publishing consultation, we give you the benefit of our experience in the formats that are keys to getting your manuscript into the hands of a publisher. We can guide you in the use of tables of content, indexes, footnotes, endnotes, layout of front and back matter, and other publishing formats. Some editing of these utilitarian components of books and articles is usually necessary and is included in the consultation fee.

Short Story/Flash Fiction Critique

Cat & Quill specializes in this type of consultation.  The critique is a great way to get professional feedback on your writing.  We focus on story line, plot, underlying themes, effective dialog, character development and style.  You will receive our assessment along with suggestions on correcting weakness and common errors.  Copyediting is not included.

Free Sample Edit

When you need a large editing job done, you want to know that your editor fits your expectations before you commit to a contract.  To help you in your decision to contract your manuscript to us, Cat & Quill offers a free sample edit of the first 1500 words.  To qualify for this edit, you must be a new customer who seeks editing of a novel-length manuscript with a minimum of 250 pages or 75,000 words.  We reserve the right to refuse a sample edit if we honestly feel we are unable to help you with your manuscript.

Business Editing and Consultations

Cat & Quill is knowledgeable in a variety of technical and business writing and formats.  We specialize in creating “one voice” in manuscripts written by multiple authors and create consistency in those compiled from previously published materials. Most editing of business materials falls into the category of substantive editing and is priced accordingly.