Introduction
The Editor's DeskTop, launched in 1995, is an Internet-based editing
resource for authors and publishers. The
DeskTop combines authoritative, reliable, author-centered editing services
with the speed and convenience of e-mail consultation and Internet
file transmission.
The DeskTop's approach involves the author to the fullest extent possible
in the editing process, ensuring that the author's voice is always clearly
represented, and that the finished publication matches the author's vision
precisely. The editor will discuss every significant proposed revision of the
manuscript with the author, to ensure that author and editor work together
effectively as co-editors.
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The DeskTop's Editor
Prior to the launching of The Editor's DeskTop, Dan A. Wilson, the
DeskTop's editor, was for twenty-five years an editor of scholarly and
technical books, a writing consultant, and a professor of English and
linguistics at Queen's, one of Canada's top-ranked universities. He is a
professional linguist, an expert on written English, a highly qualified
editor, and a seasoned consultant.
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Projects Sought and Accepted
The DeskTop specializes in complete substantive editing service
for non-fiction projects. Substantive editing involves all of the standard
copyediting services, but also includes the analysis of content,
organization, coherence, tone, and style, and the preparation
of detailed comments, queries, and recommendations for discussion
with the author.
Small editing projects receive the same exceptionally high
standard of care and attention that major projects receive at the
DeskTop. Small projects are welcome when they can be scheduled between major projects.
Clients who have small projects in hand are invited to contact the DeskTop to determine
whether the current schedule has a short-term opening.
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Quotes and Fees
DeskTop project quotes always reflect fair current rates for expert-level
editing services. Quotes are normally by the project or by the 250-word page,
and vary with project requirements. For the substantive editing of a 300-page
(75,000-word) manuscript, the DeskTop's project fees range from $3,000 to $9,000 (US).
The rates for small projects are at the lower end of the DeskTop's scale as a rule, and
quotes of $300 to $500 are normal for short (30-page) academic research articles or reports.
E-mail requests for ballpark estimates are always welcome, but no firm quotes
will be provided for unexamined projects. The DeskTop guarantees all project
quotes, and thus issues quotes only upon the editor's examination of
representative materials. Please contact the DeskTop for details
concerning the sending of extracts and sample chapters.
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Scheduling
Scheduling at the DeskTop is flexible, and fast turnarounds are standard,
but emergency service is not available. The author-centered
consulting approach to editing demands reasonable scheduling.
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DeskTop Clients
In the course of his editing career, the DeskTop's editor
has successfully completed editing projects with a very long list
of clients, including many academic and commercial presses, major corporations,
small and large businesses, governments and government agencies, private publishers,
individual authors, universities, software developers, and computing industry publishers.
Qualified prospective clients may obtain contact information
for current and past DeskTop clients who have given their
express consent to having their contact information released. Contact
information is provided with the
understanding that it will be used exclusively to obtain information
about working with the DeskTop.
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File Transfers
In the course of a project, the editor and the author will normally exchange
small files as standard e-mail attachments. Large project files and
manuscripts may require transfer by FTP.
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The Last Word
Please contact the DeskTop before sending manuscripts or samples. In your message, please be as
informative as you can about the project you have in hand and the
schedule you have in mind.
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