A manuscript ready for production
Before your book is typeset or converted to an eBook, we clean the file, apply consistent styles, assemble the front and back matter and flag permissions questions that could delay publication.
- Free initial consultation
- Clear written quote
- One point of contact
A clean master file is the quiet foundation every later edition is built from.
The unglamorous work that saves time later
Manuscripts written over months or years tend to collect hidden clutter: manual line breaks, tabs used for indents, three different heading fonts, comments that were never deleted, and chapters pasted in from older drafts. A typesetter or eBook converter has to untangle all of that, which costs time and introduces the risk of error.
We prepare a single clean master file using proper paragraph and heading styles, standardize scene breaks and special characters, and gather the material that sits around the main text: title page, copyright page, dedication, acknowledgments and author note. We also check for quoted lyrics, epigraphs or images that may need permission.
What you gain with manuscript preparation
Before your book is typeset or converted to an eBook, we clean the file, apply consistent styles, assemble the front and back matter and flag permissions questions that could delay publication.
Styles, not manual formatting
Headings, body text, block quotes and scene breaks are tagged with consistent styles, so typesetters and eBook tools can apply the design accurately without hunting for stray formatting.
Complete front and back matter
We draft or assemble the copyright page, contents, dedication, acknowledgments, about the author and further reading, ordered the way readers and retailers expect to find them.
Permissions flagged early
Song lyrics, poetry, long quotations and third-party images can require permission. We list each item with its source, so you can clear it before it holds up publication.
One master for every format
Print, eBook and future editions all come from the same corrected file, which makes later updates simpler and stops different versions from quietly drifting apart.
From first read to final file
You are kept informed at every stage, and nothing moves forward without your approval.
- 1
File audit
We open your manuscript, look at how it has been built and note formatting problems, missing elements and anything that may need permission.
- 2
Clean and style
Hidden formatting is stripped out and the text is rebuilt with consistent styles, without changing your words or the editorial content.
- 3
Assemble the matter
We draft or organize front and back matter, check chapter numbering and headings, and compile the permissions checklist for your review.
- 4
Hand over
You receive a clean master file, the permissions list and short notes for whoever typesets or converts the book next.
One book, every edition
Most authors publish in more than one format. We prepare each edition to its own technical standard, from the same approved text.
eBook
Reflowable text that adapts to any screen and reader setting.
- FormatEPUB, reflowable or fixed layout
- Reads onE-readers, tablets, phones
- SuitsFiction, nonfiction, series
Paperback
The everyday edition, printed on demand or in a short run.
- BindingPerfect bound
- Common trims5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9 in
- PrintingPrint on demand or short run
Hardcover
A durable, giftable edition for readers, collectors and libraries.
- BindingCase laminate or dust jacket
- FinishesMatte, gloss, foil options
- SuitsGift editions, memoir, libraries
Everything in the brief
The exact scope is confirmed in writing before work begins, so you always know what you are paying for.
- Authors whose manuscripts have been through many drafts
- Writers handing files to a typesetter or formatter
- Nonfiction authors with quotations, images or citations
- Full cleanup of hidden formatting
- Consistent paragraph and heading styles
- Standardized scene breaks, dashes and quotation marks
- Front matter drafted or assembled
- Back matter organized in standard order
- Permissions checklist with sources noted
- Single clean master file delivered
- Handover notes for your typesetter or formatter
Let’s talk about your book
Share a few details and we will reply with practical next steps for manuscript preparation, and a written quote if you would like one.
- No obligation and no pressure
- We aim to reply to every enquiry within one business day.
- Your details stay private
Prepare My Manuscript
It only takes a minute.
No. We do not rewrite or edit your prose. Preparation is about the structure of the file and the completeness of the book: styles, consistent formatting, front and back matter, and permissions. If we notice obvious errors along the way, we flag them rather than change them.
Typically the copyright notice, publisher or imprint name, ISBNs for each edition, edition information, a reservation of rights, any disclaimers and credits for cover design or images. We draft one suited to your book and you confirm the details.
Often, yes. Lyrics and poetry are treated cautiously in publishing, even for short extracts, and the rules vary by country. We cannot give legal advice, but we flag each instance so you can seek permission or rework the passage if needed.
A Word document or a file exported from a writing app such as Scrivener works well. Please send the most recent version, with any images supplied separately at full resolution. If your manuscript is spread across several files, we combine them as part of the work.
It depends on length and how much cleanup the file needs. A tidy novel is quicker than a nonfiction book with notes, tables and images. After a quick look at your file, we confirm the price and turnaround in writing.
Often paired with
Ready to start on manuscript preparation?
Tell us where your book is today. We will read your sample and recommend a clear, honest next step, with no obligation.