This is my standard story edit agreement. Please, read it carefully and let me know if there is anything you are not clear about. Remember, this agreement is for a story (developmental / structural / substansive) edit and does not include a style or a copy (proof read) edit.

AGREEMENT For StoryCoach Editing Services

This agreement is between Casper Pieters (“Editor”) and _______________________ (“Client”) and concerns the following manuscript:

Author(s): ______________________________________________________________________

Working title: ___________________________________________________________________

Number of words:__________
Genre: ___________________
Sub-genre: ___________________

Description of manuscript (story blurb):

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

1. EDITORIAL TASKS

The Editor agrees to do the following on the manuscript: A detailed StoryCoach Edit (structural or substantive edit) of the full manuscript. The Editor will provide the following at the completion of the edit;

• A detailed Summary Letter with visual insights (provided as attached pdf file).

• Comments on the Fictionary Story Elements.

• Per scene notes (provided as attached pdf file and on StoryCoach platform).

• In-line comments and track changes.

• Additional visual insights providing exceptional overviews.

• Three hours of personal time (via Zoom or phone) with editor to discuss the story arranged as is convenient to both parties.

All feedback will be provided in your personal StoryCoach account with two copies of the edit.

2. The StoryCoach (developmental or structural or substantive) Edit

A StoryCoach Edit examines your plot scene by scene and screens it against thirty-eight story elements (ten character elements, seventeen plot elements and eleven setting elements). The editor will perform an organised analysis to assess the flow of each scene to the next and provide appropriate advice to help resolve structural story errors.

A StoryCoach Edit does not include a line edit, where an editor seeks to make your writing consistent, smooth, and compelling so your reader moves effortlessly through your material. Nor does it include a copy edit, where a specialised editor correct the mechanics, grammar, spelling and punctuation errors and neds to be done before the typesetting phase prior to publication.

3. PRICING for StoryCoach Edit

One and a half (1.5) US cents per word.

4. DELIVERY

The client will be informed by the editor when the StoryCoach Edit is completed before ___________________ (date) and will be made available in the client’s personal StoryCoach account in the following format:

• Summary Letter

• Comments on teh Fictionary Story Elements

• Per scene notes

• In-line comments and track changes

• Visual insights

• Up to three (3) hours of online discussion via Zoom to discuss the story.
  

5. PAYMENT

The agreed-upon editorial fee of ___________________ (number of words of submitted manuscript x 1.5 US cent), is to be paid by the Client to the Editor in the following manner: 50% deposit upon acceptance and signatures on this Agreement, with the balance paid upon receipt of the final manuscript.

6. TERMINATION

This agreement may be terminated by either party in the event of material change of circumstance, with seven (7) days’ notice sent in writing to the other party at the designated email address. If the Editor terminates the agreement, the Editor will be paid by the Client for work done (number of words) up to the date of termination. If the Client terminates the agreement, the Editor will retain the 50% deposit.

7. SPECIAL CLAUSES

None

8. INDEMNITY

Editing is intrinsically a subjective process of offering advice and suggestions to the Client. While the Editor will make every effort to bring questionable material to the attention of the Client, the Client agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Editor from any and all claims or demands, including legal fees, arising out of any alleged libel or copyright infringement committed by the Client in creating the work.

Editing a creative work such as fiction is perhaps the most subjective activity possible in the field of literature. The Editor will use his background and experience in editing the manuscript, recognizing that this experience, while successful for him, may not be successful for the client. The Editor's sole function is to aid and assist the Client in editing the manuscript. In this light the Editor will make his best efforts to advise and suggest changes to improve the manuscript. The decision to accept or reject the editor's suggestions is finally and solely the Client’s.

There are no guarantees in the highly competitive field of publishing. In large part the acceptance of a manuscript for publication is the subjective decision of a publisher and its editors. This decision is subject to the whims of taste and perceived marketability of the manuscript. This Editor, while working to aid the Client in preparing the best manuscript possible given the submitted material, has no way of judging the market or the whims and caprices of the publishing industry.

9. APPLICABLE LAWS

The terms of this agreement shall be interpreted according to the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia.

10. AMENDMENTS TO THIS AGREEMENT

This contract may be changed only by written agreement between the Editor and the Client and constitutes the only agreement between the parties.

Signed by the parties to this agreement on _______________________________ (date).

_____________________________
Casper Pieters
casper@casperpieters.com

_____________________________

<Client name>
<Client email address>

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