Morgen has edited over 300 manuscripts,
mostly crime and women’s fiction,
working with authors directly as well as publishers including
Matador/Troubador, Michael Terence Publishing and Bloodhound Books.

Interesting fact…
For an average-length book (80,000), the first sweep takes three days as that’s the cataloguing stage.
Each sweep thereafter takes an average of two days. Each book takes an average of 6-7 sweeps, which equates to fourteen days (c.100 hours).
At the initial rate of £8, an 80,000-word book costs £640.
Over 100 hours, this equates to approximately £6.40 per hour, so you can see this charge is actually less than minimum wage!
Books thereafter, based on the £7 rate, = £560 = £5.60 per hour.

Email with a 2,000-word sample of your crime/women’s fiction
(plus optional synopsis/cover letter)
*usually a two-workday turnaround, details below…

** Testimonials at the end of this page. **

For proofreading and ghostwriting, contact: Graham Toseland at Fading Street.

Some of the books Morgen has edited
(click on the pictures for a larger version)…

Costs and process…

INDIVIDUAL/COLLECTIONS OF SHORT STORIES (up to 20,000 words): charged at £10 (EU€ & US$12 / CA$ & AS$18) per 1,000 words. To work out the cost, multiply your word count by 0.01 / 0.012 / 0.018 respectively. Minimum fee: £30 (EU€ & US$36 / CA$ & AS$54). Payment via PayPal (to morgen@morgenbailey.com) – the entire amount paid in advance.
Free sample to new clients up to 2,000 words.

***

CONTEMPORARY CRIME/WOMEN’S NOVELS (over 20,000 words):

Full editing (content, copy editing & line editing etc.): in-depth ‘firm but fair’ editing with feedback which will include grammar, punctuation, story structure, character depth/dialogue, highlighting potential copyright issues, fact-checking, chapter structure/order, narrative drive… the whole shebang. This comes in the form of the edited manuscript together with a character/items names table, and clean copy of the ‘bloodied’ manuscript.
Suitable for all writers, regardless of experience.

Free sample to new clients up to the first 2,000 words (or more to the nearest chapter ending – I do recommend no chapters are more than 2,000 words). If it’s a novel opening, please send me a <500-word summary of the entire story so I can advise if you’re starting in the right place. NB. This quantity does not come off the cost of the editing should you wish to go ahead. So if you have an 80,000-word novel, the cost would be for that total, not 78,000 words.

When you submit your full manuscript, feel free to send me a list of questions and/or areas you’d like particular feedback on. The ‘full’ process (for any novel):

• Stage 1: I send you a quote for your manuscript with payment breakdown (50% in advance, the balance no more than 14 days after return of final version) which includes the timescale (below). If agreed and payment received, I return your novel no more than a month later (timescale dates advised on the receipted invoice), along with a names table, notes (which includes a timelines of each chapter), and chapter page summary (with the longest chapters word count which I advise not be over 2,000 words).
  

  Timescales (allowing for a maximum of three revisions)+
  First return (2-3 sweeps of the novel), returned along with names table, notes documents, chapter totals	No more than one month after initial submission, e.g. by 1st February if received 1st January.
  Receipt of revised manuscript from author	Within two weeks of delivery, e.g. by 15th February
  Receipt of revised manuscript from Morgen	Within two weeks, e.g. by 1st March*
  Receipt of revised manuscript from author	Within two weeks of delivery, e.g. by 15th March
  Final return from Morgen	Within two weeks, e.g. by 1st April*
  Balance due	Within two weeks of final manuscript return

• *If the manuscript is returned to me within the two weeks, I will try to return earlier than the original quoted date but it depends on what else has been booked in. I will give you some indication at the time as best I can. Obviously dates are flexible to allow for holidays and other commitments.
• Stage 2: listen to the novel (on my Kindle) while doing a checklist sweep (any more vs anymore etc). I make a ‘clean’ copy (accepting all the changes, removing any comments) and email that to my Kindle.
• Stage 3: I go through the manuscript on the screen while listening to the clean copy.
• Stage 4: I repeat that at least once more while listening to an even cleaner version. The book then comes back to you for your revision. The timescale above allows for two weeks to return to me. This is obviously flexible for holidays, family commitments etc.
• Stage 5: I receive the book from you and go through it at least once more (listening and reviewing on the screen) and inevitably make more changes (suggestions and corrections).
• Stage 6: A third revision is included in the timescale/fee but we usually find it’s not needed. The balance of the fee is due no later than two weeks after the ‘final’ manuscript is returned to you, so no more than 14 weeks from submission/deposit paid. This helps you budget accordingly.
• You can at any point email with queries should you have them. It’s not a closed back-and-forth process.
• Any subsequent reads would be charged at £2 per 1,000 words pro rata.

For the first book: charged at the rate of £8 (EU€ & US$10 / CA & AS$15) per 1,000 words. To work out the cost, multiply your word count by 0.008 / 0.01 / 0.015 respectively (so a 100,000-word novel would be £800 / EU€ & US$1,000 / CA & AUS$1,500 respectively). Payment via PayPal (to morgen@morgenbailey.com) – 50% paid in advance to secure the booking then the balance paid no more than two weeks after the return of the manuscript.

For subsequent books: as above but charged at £7 (EU€ & US$8.5 / CA & AS$12.5), multiplying your word count by 0.007 / 0.0085 / 0.0125 respectively.

For an average-length book (80,000), the first sweep takes three days as that’s the cataloguing stage. Each sweep thereafter takes an average of two days. Each book takes an average of 6-7 sweeps, which equates to fourteen days (c.100 hours). At the initial rate of £8, an 80,000-word book costs £640. Over 100 hours, this equates to approximately £6.40 per hour, so you can see this charge is actually less than minimum wage! Books thereafter, based on the £7 rate, = £560 = £5.60 per hour!

OPTION 2 – General feedback: no proofreading/editing, no changes to the document itself, just a typed summary report. This is useful if you’re not sure whether the story is working, your characters (or plot) are believable or you’ve not edited it yet but have sent it to beta (first-round) readers and the feedback you’ve received makes you wonder whether you want to progress it. I will be honest and tell you, although, for most authors who have taken this option, I have seen promise with their work, they’ve just needed a steer in the right direction. When you submit your full manuscript, feel free to send me a list of questions and/or areas you’d like particular feedback on.

Charged at £4 (EU€ & US$5 / CA & AS$8) per 1,000 words. To work out the cost, multiply your word count by 0.004 / 0.005 / 0.008 respectively (so a 100,000-word novel would be £400 / EU€ & US$500 / CA & AUS$800 respectively). Payment via PayPal (to morgen@morgenbailey.com).
<20,000 words: the entire amount paid in advance.
>20,000 words: 50% paid in advance to secure the booking then the balance paid no more than two weeks after the return of the manuscript.

OPTION 3: Synopsis/cover letter feedback: I have a standard minimum fee of £30 (EU€ & US$36 / CA$ & AS$54), for feedback on your synopsis ((including any ‘spoilers’). Agents/publishers usually prefer one-page synopses) and/or cover letter (four Word pages maximum) with a £15 (EU€ & US$18 / CA$ & AS$27) fee for any subsequent reads. Payment via PayPal (to morgen@morgenbailey.com). Full fee payable in advance. If you’re submitting a sample for a novel then I will look at a <500-word summary of the novel and make suggestions but it will be more detailed as this option.

OPTION 4: Book review: If you have finished, even published, your book and would like a review you can use for reference quotes then I will consider any genre. Note: my reading tends to be crime and women’s fiction novels and any genre of short stories, but I can give feedback on other genres, or forms, of fiction and non-fiction. The fee for this is £1.50 per 1,000 words (EU€ & US$2 / CA$ & AS$2.50). Payment via PayPal (to morgen@morgenbailey.com). Full fee payable in advance. This is not an editorial review but does also include feedback on a synopsis and/or blurb should you have one. This is for your use rather than me sharing my review on my social media etc. It is a simplified version of option 2 at a much reduced rate.

NOTES:

• If we’ve not worked together before, regardless of the option taken, the first 2,000 words* are free – sample usually returned within 48 hours. This is sent to you first and there is no obligation thereafter. *ideally the first 2,000 words of the story so I can see whether it ‘hooks’ me. Please send me a 500-word max. summary of the story, including the ending, as this will help me know whether you’re starting in the right place.
• Any other work would be charged at my hourly rate of £20 (EU€ & US$24 / CA$ & AS$36), agreed in advance.
• These options help you polish your writing. I do not offer a ghostwriting or rewriting facility but recommend Graham Toseland at Fading Street who does.
• I send manuscripts back as polished as possible but cannot be held responsible for any errors unchecked by the author before submitting to any printers/publishers/editors. We’re human!
• I can advise on formatting but am not directly involved in the formatting process and I do not provide any formatting services. Sites like Fiverr may offer this.

Testimonials include…

• “Morgen is a fabulous editor with a keen eye for detail. I have used several editors in the past and always been slightly disappointed with the level of detail. I wanted an editor who would micro-edit my pages, line by line, word by word and that is exactly what I got. My manuscript was cleaned, polished and Morgen’s work sharpened the story. I landed a publishing deal with Penguin soon after she had finished with my manuscript. The publisher commented, “…a remarkably polished piece of work…” Morgen has a great turn-around time, is extremely well-priced and quite simply; a pleasure to have worked with. I would recommend her without reservation. AA Dhand, Author of Streets of Darkness, published by PenguinrandomHouse.
• “Without Morgen Bailey my journey as a writer would have stalled. She taught me so much. Cannot recommend her highly enough!” AB Morgan
• “Just look how many of my books are on this picture. Morgen Bailey, you taught me so much! This woman is an amazing editor, and doesn’t try to take over the story! 100% recommend her.” Anita Waller
• “It is an education to work with you.” Christine Anne Cole
• “I couldn’t recommend Morgen strongly enough. She was my very first editor, and never disappointed.” Diana Wilkinson
• “She’s awesome.” Karl Hill
• “Fantastic editor. Loved working with you on Dying To Tell.” Keri Beevis
• “I can recommend Morgen Bailey.” Leigh Russell
• “Can’t recommend you enough.” Suzie Tullett
• “Can’t thank Morgen Bailey enough for her work on my novel Hitting the Jackpot. She’s changed the way I will write in the future. She has a forensic eye for detail and always explains the ‘why’ behind her comments. Highly recommended. ” Tom Alan (see Tom’s write-up on his experience with me here)

If you’ve been edited by me and would like your linked testimonial here, do email me.