Dear Mr. Jones:

Thank you for retaining my services to edit/proofread your 625-page manuscript.

I look forward to working with you and am eager to begin the project.

I understand that the document is double-spaced with 1" margins, giving each complete page a total of about 250 words and that the word count of the entire manuscript is 156,000 words. I also understand that you will transmit a Word file to me on/before November 22, 2003 and that the corrected manuscript is to be sent to you in the same format on/before January 3, 2004.

My responsibilities are to:

* read the complete manuscript to assess content and evaluate continuity and consistency

* eliminate duplication or repetition not essential to concept reinforcement

* clarify language where necessary

* confirm or revise word choices and grammatical constructs

* correct punctuation, spelling, capitalization, pronoun references

* restructure some sentences to enhance impact

* change passive to active to heighten sense of reader involvement

* combine/split some sentences to maintain narrative flow

* transmit edited chapters to you as soon as they are completed

You will:

* review the edited electronic manuscript

* indicate any recommendations you don’t wish to accept

* return the electronic document to me so I may incorporate your revisions

I will then proofread the corrected manuscript to eliminate any typographical errors or oversights and will return a clean copy of the final version to you.

It is my understanding that you have created the above-referenced material and have legal authority to publish and obtain copyright protection for it.

Total project fee, as agreed, is $xxxxx. I’ll begin work when I receive a signed copy of this agreement and your check for $xxx (one-third of the total.) A second payment in the same amount is due when you receive the edited manuscript, and the final payment will be due when you receive the final clean copy of the edited manuscript.

Any long-distance phone charges, mailing or overnight delivery charges, or other approved expenses will be invoiced separately and paid as they are incurred.

Your signature below confirms your agreement with these terms. Please keep a signed copy for your records and return the other copy to me.

Signed,

__________________________  ________________________ 

(Carol J. Hinkley Thompson)      (client’s name typed here)

________________________ ________________________

date)                                        (date)