Fees| |Submitting| |Editor| |Testimonials

 

Fish Publishing offers a full Editorial Consultancy Service. The Service is designed to provide writers with on-going, constructive feedback on their work, whether it is a complete novel or just the beginnings.

The Editorial Service will provide authors with the opportunity to request assistance on specific areas and to then re-submit the work as it progresses. To maintain consistency, the same editor will remain with an author throughout the editing process. This Service offers a one to one opportunity to discuss your work and to meet your individual needs and requirements.

Fish Publishing also offers a book proposal editorial consultancy service.  Feedback is based on assessing all the elements necessary for a book proposal: that it should be clear, succinct, engaging, and original; with sound spelling, punctuation, and grammar; and a clear indication of direction and target audience.  This is a one-off service, but authors may resubmit if they require further assistance. See below for fee and payment details.

Submissions should include the following:

A brief synopsis (max. 350 words), whether the novel is complete or only sample chapters are being submitted. The synopsis should be a description of the full work (or work done to date) to give a sense of how the plot parts fit together.

  • Character outline

  • Intended genre

  • Intended audience

  • Basis of writing – i.e. autobiographical or biographical

  • Word count (estimate if it is unfinished)

  • Outline of of any specific areas on which you would like the editor to comment

Editorial Feedback – what you can expect

  • To what extent has the writer achieved what was intended?

  • Overall comment on the standard of the work and what needs to be done to bring it to a publishable standard, e.g. Is the beginning engaging? Does the story hold the reader’s attention throughout?

  • Is the structure clear?, i.e. Are the component parts integrated?

  • Is there superfluous material? If so, what can be cut without losing the overall impact?

  • Is the writing convincing?, i.e. Is the language and style original? Is the prose fluent, accessible, clear? If it is obscure or challenging – does this work ? If strongly influenced by other writers – does this work?

  • Is the plot well developed?, i.e. If the plot relies on tension is this handled effectively?

  • How strong is the characterisation? This is especially important if the novel is primarily character driven rather then plot driven. Is the dialogue realistic? Is it easy to follow? If written in dialect or intended to evoke accent, how well has this been done and is it still intelligible to those unfamiliar with the accent?

  • Does the ending work?

  • Comments on the freshness and originality of the work both in and outside the chosen genre.

Fees:

  • First Chapter (or first 5,000 words) + 350-word Synopsis - €60

  • Up to 10,000 words + synopsis - €125

  • Up to 25,000 words + synopsis - €195

  • Over 26,000 words. + synopsis - €195 + €25 per additional 5,000 words

  • Over 100,000 words + synopsis - From €495*

  • Book Proposal Assessment - €80

*Above 100,000 words, Authors are invited to discuss the level of editorial support they require, so that a price based on total word count and editorial service level can be agreed.

For all initial enquiries and for a price quotation on the work you require, please E-mail editorial@fishpublishing.com

Submitting Manuscripts

Our general submission guidelines are:-

Contact editorial@fishpublishing.com to discuss you particular requirements.

Submissions can be made via e-mail.

Personal cheques in your own currency should be made payable to ‘Fish Publishing’. Postal Orders are accepted from Ireland and the UK.

This service is in addition to our normal Critique Service

For more information E-mail editorial@fishpublishing.com


Editor

Martin Malone, editor for the Fish Publishing Editorial Consultancy ServiceMartin Malone is the author of four novels: Us (Poolbeg Press - winner of the John B. Keane/Sunday Independent Literary Award and shortlisted for the Irish Fiction Award 2001); After Kafra (Poolbeg Press - optioned for TV); The Broken Cedar(Simon & Schuster UK - IMPAC nominated); The Silence of the Glasshouse(New Island).

He is a winner of RTE's Francis MacManus Short Story Prize and also of the K250 Killarney International Short Story Prize. Twice shortlisted for a Hennessy Award. RTE Radio Drama has broadcast three radio plays. He has also written a memoir, 'The Lebanon Diaries'.

He has been published on two occasions in the Fish Anthology.
His first short story collection, 'The Mango War and Other Stories', appears in 2009. Stand UK (Leeds University) has accepted a brace of his short stories for publication in 2010. Currently reading for an M.Phil in Creative Writing at Trinity College.

 

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Testimonials from writers who have used the Fish Editorial Service

 

". . . you were encouraging and helpful over recent years and I wanted to tell you that at last I've had a novel accepted".


Christine Holmes, UK


"The Critique was excellent.  It was positive and affirming with plenty of very perceptive advice.  What gave me most satisfaction was that the editor really understood what I was trying to do.  Even if no one else ever reads this particular work, your editor's sympathetic and constructive response has made the effort so far very worthwhile.  I look forward to further contact with Fish Publishing". 

Jim O'Leary, Ireland


"I deeply appreciate the value of the constructive, positive ideas given. It has worked well.  Many thanks.  I am now tightening manuscript throughout to submit to publishers".

Hazel Menehira, New Zealand


"Golddust is all I can say!  Loved your comments, I see what you mean and am doing all you suggest. Thank you so much for your constructive, encouraging remarks"

Laura Graham, Siena..

"I found the detailed Critique of my synopsis and first chapter immensely helpful and astonishingly insightful.  Despite the fact that this was a 5,000-word submission you seem to have an almost uncanny grasp of the way the characters develop".

Sion Scott-Wilson, Singapore


"I have finally worked my way through the critique your company recently forwarded, and wanted you to know how much I appreciate your editor's wading through these eighteen chapters. The critique was both comprehensive and helpful. I agreed with and incorporated nearly every suggestion offered.

Although I only sent the first half of the novel for critique, the feedback was thorough enough that I felt sufficiently confident to send queries to several agents and publishers. If they aren't interested, it won't be because of Fish Publishing. Good job. "

Pat Shagoury, USA

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