CTM Online fulfills the primary goal of completing your manuscript. More importantly it is designed to create a writing habit that can be carried throughout your writing career. CTM Online expects 2 chapters in an 8 hour writing period. That is double the time it takes to complete one chapter at a party. The writer sets up their schedule to meet an 8 hour per week writing goal. At this rate, a writer can usually complete their first draft of the manuscript in 12-15 weeks.
There are a plethora of suggestions that happen during this process but absolutely no rewriting. The primary purpose is to complete the manuscript - not perfect it.
Now for The Program:
1. Initial Consultation - This consultation is to make sure we can work together and find out what your overall goals are.
2. Pre-writing Worksheets - These are worksheets designed to give the editor you are working with information necessary to help you complete the goal you have in mind.
3. Scheduling Considerations - Ideally, as editors , this is the only thing we want you to concentrate on. This is a worksheet to help you best schedule your writing time for maximum effectiveness.
4. Weekly Writing Assignments - These are your chapters. Every week you should be able to complete 2 chapters. Sometimes there is some extra research work for clarification, but most of that will be done during your first rewrites
5. Weekly Phone Conversations - We would like to tell you that you are only going to have to speak to us once a week, but realistically, when developing a book, sometimes a stray thought invades an open space in our brain.
When the Manuscript is Complete:
General Chapter by Chapter Edits (no grammar) - As the book writing develops, subplots, stronger plot points, characters, sub-characters and any number of details that create a stronger, more entertaining or more marketable story develop. These suggestions, changes through phone conversations or emails, or any other ideas are detailed chapter by chapter in an email and returned with the completion of the manuscript.
Email Outlining Chapter by Chapter Developmental Suggestions - Also included in this email are chapter by chapter suggestions based on the criteria listed above, but not limited to, that suggest specific places where development can be introduced, improved or reworded for strength of premise.
When you have finished with the Complete That Manuscript program and implemented as many of the suggestions and developmental points you are happy with, the next step is to submit it to at least 3 developmental editors. Although you have had one developmental edit, on average it should take at least 3 edits and sometimes up to 9 edits for a single manuscript to meet with the author's approval. When looking at developmental editors please see the 5 Rules for Hiring an Editor (follow this link).
All authors who have completed the Complete That Manuscript program and choose to use a First Factor developmental and grammar editor will be given a discounted rate for up to 10 full manuscript edits.
By submitting this form you are consenting to receive e-mail from Complete That Manuscript. To be sure you don't miss any of our updates or announcements , please add CTM@thefirstfactor.com to your address book.
