IP Assess is geared to assist authors to refine promising work for publication
Most titles submitted to us are not ready for publication. Rather than reject proposals that show promise, IP offers options for lifting work up to publishable standard.
Our assessors are in-house and freelance professionals who work on projects in their fields of expertise. They know what our expectations are for publishable work, so they will advise you accordingly.
Following submission of your query, you have several options with IP Assess:
Your submissions package should include:
• a covering letter with a creative bio including your recent publication history and achievements as an author
• a synopsis of the work you wish to have published
• a sample of about 5% of the manuscript (~6-8 poems, 2-3 chapters of a prose work or a storyboard for a picture book)
• a statement of where your proposed work fits in the marketplace, i.e. comparison with existing published works
We’ll review your initial submissions package and let you know if your work shows promise.
All submissions to IP are subject to an initial reading fee of AU$90 / US$65.
This initial fee can be waived if:
• we have invited you to submit
• you have at least one title released by a publisher with national distribution (“self-published” work may or may not qualify – ask us!)
Or it can be discounted to AU$72 / US$50 if you have a current full-time student or pension card.
We offer several options for developing promising work to a publishable state.
Inside Track Consultations (ITCs) are good way to jump the queue. You email us a synopsis of your revised work, a covering letter outlining what market you’re targeting, and a sample (two-three chapters of a prose work, or 10-12 poems). Your work is then reviewed by an editor, who will give you an opinion on the readiness of your work for publication and what you need to do to get it to the next level. You’ll need a thick skin because they’ll call as they see it.
ITCs costs: AU$99 / 30 minutes or AU$189 / 1 hour (GST-inclusive).
WITS (WIRED Inside Track Sessions) are similar to ITCs but are available via Skype on request. You can request for the WITC to be handled with or without video. A WITC can be a follow-up to an Inside Track Consultation. To make contact from Skype, search for reiterdr.
WITS costs: AU$95 / 30 minutes or AU$185 / 1 hour (GST-inclusive).
Short Report. You send us your full manuscript, or a representative chunk of it, and receive a 2-4 page report focussing on “big picture” issues – positives as well as areas needing improvement – with key examples to direct your revisions. You can then save yourself money by applying these suggestions to the rest of your project. For more information about Short Reports have a read of Senior Editor Lauren Daniels’ advice.
Short Report Fees (GST-inclusive):
AU$539 / US$379 (Adult prose, poetry, transmedia projects)
AU$399 / US$285 (Children’s projects)
Authors outside Australia are exempt from GST and can pay either the US$ rates above, or in AU$s, less the GST component, currently 10%.
You may request a second Short Report at a 20% discount after undertaking revisions based on your first report.
If you are a full-time student or are on a pension and can supply proof of your status, we offer a 20% discount on these services.
Assessments. These are full assessments of a complete manuscript, following your initial query.
Assessors work by email on digital copies of the work. They provide you with an overview report, identifying big picture issues that need to be addressed. They also provide specific suggestions and examples of how to revise throughout the manuscript. Once you receive the report, the assessor is available by email to clarify points raised in the report for up to 30 minutes of follow-up email or phone support. Additional support is charged at AU$99 per 30 minute block.
Documents should be submitted to us as an atttachment in Microsoft Word, Pages or Adobe Acrobat and emailed to us at info@ipoz.biz.
Full assessment costs vary, depending on the length and complexity of the work. We’re happy to provide you with a quote for this service once we have viewed your project. If you are a full-time student or are on a pension and can supply proof of your status, we offer a 20% discount on these services.
Editorial Services. Once your manuscript reaches a near publishable state, you can ask us for editorial support. You submit a Word or Pages file to us and we work on it with Track Changes on so you can see clearly where we’ve made or suggested changes. These fees include up to 30 minutes of follow-up email or phone support with your editor or proofreader. Additional support is charged at AU$99 / $US69 per 30 minute block.
Editorial costs: AU$0.05/word (copy editing); AU$0.03/word (proofreading). If you are a full-time student or are on a pension and can supply proof of your status, we offer a 20% discount on these services.
Mentoring Services. Sometimes authors want feedback on their project over a period of time rather than a single snapshot assessment. We offer mentoring in blocks of 10 hours, which includes the mentor’s reading of the manuscript, provision of feedback and follow-up with you by email or phone/Skype.
Mentorship costs: AU$925 per 10 hour block or AU$1799 per 20 hour block.
Thanks IP for doing a ‘first read’ on my early manuscript. It put me on track to pull together the story that was in there somewhere. I took a lot of the advice and completed my first novel and I’ve just
been invited by Dymocks of Carindale to do a launch and signing. Many thanks for the insights once again. Keep up the great work!
– John Beamish, author of The Addiction Concerto
As an author of three works of fiction, a former journalist and editor of some 15 years experience, it is still the professional editorial advice from IP that I have to thank for moulding my ideas, techniques and talents into quality publishable work. In fact, with the experience of having one of my novels put out by a reputable publisher abroad, I would say that, beyond a doubt, it has taken IP’s expert and highly skilled input to make me realise the true worth of fiction writing as a craft. As a creative writer, I cannot thank them enough.
– Barry Levy, author of As If! and Shades of Exodus
Many years ago I met up with Dr Reiter in Auckland. I just wanted him to know that since that memorable meeting and his sage advice, I have self published three novels with a fourth novel and a series of children’s books on the go. Now that I am retired I am turning to writing full time. I have received 4 and 5 star reviews which is most encouraging. I just wanted to say THANK YOU Dr Reiter. That time you spent with me was definitely not wasted and was very much appreciated.
– Sue Towler, author of Elizabeth’s Diaries and Isolation
Even with many years of teaching experience, I knew I needed help getting my children’s book to a professional standard. IP’s readers’ reports targeted both general and specific problems in my manuscript and, thanks to their positive feedback, my story has now been accepted for publication. I will definitely be using this service again and would highly recommend it to other writers.
– Janet Reid, author of The Ruby Bottle and Winner, IP Picks 2012 Best Junior Prose Award
IP’s reader’s reports were a godsend. I was really pulled up short (politely) and shown how to clarify my writing. Directions for improvement were clear and concise. I’ve enjoyed getting to know my patient editor. We can’t be experts at everything. Even those of us who are tolerably intelligent (!) will need assistance if we enter a new field such as creative writing.
– Lois Shepheard, author of The Rag Boiler’s Daughter
An earlier draft of my book was long-listed for the FAW Jim Hamilton award so I knew it was worth further effort. I hired a professional assessor to have a look but it wasn’t until I invested in an IP reader’s report that the book started to take shape. I had three reports all up before it made publication but the process was crucial in its success. As a welcome surprise, many of the editorial suggestions have been implemented in subsequent writing projects, further proving the value of assessment. Publishing standards are getting higher as are the quality of submissions seem to be competitive. I feel it’s vital to have professional advice.
– Olwyn Conrau, author of The Importance of Being Cool
When you ask us to provide services, we’ll send you an invoice to confirm all costs of the services you have requested. That invoice constitutes a written agreement with IP, and the fees become payable immediately unless we have agreed in writing to a schedule of payments.
Unpaid invoices become subject to a service charge of 2%/month at the end of each month they are overdue.
Invoices that remain unpaid 60 days after issuance may become subject to collection action. You shall pay for all costs incurred by Interactive Publications Pty Ltd (including costs that Interactive Publications Pty Ltd may be contingently liable) in any attempt to collect any monies owed by you under this Agreement including debt collection agent costs, repossession costs, location search costs, process server costs and solicitor costs on a solicitor/client basis.
Want to go DIGITAL? Check out our Digital Publishing Centre to see how your book can be prepared to exacting standards for the Kindle, iOS, tablet and smartphone market.