Anyone got any experience of Cornerstones Consultancy?

[Viewofhedges]

Just that really. I've been shopping around for a developmental editor and like the sound of them, but wondered if anyone has any experience before I commit a potentially large amount of money (which is a fair price for what I'd get but still large enough to think carefully before I commit).

Late to this...

Yes, I would recommend Cornerstones. I'd been knocked back by an agent who suggested I consider an editorial consultancy. A very successful athor chum used Cornerstones a few years ago and described it as the best investment she ever made in her career and said that what she learned from that process is still useful today.

I sent the first chapter to them - they'll look at that free so that you get an idea what you'll be paying for if you decide to go ahead - and was really impressed.

They put no pressure on me and when I decided to take them up on their service they were really helpful and we had a long discussion re the type of editor who would suit my work best.

Then - after I'd paid but before they'd assigned an editor - another agent who'd asked for the full MS got back to me to say that he really liked it but it needed another draft before we could move forward. So I put Cornerstones on hold, wrote that next draft, that agent offered me representation and my book is now out on submission.

The people at Cornerstones were genuinely really pleased for me, refunded my payment and so on without any bother.

Cornerstones aren't cheap but they are very good. If you're serious about building a career as a writer then I would recommend them. If you're not willing to listen and put the work in then maybe it's not worth it.

Feel free to DM if you have any questions

I've also used them and found them very professional and good value. I had a full report from an editor who was also working freelance for major publishers. It was very thorough and it not only helped me improve that manuscript but taught me things I have used since. This was a couple of years ago.

Do they actually say "this isn't ready to edit" though on the free check? Because then they've done the free work and don't get paid.

To be honest, the free work won't have taken that long - they're not looking at an entire novel so they're not having to look at the structure, sub plots, development of characters' arcs etc - and so it's not as though they'll have spent hours and hours slogging away for nowt.

You could ask them that - say that you think their service might be what you need but you're not sure that you're work is a stage where it would benefit from an editorial opinion. I think - and this is just based on my experience of Cornerstones - that they'd be pretty frank with you.

Tell us more about what you're writing. People here might be able to give you a pretty good seer in whether you're ready. Do you have completed novel? Is it a first draft or fairly polished? Do you think you're almost at the stage of submitting it to agents?

Hello, I hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread. I have been emailing Cornerstones today! I want to check and see whether the first half of the book I am writing has any legs at all and if I am on the right track with it.
They have asked for the first ten pages and a synopsis. How long does the synopsis have to be?

Hello hamonrye

About 500 words. When you get to the agent-submitting stage you have to be more exact but for Cornerstone's purposes, that would be fine.

Just remember - tell the whole story in the synopsis. Although you want your book to sound interesting, this isn't a blurb. Without knowing the resolution, it's hard to assess how the whole thing hangs together. Apologies if you knew that.

And come back and let us know how you got on.

Good luck.

Thanks so much burning.

And just to double check, you never, ever submit three chapters to agents without having written the rest, right?!

And just to double check, you never, ever submit three chapters to agents without having written the rest, right?!

Absolutely. Never, ever, ever. Unless you happen to meet one at a conference or something and they ask to see what you've got so far.

But in general, you only submit when you have a complete manuscript and you have polished it until it gleams. And then given it another polish to be on the safe side.

My agent and I very, very vaguely knew each other because I used to own an independent bookshop and we had a conversation on Twitter after I'd sold it. I said that I was writing, he asked what it was about, I played hard to get and said that it wasn't his sort of thing, he DM'd me and I told him about it and that it was on about 30k and he asked to see it.

So I sent it, he came back with some really useful suggestions and I finished it. He saw it again (when I thought I'd polished as much as I could) and said that he thought it needed still more work. His notes were really helpful. I spent 3 months rewriting it and then he said he loved it and offered me representation.

That is not usual. Finish your manuscript.

Good luck!