How To Receive Editorial Services From Griot Bae

Step 1: Submit an Application

Step 2: Once your application is reviewed. Please allow 7 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) for your application to be reviewed.

Step 3: Upon approval, a link will be sent to schedule your book consultation. Due to the volume of applications I generally receive, you will only receive an email if I am able to accept your project. You will receive an email outlining everything you will need to bring to your session to maximize our time together. During this session, we will discuss your poetry manuscript, creative goals, expectations, and editorial needs. Then, we will decide if we're a good fit to work together.

Step 4:  After your book consultation, if we decide to move forward, a contract will be drafted and sent outlining the scope of work, deadlines, and expectations. Upon receipt of your contract, you have 3 business days to sign it.

Step 5:  Once the contract is signed, I will send an invoice to reserve your editing slot. Your invoice will reflect the payment agreement discussed during your consultation. Payment plans are available. However, at least one payment must be made for your project to begin, so please pay your invoice upon receipt.

Step 6: After the contract is signed and the invoice is paid, you will send your completed manuscript and collection map/outline/book treatment before your agreed-upon start date as outlined in your contract. Your manuscript must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document. Google Docs and Apple Pages manuscripts will not be accepted.

Step 7: I will edit and return your manuscript within the agreed-upon deadline. During this editing process, you will receive: (2) Editorial Passes in Microsoft Doc format with tracked changes on, (2) Editorial Letters, and (2) Editing Sessions via Zoom.

How I Work

Step 1.) Outline Review: I will begin the project by reading your collection map/outline/book treatment and manuscript to get a sense of your voice, themes, emotional arc, and overall vision for the collection. Understanding how the manuscript is organized and what you want the collection to accomplish will help me assess its overall structure, pacing, cohesion, and reader experience.

Step 2.) First Pass: I will read your manuscript in its entirety. Poem by poem, line by line, I will make suggestions and comments in the document, flag potential issues, and pose inquiries and offer recommendations. During this stage, I am looking closely at:

voice and clarity
thematic consistency
collection sequencing
repetition
readability
emotional pacing
and the overall movement of the manuscript as a complete body of work based on the outline/collection map/book treatment you provide me.

If I have questions, I will reach out via email. Please respond to all emails within 72 hours of receipt to keep your project moving smoothly.

Upon completion of the first pass, you will receive 2 files: A Microsoft Word document with Track Changes enabled so you can clearly see everything I have done. None of my recommendations are final. You will decide whether to accept or reject my suggestions. You will also receive a PDF file containing your Editorial Letter for Pass #1. The first pass will be delivered by the agreed-upon deadline.

Step 3.)  Editing Session #1: After the first pass, we will have your first editing session. This is your opportunity to ask questions about your manuscript, my recommendations, and the collection's editorial direction. After Editing Session #1, you will have time to revise the manuscript as you see fit. You will then return the revised manuscript to me on an agreed-upon date.

Step 4.)  Second Pass: Once I receive your manuscript back, I will start the second pass. During this pass, I will review the entire manuscript one last time to ensure that I didn’t miss anything. If I need to make any additional recommendations, I will do so at that time. At the end of the second pass, I will deliver 2 files: a Microsoft Word file with Track Changes enabled, and an Editorial Letter as a PDF containing final thoughts and recommendations. This pass will be your final edit, and it will be delivered on the agreed-upon date. 

Step 5.) Editing Session #2:  After the second pass, we will have your final editing session. This is your opportunity to ask any final questions regarding my comments, notes, or recommendations. This is your poetry book, but it is a team effort. I am committed to your success. If there is anything you need clarity on, I am happy to discuss everything with you until you feel fully comfortable with the direction of your manuscript.

Estimated Timeline

As a general rule of thumb:

Completed chapbook projects have an estimated 8-week window.

Completed full poetry collections have an estimated 10-week window.

I work this way to ensure that both you and I have time to read, reflect, revise, and meet to discuss your work.

Because my process includes two Zoom sessions, it is important that you have time to review and sit with my recommendations before we meet.

For poets working through Full-Spectrum Poetry Book Development, the process typically takes 6 months, depending on manuscript scope and writing pace.