No. Writers are welcome to inquire, but publication is not guaranteed. Every project must be reviewed for readiness, genre fit, content fit, imprint alignment, publishing scope, and available publishing capacity before any agreement is offered.

No. Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, revision coaching, and full Editorial Manuscript Assessments are handled separately through Editorial Services.

A Publishing-Readiness Assessment may determine that proofreading is enough, that manuscript polish is needed before publication, or that deeper editorial work should come first.

If the manuscript is not ready for publication, the author may be referred to Editorial Services before publishing is considered further. Authors are not required to use The Sculpted Word’s Editorial Services as a condition of future publishing consideration. They may revise independently, work with another qualified editor, or choose to use The Sculpted Word’s Editorial Services before returning for review.

If deeper editorial work is recommended, part of the Publishing-Readiness Assessment fee may be applied toward the next approved Editorial Services step with The Sculpted Word when booked within 30 days.

Production costs depend on the project, approved formats, production needs, and agreed publishing scope. Costs are discussed before work begins and documented in the publishing agreement.

Royalties are handled according to the written publishing agreement. The agreement outlines the royalty structure, reporting schedule, payment terms, and rights granted for the project.

No. The Sculpted Word does not guarantee sales, reader reviews, awards, bookstore placement, media attention, major publicity, or long-term marketing support.

Light, brief paid advertising may be considered for select projects depending on available resources, but paid advertising is not guaranteed and should not be assumed as part of the publishing path.

I would prefer all initial contact be made through forms. Design the Publishing Project Review Inquiry form.

Thought for a couple of seconds

Publishing Project Review Inquiry Form

This should be an initial screening form, not a manuscript assessment form. Its job is to help you decide whether the project is worth moving to the paid Publishing-Readiness Assessment.

Form Purpose

Use this form to collect enough information to determine:

• whether the project is fiction

• whether it fits The Sculpted Word’s content boundaries

• whether the manuscript is complete or close enough

• what formats the author wants

• whether the author understands this is selective

• whether AI tools were used

• whether the next step should be publishing review, Editorial Services, or no fit

Recommended Form Title

Publishing Project Review Inquiry

Short Form Intro

Place this above the form.

Use this form to inquire about possible publishing support through The Sculpted Word.

This inquiry is the first step only. It is not a manuscript assessment, publishing offer, or guarantee of publication. If the project appears to be a possible fit, the next step may be a paid Publishing-Readiness Assessment.

Form Fields

1. Author Information

Name
Short answer — required

Email Address
Email — required

Preferred Contact Name
Short answer — optional

2. Project Information

Manuscript Title
Short answer — required

Genre / Subgenre
Short answer — required

Project Type
Dropdown — required

Options:

• Novel

• Novella

• Short story collection

• Serialized fiction / web-reading project

• Other fiction project

Current Word Count
Short answer or number — required

Is the manuscript complete?
Dropdown — required

Options:

• Yes, the manuscript is complete

• No, but it is close to complete

• No, it is still in progress

• I am not sure

Brief Project Description
Long answer — required

Prompt text:

Briefly describe the story, main character, genre, and central conflict. Please avoid submitting the full manuscript at this stage.

3. Publishing Goals

Which formats are you interested in?
Checkboxes — required

Options:

• Print

• Ebook

• Audiobook

• Web-reading placement

• Not sure yet

What kind of publishing support are you seeking?
Long answer — required

Prompt text:

Briefly explain what you hope The Sculpted Word can help with. This may include formatting, distribution setup, metadata, cover preparation, audiobook coordination, web-reading placement, or publishing under The Sculpted Word imprint.

Have you published this manuscript before?
Dropdown — required

Options:

• No

• Yes, self-published

• Yes, with another publisher

• Yes, online only

• Other

If yes, briefly explain where and how it was published.
Long answer — conditional if possible; optional if Squarespace cannot condition fields

4. Editorial Readiness

Has the manuscript been edited or reviewed before?
Checkboxes — required

Options:

• No

• Beta readers

• Critique partner or writing group

• Manuscript assessment

• Developmental editing

• Line editing

• Copyediting

• Proofreading

• I am not sure

Who completed the editing or review?
Short answer or long answer — optional

Prompt text:

You do not need to name a specific editor if you are not comfortable doing so. A general answer is fine.

Do you believe the manuscript is ready for publication?
Dropdown — required

Options:

• Yes

• Probably, but I would like confirmation

• It may need proofreading

• It may need deeper editing

• I am not sure

5. Content Fit

Does your project include any of the following?
Checkboxes — required

Options:

• Nonfiction

• Poetry

• Children’s story intended for web-novel publication

• Pornographic/XXX content

• Underage sexual content

• Incest presented romantically or erotically

• Hate propaganda or content promoting hatred/dehumanization

• Graphic body horror

• Erotic horror

• Slasher-style horror

• Torture-heavy horror

• Demonic possession horror

• None of the above

Content Notes
Long answer — optional

Prompt text:

If your project includes mature, violent, sexual, supernatural, paranormal, or horror elements, briefly explain the context so The Sculpted Word can understand the story’s fit.

6. AI Disclosure

Were AI tools used in any part of this project?
Checkboxes — required

Options:

• No AI tools were used

• Brainstorming or idea development

• Outlining or organization

• Editing or proofreading support

• Manuscript drafting

• Cover art

• Illustrations

• Marketing copy

• Other creative materials

AI Use Explanation
Long answer — required if anything except “No AI tools were used” is selected

Prompt text:

Please briefly explain how AI tools were used. The Sculpted Word does not accept stories written by AI, but AI-assisted support may be acceptable when the author remains the writer of the story.

Author Confirmation
Checkbox — required

Option text:

I confirm that I am the author of this story and that the manuscript was not written by AI.

7. Understanding the Process

Use required checkboxes so the boundaries are clear.

I understand that this inquiry is not a publishing offer or guarantee of publication.

I understand that every project must be reviewed for readiness, content fit, genre fit, imprint alignment, publishing scope, and available publishing capacity.

I understand that if the project appears to be a possible fit, a paid Publishing-Readiness Assessment may be required before any publishing agreement is offered.

I understand that Editorial Services are separate from publishing support.

I understand that if editorial work is recommended, I am not required to use The Sculpted Word’s Editorial Services as a condition of future publishing consideration.

8. Final Question

Is there anything else The Sculpted Word should know about this project?
Long answer — optional

Submit Button Text

Use:

Submit Publishing Inquiry

Confirmation Message After Submission

Thank you for submitting a Publishing Project Review Inquiry.

The Sculpted Word will review the information provided and respond if the project appears to be a possible fit or if clarification is needed. This inquiry is not a publishing offer, manuscript assessment, or guarantee of publication.

Placement Notes

Link this form from:

• Hero primary button

• Final CTA primary button

• FAQ answer for “Can I ask questions before submitting a project review?”

For that FAQ answer, revise it to:

Can I ask questions before submitting a project review?

Initial contact for publishing questions should be made through the Publishing Project Review Inquiry form. If you are unsure whether your project belongs on this publishing path, use the form to share the basic details and questions you would like The Sculpted Word to consider.

A general question is not the same as a project review, manuscript assessment, or publishing decision. The form helps determine whether the next step should be a publishing inquiry, Editorial Services, or waiting until the manuscript is further along.

Yes, depending on the project. The Sculpted Word may consider romance that includes mature, steamy, or explicit sexual content when the romance, character development, and story arc can stand on their own apart from the sexual scenes. If sexual content is the central point of the work rather than part of a larger romantic or fictional arc, the project is not a fit.

The Publishing-Readiness Assessment fee pays for the assessment itself. It is not a deposit, placement fee, or prepaid publishing budget.

Once the assessment has begun or been delivered, the fee is not refundable simply because the author disagrees with the assessment, dislikes the recommendation, or is not offered publishing consideration. If there is a payment error or unusual circumstance, the author may contact The Sculpted Word directly for review.