SUSU editorial studio
Polishing a manuscript until it is just right.
Studio SUSU supports authors with editorial services designed to assess, strengthen, edit and prepare a text for reading, submission or publication.
An editorial approach attentive to voices, contexts and trajectories
At SUSU, we see editing as a work of reading, structure and transmission. We support texts born from multiple contexts (African, diasporic, multilingual) that deserve an editorial eye able to respect their singularity while preparing them to meet their readers.
À retenir
Studio or workshops?
The Studio intervenes directly on a manuscript to diagnose, correct or prepare it for publication. The Workshops transmit tools, skills, reference points and working frameworks to durably advance a writing practice.
Which support to choose?
Unfinished manuscript or advanced first draft → assessment or coaching.
Finished but still fragile manuscript → structural editing.
Stable manuscript → copy-editing and/or preparation for publication.
Our services
Our featured offers
We tailor our service to the actual condition of the manuscript, your objectives and the level of preparation required.
Fixed feeEditorial diagnosisFind out exactly where your manuscript stands.
- Objectives
- Provide a comprehensive critical analysis (strengths, weaknesses, editing potential) along with concrete recommendations for rewriting.
- Who it is for
- Authors who want an honest editorial assessment before submitting to publishers or embarking on a major revision.
- Target market
- Level A: Full reading of the manuscript, a one-page written response summarising 3 to 5 key points on the main strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations. Level B: A structured report of 5 to 8 pages covering tone and style, narrative structure, character consistency, editorial positioning and commercial potential, and priority recommendations prior to submission.
- Modalities
- Two levels of service: Level A – Simple reading (reading + verdict), one-page written report. Timeframe: 3 weeks. Level B – Full editorial assessment: complete reading + a 4- to 8-page written report. A 45-minute phone call to discuss the report is included. Timeframe: 4 to 6 weeks.
- Full rate
- Level A: €80 to €120 depending on the length of the manuscript (under 80 pages / over 300 pages). Level B: €200 to €350 depending on length. Launch rate (year 1): €180 to €280.
- Reduced rate
- €100 to €200 — first-time authors
Per wordEditorial proofreadingEliminate errors and improve the flow of your text.
- Objectives
- Correct spelling, grammar, and typographical errors. Prepare a text for reading or submission.
- Who it is for
- Authors who would like a preliminary review before submitting their work to a publisher, a judging panel, or a writing residency.
- Target market
- Edits made directly in the document (track changes mode) + report on recurring issues.
- Modalities
- Standard turnaround time: 5–7 days, depending on the volume. Instant quote upon receipt of the text.
- Full rate
- €3 / 1,000 words.
- Reduced rate
- €2 / 1,000 words – Contact us
Custom quoteIn-depth editorial supportDeep editorial support on structure, narration, and positioning.
- Objectives
- Bring a manuscript to professional submission quality.
- Who it is for
- Authors requiring deep restructuring or narrative reorientation.
- Target market
- Manuscripts in advanced restructuring phase.
- Modalities
- 2 to 4 passes, synchronous exchanges, and editorial roadmap.
- Full rate
- Full rate: €0.035/word (indicative).
- Reduced rate
- Reduced rate: solidarity pricing depending on your situation, on review.
Fixed feePublication preparationTo turn a finalized text into a clean, readable object ready to circulate in print or digital form.
- Objectives
- Produce a professional interior layout, a consistent cover, and optimized files for distributors and printers.
- Who it is for
- Self-published authors or small publishing houses looking for a final product ready to submit to Kindle Direct, IngramSpark, or any printer.
- Target market
- Interior layout + cover + PDF/ePub files ready for distribution. One round of revisions included.
- Modalities
- Pricing depends on the format, number of pages, and complexity (illustrations, tables, etc.). Turnaround time: 10–20 business days.
- Full rate
- €300 to €1,400.
- Reduced rate
- €250 to €1,000 – Contact us
Additional services
Workshops & support programmes
Depending on the project, we can also offer writing coaching, literary translation and collective formats.
Writing CoachingTo unblock a project, strengthen a voice or maintain a regular writing rhythm through individual sessions and feedback on excerpts.
- Objectives
- Make progress on your project, overcome writer's block, and strengthen your voice and consistency.
- Who it is for
- Authors currently writing (novels, essays, collections), at any stage of the manuscript.
- Target market
- One-on-one video sessions + detailed written feedback on excerpts submitted between sessions.
- Modalities
- Packages of 3 to 10 sessions. Free initial consultation to discuss the project.
- Full rate
- €200 to €750 / pack.
- Reduced rate
- On request
Literary translationTo support projects intended for Francophone or Anglophone circulation without losing the texture or nuances of the text.
- Objectives
- Carry voice and nuance across languages.
- Who it is for
- Authors targeting journals, prizes, or foreign publishers.
- Target market
- Francophone and Anglophone publishing spaces.
- Modalities
- Translation, translator note, and editorial revision.
- Full rate
- €0.08 to €0.12 / word.
- Reduced rate
- 3 to 6 weeks.
Collective writing workshopsFor cultural or educational organizations and groups wishing to work on writing as a cohort.
- Objectives
- Build consistency, peer feedback habits, and cohort momentum.
- Who it is for
- Groups of 8 to 15 participants in schools, companies, or cultural organizations.
- Target market
- Thematic workshops: fiction, short forms, and professional writing.
- Modalities
- Short or semester cycles, adaptable by context.
- Full rate
- Full rate: €15 – €20 per participant per session.
- Reduced rate
- Reduced rate: €8 – €12 per participant per session.
Programs for schools, libraries, and institutionstransform African and Afro-diasporic literature into a cultural and educational program
- Objectives
- Develop book offerings, events, workshops, and educational resources for schools, universities, libraries, Alliance Française branches, cultural institutes, foundations, and local governments.
- Who it is for
- Schools, libraries, institutions, foundations
- Target market
- International schools, French schools abroad, universities, libraries, media centers, French cultural institutes, Alliance Française branches, foundations, local governments.
- Modalities
- Modular programs: book selections; educational kits; author meet-and-greets; writing workshops; themed programs; annual programming. Deliverables: themed catalog; educational resources; institutional proposals; event schedules; outreach materials; impact reports.
- Full rate
- Simple thematic selection: €500 to €1,000. School/library programme: €1,500 to €5,000. Annual programme: €8,000 to €20,000
- Reduced rate
- 1 to 3 months for a one-off offer; 6 to 12 months for an annual programme.
We work notably on novels, short fiction, autobiographical narratives, testimonies, essays, thought-based writing, poetry, hybrid forms and, depending on the project, children's literature or multilingual manuscripts. If your text does not exactly match one of these formats, we can guide you toward the most relevant option.
Method
How does the support process work?
Please tell us what you need
Send us your text, an extract or a description of the project, depending on its current stage of completion.
We assess the appropriate level of intervention
We analyse your requirements and offer a tailored solution rather than a one-size-fits-all package.
You will receive a quote and a schedule
The initial enquiry and the provision of a quote are free of charge, and general enquiries are usually answered within 24 to 48 working hours.
The editorial work begins
You will receive pre-defined deliverables, within a confidential framework, accompanied by structured and actionable feedback.
Why SUSU
Why entrust your text to SUSU
A grounded perspective
SUSU states that it operates from an African and diaspora perspective, paying close attention to the cultural, linguistic and narrative contexts in which texts are written and circulated.
Editorial rigor
We seek accuracy, coherence and readability without flattening the singularity of a voice or over-normalizing a text.
A support logic
Our aim is not only to correct a document, but to help an author better understand the text, its stakes and its next steps.
A tailored approach
Not every project needs the same level of intervention. We prefer a calibrated response to an indistinct package.
Passing on
Workshops & programs
Strengthen your literary practice through learning formats tailored to authors, collectives, and institutions.
Where the Studio works directly on a manuscript, the workshops pass on tools, skills, guidance and ways of working to develop a practice over time.
Author track
Cohort writing workshops and targeted modules: the novel designed for several markets, short stories and brief narratives, writing between languages.
Editor and reader track
Reading like an editor, assessing a manuscript, giving useful feedback and building a sound editorial line.
Rights and circulation track
Understanding a publishing contract, knowing your rights and taking a text from the local to the international stage.
Let’s talk about your needs.
You can contact us even if the project is still in the early stages. An editorial assessment is precisely what helps us identify the right starting point before embarking on more in-depth work.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
A few reference points to understand when and how we can step in.
From what stage can a manuscript be reviewed?
We can intervene as soon as a text has reached a readable enough state for its issues to emerge. That may be an advanced first draft, a partially stabilized manuscript or an already finished project depending on the requested support.
Do you offer a simple diagnosis without full correction?
Yes. The editorial diagnosis is specifically designed to provide structured feedback without immediately committing to a full correction or complete edit. It is often the best option to identify where to focus the next stage of work.
Do you work only with African authors?
Our grounding is African and diasporic, but we can review other projects when they meet our line, our skills and the working conditions required for serious support.
Is the quote free?
Yes. The initial contact and the preparation of a quote tailored to your need are free. They allow us to define the intervention before any commitment.
Can we send you an unfinished text?
Yes, if your need concerns a diagnosis, editorial framing or structural reflection. Depending on the state of the text, we will indicate the most relevant format before going further.
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