We are pleased to offer the BMC Editing Support Service, a free resource designed to help BMC researchers strengthen their scientific writing, increase manuscript publications, and advance their academic careers. Whether you are drafting a manuscript or looking to sharpen a draft before submission, we are here to support you.
Please review the information below to learn about the program, confirm your eligibility, and complete the intake form to get started. If you have any questions, please contact writer/editor and program coordinator Amy Ries (amy.ries@bmc.org).
Program Goals
- The BMC Editing Support Service aims to:
- Increase manuscript publications to elevate BMCHS as a national research leader
- Help early to mid-career faculty build scientific writing skills that support increased publications and awarded grants
- Enhance faculty job satisfaction and professional development
Eligibility
Given limited availability, the program will initially focus on early career researchers with dedicated research time. To ensure a productive collaboration, faculty should have some baseline experience with scientific manuscript writing and have the bandwidth to play an active role in the writing process. We will do our best to expand services to additional faculty over time.
The eligibility criteria include:
- Assistant or associate professor
- Grants submitted through BMC
- Dedicated research time
- Primary or lead writer on the manuscript
If you are unsure whether you qualify, please reach out to amy.ries@bmc.org before completing the intake form.
Services Provided
Editing services are tailored to each faculty member's needs and delivered over a 2-3 month period. The program typically includes 2-4 scheduled meetings and 1-3 rounds of manuscript review, though the scope is adjusted based on each project's stage and complexity.
Services may include:
- Manuscript editing: Structural and line-level editing of a full or partial draft that addresses clarity, organization, and argument development
- Manuscript development support: Support for early-stage work may include outlining, structuring challenging sections (e.g., introduction, discussion), developing the narrative arc, and identifying a target journal
- Writing feedback: Targeted feedback on specific sections or recurring challenges identified by the author
If time permits, multiple drafts of a document can be edited. Typically, up to 20 hours of work over the 2-3 month engagement period can be accommodated for a single manuscript. Further work on projects that exceed this limit can be considered on a case-by-case basis but may not be possible.
For documents requiring extensive revision, input may initially be limited to general suggestions. Detailed editing will be carried out after the author(s) revise the document.
Time constraints preclude work on references (e.g., inserting them in the main text or reformatting them). However, the editor may note a lack of adequate references while reading the main text, or internal inconsistencies while scanning reference lists, in which case these issues will be flagged.
Participant Expectations
Faculty will serve as the primary writing lead. The editor provides support, not ghostwriting. Participants are expected to be responsive to emails, attend scheduled meetings, and engage actively in the writing process throughout the 2-3 month collaboration. Please engage when you feel like you will be able to make this commitment.
Intake Process
Interested faculty should complete the online intake form. Your answers will help the editor assess whether the services will meet your needs. After you submit the intake form, the editor will review your submission and respond within 1-2 weeks. If additional information is needed, the editor will schedule a 30-minute introductory meeting to learn more about your project. Accepted participants will receive a welcome email with next steps and a participation agreement to sign before the collaboration begins.
Please note that submitting the intake form does not guarantee enrollment. The editor will confirm fit based on eligibility, project scope, and program capacity.
Faculty who have previously participated in the program may reapply, however, new participants will take priority over returning participants.
Please reach out to Amy Ries (amy.ries@bmc.org) with questions.