Short answer: it's a screening service for Christian publishers in North America. Writers submit a summary description of their book proposal plus sample chapters, The Writer's Edge evaluates it, and, if it looks promising, the publishers get a report about its availability. The writer pays for the evaluation--$95. If we are not able to recommend your book to the publishers, we will attempt to offer some counsel, including a short analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the book for this market. 

More:

  "I am a writer. Tell me how this benefits writers."

  "I am a publisher. Tell me how this benefits publishers."

Now for a longer explanation:

Do you have a publishable manuscript? Are you intimidated by the challenge of reaching decision-makers in the publishing houses? They are inundated with thousands of manuscripts a year. Arriving unannounced, these submissions may never even get into the hands of the decision maker. Several companies no longer consider unsolicited manuscripts and a few discard them unopened.

Since 1993 there has been a better way.
The Writer's Edge provides you with an edge--an effective way to get your proposal into the hands of editorial directors. The only publishers who receive this service are those who have requested it--those who plan to use it to simplify their process of reviewing and selecting new manuscripts. These decision makers welcome these information sheets that give them a concise, organized view of your work.

Here's how it would work for you.

1. You would send the following to The Writer's Edge Service address, Box 1266, Wheaton, IL 60189:

a) a completed copy of the Book Information form,
b) three sample chapters or equivalent of your manuscript,
c) a 1-page synopsis if your work is fiction; a contents page, with short descriptions of each chapter, if it is nonfiction,
d) a check for $95.00 per item submitted, payable to The Writer's Edge.
Please use our essential Book Information Form available on this web site or from our address by mail.

2. Upon receipt of the above, our staff will review your material. If it meets basic editorial standards, information from your form will be entered into our process. Manuscripts that are not regarded as publishable in their present form are not reported to the publishers. The writer will receive a letter of explanation from our experienced staff.

Successful manuscripts:
--are organized and focused
--have been sufficiently edited (no first drafts!)
--maintain a high quality of craftsmanship: grammar, readability, character/plot development.
--lie within the interest areas of evangelical Christian book publishers like those on our list
--combine uniqueness and popular appeal

3. For all the manuscripts that meet the basic criteria of publishability, a short information summary will be prepared. This entry will be featured in a listing sent to the editorial directors of more than 75 Christian publishing houses. [Click here for a list of these publishers] Which publishing houses? All of the largest companies and many of the smaller specialized ones. This includes a number of publishers who have ceased reading unsolicited manuscripts. It does not include subsidy or vanity publishers. All are standard royalty-paying firms.
From this information, editors may pursue your title for further consideration. If they choose to look at your manuscript, they will contact you directly and request it. From this point on, all contact will come directly through the publisher, rather than through The Writer's Edge.

4. A report goes out monthly. Your entry will appear in the report, placed in the appropriate publishing categories (fiction, self-help, devotional, etc.).
Your manuscript and supporting materials will not be returned. (Send only copies, not originals!)

Questions you may have:
How will I know of a publisher's interest in my manuscript?
All manuscripts will be processed and reported in six to eight weeks after arrival. Then, after a report is mailed, we will not have any further information about your manuscript. An editor who is interested in seeing it would contact you directly. Neither The Writer's Edge Service nor its partner publishers will be able to respond to phone calls about a specific submission.

Will I have access to names and addresses of publishers who show an interest?
The addresses are readily available. See our page of reference material for writers.

How do I benefit from The Writer's Edge if my manuscript is rejected?
Although our service is not set up to give detailed analysis, we are still giving you specific reasons for any rejection. This is feedback you rarely receive from a busy publisher, who usually handles returns through form letters. If The Writer's Edge declines your manuscript, you will receive a form telling you on what grounds it was rejected. This can alert you to weaknesses in your writing style or organization that need to be corrected. Although rejection is never welcome, it is better to have an honest evaluation early on, rather than waste time and postage sending an unpublishable manuscript to publisher after publisher, never knowing why no one wants it.

How is this service different from the services of an agent?
The Writer's Edge is more accessible to writers who don't yet have a "track record," something most agents look for. Acquiring an agent can be time consuming and difficult. The service will expose your manuscript to multiple publishers, while an agent usually selects one publisher at a time. Finally, agents require a percentage of your book's earnings as part of their fee; The Writer's Edge charges a modest one-time fee per manuscript.

Who will review my submission?
The Writer's Edge employs reviewers who have substantial experience in publishing, either in the area of editing or acquisitions. All have worked for one or more publishers on our list. Their experience makes them effective in judging the quality of the writing, as well as its content for current publishing needs and trends. They serve fairly as a proxy for typical publisher reaction to individual projects and authors; in this way your use of this service is a fair "trial balloon" for the successful placing of your manuscript.*

How many times can I use The Writer's Edge?
You may use the service as many times as you want. You may print out or photocopy the application form. Each submission requires a processing fee of $95.00.

For other matters, see the "frequently asked questions" page on this site. We encourage you to review this entire web site, examine the reports previously sent to publishers, and consider this service as one key step toward your quest for a publisher.

Take advantage of The Writer's Edge! Allow us to help you get your manuscript before acquisition editors and be a part of this refreshing change in the query-and-submission system.

The Writer's Edge
P.O. Box 1266
Wheaton IL 60189

The Writer's Edge relates to its public entirely by mail, not phone. Print the application you need from this web site (we can email it to you if you wish). Communicate on other matters by email:  info@WritersEdgeService.com.

See a flowchart of the entire Writer's Edge process.

* For information about the people and legal status of The Writer's Edge Service, see Opinions on this site.

 
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