Services
General Information
Information About Pricing
There are four basic levels of editing a manuscript will pass through before publication: a developmental edit, a line edit, a copy edit, and a proofread. They go from most broad to least as you develop your story. I offer all four services depending on each client’s specific needs.
Please read the basic descriptions below to determine which level of service is best for you and the story you want to tell. When in doubt, I recommend at minimum a line edit or heavy copy edit for everybody. Even the most respected authors heavily rely on their editors to strengthen their stories.
If you have any questions about which level you require, please fill out my contact form, and I will be happy to advise based on your expectations, goals, or needs. Packages including multiple services are also available.
Editors generally charge for their services on a per word or per page basis. I use page count to determine prices. A typical fiction novel hovers around 90,000 words, which would fall between 300-350 pages. Word count per page depends on lots of factors including amount of dialogue and formatting. The Editorial Freelancers Association defines a page as 250 words, which is the figure I will be using.
I have been editing for less than three years, so my rates are about $2-3 less expensive per page than the national average. For example, the average for a line edit is $6.75-$8.75 per page, my rate is $4.
If you would like more information about rates for freelances, EFA has a great breakdown on their website here.
Developmental Edit
$5 per page
Strengthen your story's structure
This is a broad edit focused around content. I will read your manuscript and work with you to emphasize your most important themes and story elements. Please note that changes could be made to your outline; for example, moving around chapters or adjusting arcs.
Improve pacing
This level of editing is also about keeping readers engaged with the story. We will work together to prioritize important scenes for maximum impact while improving any dragging portions of the manuscript. Elements like prose or grammar will not be addressed as they are too narrow for the scope of this edit.
Get to know your characters
The dev edit is where we address character arcs and ensure their consistency, relatability, and believability. Readers should get attached to characters throughout the story, so it is vital that they are well-defined and clearly portrayed.
Line Edit
$4 per page
Strengthen your prose
This is a true, line-by-line close reading of your manuscript and involves lots of discussion between author and editor. I will work to enhance flow and and tighten sentence structure. A line edit might involve moving paragraphs or chapters around, but is not as big picture as a developmental edit.
Define your style
This is your manuscript, so I will never rewrite your story. Rather, my job is to help you develop your style as a writer by suggesting sentence level changes that remain true to your voice. An example would be pointing out overly used words or phrases or correcting for readability and accuracy.
Prepare for querying
A line edit includes some fact-checking and consistent use of a style guide such as Chicago. I believe all manuscripts should receive a thorough line edit before submission to agents. The line edit is the meat of the editorial process and could require multiple rounds of edits.
Copy Edit
$3 per page
Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Simple as it sounds! I will do the nitty gritty work with punctuation, including proper use of elements like ellipses, quotation, and dashes.
Simple fact check
I will do a simple fact check for things like dates and historical events, but will not delve deep into research. I will also point out anything that needs a citation or permission.
Ensure Consistency
I will make sure your manuscript is consistent according to the Chicago Manual of Style unless another guide is specified. I will also confirm consistency of language and terminology. Depending on the project, this might include creating a style sheet. A style sheet is a document containing all formatting or spelling preferences that is specific to your manuscript.
Proofread
$2 per page
What is a proofread, and who is it for?
A true proofread is the final check before a manuscript goes to the printer. It takes place after all line editing, copyediting, and designing is complete. This service is for you if you have already worked with other editors on structure and prose, and you simply desire one final read-through. I do not offer proofreading for manuscripts I edited at a line or developmental level. This is because I am more likely to miss things on a document I have already spent time with than a fresh set of eyes is.
Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Only
I will check your manuscript for spelling, punctuation, and egregious grammar errors. But during a proofread, I will make no changes to word choice or sentence structure, even if I believe the prose would benefit from additional editing.
Formatting
If you would like a formatting check, I can verify that the layout of your pages is acceptable, but I am not a designer, so the layout would have to be done before sending it to me, and I will not make any design changes, only note errors and inconsistencies. I would also require a PDF file for this service.