Please read below to find descriptions of the various contracted editing services I offer. You can also find more specific information about pricing, timelines, and other important details. No matter which option you choose, it is always a good idea to contact me at __________________ to begin the process. I can also help you decide what type of editing might be best for your project.
Here are a few common concerns that span more than one type of editing:
- All services require a contract that I will prepare for you. This will include the terms of our agreement for payment and timelines to keep us both accountable.
- I am trained in multiple styles, but please make sure to specify if you have a certain style guide you prefer me to follow. (Otherwise, I will default to Chicago Style.)
- I do provide sample edits if you would like to make sure our personal styles coincide before you hire me for a full project. Please let me know which type of editing you are considering, and I will complete a sample edit of 1,000 words.
- I accept manuscripts in a variety of forms, although I prefer formats like Google Docs or Microsoft Word so that I can leave comments on your work. I can accept other formats, and I will return your edited work in whichever format you sent it to me.
- I usually require 50% of the agreed-upon payment to be placed as a deposit to start working upon a project, with the remaining 50% delivered once I finish the work. If this initial payment is too much of a hardship, we can set up a payment plan to spread the cost over a few months to make it more manageable.
- You are certainly welcome to email me to check in on my progress on your project, but do not feel offended if weeks pass between our communication. I will email you if it looks like I might not be able to meet our initial deadline.
Proofreading
While proofreading, I generally look for misspellings, capitalization issues, improper word usages, and inappropriate style decisions. As proofreading is really one of the last steps in the publication process, it should only be used to catch errors that have persisted through other more extensive edits; if you think your manuscript might require more than a simple proofreading, please consider the “copy editing” services below instead, especially if you are worried about other issues.
Depending on how much other editorial work I have, I can usually return most 100,000-120,000-word manuscripts for proofreading services within two to four weeks.
Price: $0.015 per word
Copy Editing (Line Editing)
Copy editing is a more comprehensive service that evaluates the deeper readability of your manuscript. In addition to everything I offer under the “Proofreading” edit, I also seek to maintain a consistency of tone, offering edits at the sentence- and paragraph-level that improve clarity, vary your sentence structure, correct egregious punctuation and syntax errors, eliminate wordiness, ensure the proper style for your piece, and shape your prose so that your message shines through your writing. If there are any concerns or particular issues with your writing that you want me to focus on, be sure to let me know.
Depending on how much other editorial work I have, I can usually return most 100,000-120,000-word manuscripts for copy editing services within four to six weeks.
Price: $0.028 per word
Content or Developmental Editing
This final type of editing is a complete evaluation of your manuscript at every level. In addition to all of the services included in the “Proofreading” and “Copy Editing” options, this type of editing assesses the elements of your story as well, exploring plot, characters, and conflict in order to make sure they make logical sense within your narrative. This comprehensive type of editing will help you decide what revisions you might need to make at all levels of your manuscript to make it ready for other readers. You can also let me know if there are any issues in particular you want me to focus on while reading. I will provide you with a summary of changes you might want to consider along with the line-by-line edits at the conclusion of your project.
Depending on how much other editorial work I have, I can usually return most 100,000-120,000-word manuscripts for developmental editing services within six to eight weeks.
Price: $0.035 per word