Pricing Guide
"I believe in miracles in every area of life except writing."
Isaac Bashevis Singer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Isaac Bashevis Singer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Developmental Editing
Developmental editors typically edit 1 to 5 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $45 to $55 per hour. In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 40 pages of a book-length manuscript (including the Table of Contents) or 5 to 10 pages of a shorter work in order to estimate my pace on your manuscript. I will carefully read your sample, consider the needs it suggests, and respond to you with a price estimate for developmental editing of the entire manuscript.
My developmental editing includes two separate readings of your manuscript, after which I will write an extensive Revision Letter and make numerous specific comments within the text. I will gladly communicate with you via email as you revise, explaining concepts and making suggestions. If your revisions haven't brought your manuscript to the point of readiness for line editing, I can help with rewrites, scene development, and other revisions for a separate fee. I can also suggest books and writing classes that can be of help to you as you continue to work on your manuscript.
Line Editing
Line editors typically edit 1 to 6 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $40 to $60 per hour. In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 20 pages of a book-length manuscript (including the Table of Contents) or at least 5 pages of a shorter work. I will then do a "practice edit" and respond to you with a price estimate for line editing the entire manuscript.
Copyediting
Copyeditors typically edit 5 to 10 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $30 to $40 per hour ($40 to $50 for "heavy" editing). In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 20 pages of a book-length manuscript or 5 pages of a shorter work. I will then do a "practice edit" and respond to you with a price estimate for copyediting the entire manuscript.
A note on the confusing world of freelance editing fees:
Fees can vary so widely among freelance editors as to seem almost random, but this is partly because manuscripts vary infinitely in their editing needs, and editors' work pace with a particular manuscript will vary accordingly. The hourly fees and pace mentioned above are based on a 2015 Editorial Freelancers Association survey of average editing fees. I can talk with you about ways we might reduce the editing cost for your manuscript, after I have seen it and made a preliminary estimate of the hours required to meet your editing needs. I can also offer package prices including developmental and later stages of editing work. Estimates are based on the assumption that the sample submitted is representative of the manuscript as a whole.
Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word.
Developmental editors typically edit 1 to 5 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $45 to $55 per hour. In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 40 pages of a book-length manuscript (including the Table of Contents) or 5 to 10 pages of a shorter work in order to estimate my pace on your manuscript. I will carefully read your sample, consider the needs it suggests, and respond to you with a price estimate for developmental editing of the entire manuscript.
My developmental editing includes two separate readings of your manuscript, after which I will write an extensive Revision Letter and make numerous specific comments within the text. I will gladly communicate with you via email as you revise, explaining concepts and making suggestions. If your revisions haven't brought your manuscript to the point of readiness for line editing, I can help with rewrites, scene development, and other revisions for a separate fee. I can also suggest books and writing classes that can be of help to you as you continue to work on your manuscript.
Line Editing
Line editors typically edit 1 to 6 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $40 to $60 per hour. In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 20 pages of a book-length manuscript (including the Table of Contents) or at least 5 pages of a shorter work. I will then do a "practice edit" and respond to you with a price estimate for line editing the entire manuscript.
Copyediting
Copyeditors typically edit 5 to 10 pages per hour (one standard page is 250 words). The editing pace depends on the state of the writing and its context or purpose (e.g. academic or scholarly work vs. a memoir or novel). Fees range from $30 to $40 per hour ($40 to $50 for "heavy" editing). In order to offer you a price estimate for your manuscript, I need to see approximately 20 pages of a book-length manuscript or 5 pages of a shorter work. I will then do a "practice edit" and respond to you with a price estimate for copyediting the entire manuscript.
A note on the confusing world of freelance editing fees:
Fees can vary so widely among freelance editors as to seem almost random, but this is partly because manuscripts vary infinitely in their editing needs, and editors' work pace with a particular manuscript will vary accordingly. The hourly fees and pace mentioned above are based on a 2015 Editorial Freelancers Association survey of average editing fees. I can talk with you about ways we might reduce the editing cost for your manuscript, after I have seen it and made a preliminary estimate of the hours required to meet your editing needs. I can also offer package prices including developmental and later stages of editing work. Estimates are based on the assumption that the sample submitted is representative of the manuscript as a whole.
Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word.
