Editing services include a wide range of work, from helping an author organize their ideas at an early stage of drafting (developmental editing), to improving clarity and overall style (copyediting), to the final polish (proofreading). You might prefer to engage an editor while you’re still formulating your ideas. Or you might wait until your manuscript is mostly completed, just for a final proofreading. For me, the sweet spot is right in the middle – copyediting – although I’m well practiced in all stages.
Developmental editing ($.04-.05/word) addresses the content as well as the overall organization and structure. That might mean clarifying the argument, cutting passages that are redundant or otherwise unnecessary, or identifying claims that need more support. Whole sections might be expanded, re-ordered, or cut. A developmental editor will also try to make sure that the overall style and tone are consistent, although there is less focus on specific wording as it may change in a later draft.
Copyediting ($.04-.05/word) is also called line editing. It comes late enough in the process that the author has all the ideas down on the page, but not so late that s/he can’t move them around a little bit more as needed. This stage is about improving the overall readability of a text, to which ends the copyeditor addresses:
Proofreading ($.02-.03/word) is the final stage of editing. It means double-checking the text for basic errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.), typos, formatting errors, and other inconsistencies. (All right, proofreading has a more technical definition for people in the publishing industry, but for my purposes here, it means the final clean-up.) If you've ever submitted your work for review... and then immediately found a typo on the first page, this might be a useful service for you! :)
To estimate the price for editing your document, multiply the word count by the kind of editing that you’re requesting. Once I have a chance to look at your entire manuscript, I will propose a price within that range, based on how much work I anticipate that the writing needs. I offer a 20% discount for students, and charge 20% more for a rapid turnaround (more than 3,000 words per day). These rates are comparable to those catalogued by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Developmental editing ($.04-.05/word) addresses the content as well as the overall organization and structure. That might mean clarifying the argument, cutting passages that are redundant or otherwise unnecessary, or identifying claims that need more support. Whole sections might be expanded, re-ordered, or cut. A developmental editor will also try to make sure that the overall style and tone are consistent, although there is less focus on specific wording as it may change in a later draft.
Copyediting ($.04-.05/word) is also called line editing. It comes late enough in the process that the author has all the ideas down on the page, but not so late that s/he can’t move them around a little bit more as needed. This stage is about improving the overall readability of a text, to which ends the copyeditor addresses:
- grammar and syntax
- style and flow
- clarity
- coherence of the whole and relationships among individual parts
- wordiness and redundancy
- word choice
- clichés and mixed metaphors
- conformity to a particular style or format (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.)
- appropriate tone for the intended audience
- other mechanics
- accuracy of quotes and citations (this may include light fact-checking)
- internal consistency of captions, footnotes, tables, etc.
Proofreading ($.02-.03/word) is the final stage of editing. It means double-checking the text for basic errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.), typos, formatting errors, and other inconsistencies. (All right, proofreading has a more technical definition for people in the publishing industry, but for my purposes here, it means the final clean-up.) If you've ever submitted your work for review... and then immediately found a typo on the first page, this might be a useful service for you! :)
To estimate the price for editing your document, multiply the word count by the kind of editing that you’re requesting. Once I have a chance to look at your entire manuscript, I will propose a price within that range, based on how much work I anticipate that the writing needs. I offer a 20% discount for students, and charge 20% more for a rapid turnaround (more than 3,000 words per day). These rates are comparable to those catalogued by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Estimated cost
=
word count
x
$.04-.05/word for developmental editing
or
$.04-.05/word for copyediting
or
$.02-.03/word for proofreading
x
80% (if you are a student)
x
120% (if you need a rapid turnaround)
=
word count
x
$.04-.05/word for developmental editing
or
$.04-.05/word for copyediting
or
$.02-.03/word for proofreading
x
80% (if you are a student)
x
120% (if you need a rapid turnaround)
For all payments, I will send invoices over email or through PayPal. New clients need to make a deposit of 25% of the proposed price before I begin the work. The balance can be paid once the job is done.
