Services and Pricing

I’ll quote you a maximum, all-inclusive rate up front, and that rate will depend on a number of factors, but especially the length of your manuscript and the type of editing you seek. My average rates for novel manuscripts have ranged from $300 to $3,500.

Again, I track every change, and I leave the “accept or reject” decision up to you. And yes, my Proofreading and Substantive Editing services below include more than one pass at changes. In other words, if you want to counter-propose an edit rather than accepting or rejecting, I’ll be happy to take another look. But at the least, I read every Proofreading or Substantive Edit manuscript at least twice from start to finish, to verify smooth transitions and accuracy of corrections.

I offer three basic editorial services:

Proofreading

As a proofreader I find and mark errors or issues with spelling, grammar, punctuation and wording. Proofreading covers missing words and misused words, phrases or adages. As a proofreader I also edit for unintended clichés, and for awkward wording that would not warrant a substantial rewrite.

Substantive Editing

Substantive editing includes proofreading (all services noted in the “Proofreading” paragraph), but also affords a deeper delve into the structure and mechanics of your manuscript. As a substantive editor, I will assess and suggest changes to plot, characters and character development, and the framework and pace of your story. I’ll point out redundancies, contradictions and out-of-character actions and sentiments.

Post-publish Editing

If you’ve already published  your work without an editor’s services, or are unhappy with the job performed, a post-publish edit might be just the thing for you. If you’ve gotten editorial help from a friend who’s “pretty good at catching errors,” but now you’re getting negative reviews for typos….contact me.

Payment

I accept Zelle and PayPal payments. I ask for half of your payment before I begin editing, and then the remainder upon completion of my first cover-to-cover run. There’s a great chance the number of words in your manuscript will change during the editing process; for the “upfront” number we’ll use the original word count, and we’ll make word count and fee adjustments in the second half.