Rates, Process, and Payment Terms
Rates:
Copyedit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$0.02 per word (Scroll down for details)
Line Edit/Copyedit Combo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.03 per word (Scroll down for details)
Developmental Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$0.03 per word (Scroll down for details)
Manuscript Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.02 per word (Scroll down for details)
Beta Reader Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00 per page (Scroll down for details)
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This is your work, let it shine. Unknown errors can keep the reader from understanding what you intended. I will help you say what you mean and mean what you say.
Grooming a body of work to bring out its true potential is truly something I enjoy and take pride in. I automatically pick up on grammar errors around me in everyday life without even trying. I also intuitively know when something sounds awkward and needs rewording. This natural instinct, along with all of my training and resources, is a great tool for copyediting and line editing. As an avid reader and writer, and with my previous experiences and constant training, I can help you develop your story so that it shines as brightly as it can. Pooling all my abilities and resources allows me to do justice to your written work and provide you with a high-quality edit.
Copyedit Process:
I work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes turned on.
I will provide you with a complimentary edit of 1,600 words – the first 800 words from the beginning of your manuscript and the first 800 words from chapter eight. This will give both of us an opportunity to know if we are perfect for each other.
I will go through your manuscript twice. During the first passage, I will do a detailed reading of your manuscript, making grammatical changes as needed and leaving comments as needed. I will be looking for the following:
- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Repeat words and phrases
- Redundancies
- Wrong words
- Wrong sentence structures
- Run-on sentences
- Wordiness
- Clarity
- Consistency
- Extra spaces
Note that I will not necessarily be looking at or correcting formatting.
All changes and suggestions are consciously made with the author’s voice in mind. Any changes made can be reversed should you not agree with them, and all suggestions are up to you to accept or reject.
I will read through your manuscript a few chapters at a time. Then, I will go back and re-read those same chapters a second time to make sure any changes I have made are correct and that the suggestions I have commented on make sense. I also recheck for any errors that still need fixing.
Once the project is complete, should you wish for me to do a third reading of certain scenes or chapters in which you have made significant changes, an additional charge will need to be negotiated per word count of the particular scenes or chapters.
Line Edit/Copyedit Process:
I work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes turned on.
I will provide you with a complimentary edit of 1,600 words – the first 800 words from the beginning of your manuscript and the first 800 words from chapter eight. This will give both of us an opportunity to know if we are perfect for each other.
I will go through your manuscript twice. During the first passage, I will do a detailed reading of your manuscript, making grammatical changes as needed and leaving comments as needed. I will be looking for the same things as mentioned in the copyedit description, as well as the following:
- Sentence structure
- Word choices
- Overused words
- Irrelevant words or phrases
- Run-on sentences
- Wordy sentences or paragraphs that need to be tightened
- Unclear wording
- Redundancy of the same information
- Confusing transitions or confusing language
- Awkward, unnaturally sounding phrases
- Telling versus showing
- Unnecessary words (that, just, only, and others)
- Weak verbs
- Passive voice
- Ly adverbs that can be replaced
- Clichés
- Awkward metaphors
- Mood of dialogue and intention of dialogue
- Overwriting / Underwriting and clarity
Note that I will not necessarily be looking at or correcting formatting.
All changes and suggestions are consciously made with the author’s voice in mind. Any changes made can be reversed should you not agree with them, and all suggestions are up to you to accept or reject.
I will read through your manuscript a few chapters at a time. Then, I will go back and re-read those same chapters a second time to make sure any changes I have made are correct and that the suggestions I have commented on make sense. I also recheck for any errors that still need fixing.
Once the project is complete, should you wish for me to do a third reading of certain scenes or chapters in which you have made significant changes, an additional charge will need to be negotiated per word count of the particular scenes or chapters.
Developmental Editing Process:
I work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes turned on.
I will do a complimentary edit of the first chapter (first two chapters if they’re sort – no more than 4,500 words total) of your manuscript. This will give both of us an opportunity to know if we are a perfect fit for each other.
I will go through your manuscript twice. During the first passage, I will do a detailed reading of your manuscript, make some changes as needed, and comment on anything that can be improved to make your story more provocative and your characters more vivid. I will point out any issues with:
- Opening paragraph/scene – how compelling is it – does it ground the reader?
- Story structure
- Pacing – too fast – too slow – moments of lullness?
- Character development and character voice
- Point of view – head-hopping
- Plot holes and continuity
- Subplots – making sure they’re needed and that they come to fruition
- Consistency
- Goals, motivation, and conflict
- Setting and description – overdone or lack thereof
- Info dumping
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Ending – making sure it is emotionally satisfying and not rushed
All changes and suggestions are consciously made with the author’s voice in mind. Any changes made can be reversed should you not agree with them, and all suggestions are up to you to accept or reject.
I will read through your manuscript a few chapters at a time. Then, I will go back and skim through the same chapters a second time and re-read my notes to make sure any changes I have made are correct and that the suggestions I have commented on make sense. I check for any errors that still need fixing. Once I am satisfied with that chunk, I will forward it to you so that you can work on it while I’m working on the next set of chapters.
Once the project is complete, should you wish for me to do a third reading of certain scenes or chapters in which you have made significant changes, an additional charge will need to be negotiated per word count of the particular scenes or chapters.
Manuscript Evaluation Process:
I work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes turned on.
I will go through your manuscript and comment on the following:
- What are the strengths and weaknesses?
- Is the opening paragraph captivating, and does it ground the reader in time, place, and situation?
- What is the main conflict of the story, and is it identifiable in the opening scene?
- Can the main conflict sustain the entire plot, or is it easily resolvable?
- What are the goals of the characters? What motivates them? And what are the obstacles that keep them from easily achieving these goals? Are the obstacles believable enough to sustain the idea that they do challenge the characters? Or are the obstacles too easy to overcome?
- Is the protagonist introduced in the opening scene? Is the antagonist introduced in the opening scene? If not, is he or she introduced at the right time? Or is it too late into the story?
- Does the opening scene project the correct tone for the genre?
- By the book’s end, does the author deliver all that is hinted at at the beginning of the story—the opening chapter/scene?
- Does the plot work, or is it hard to follow? Are we grounded in the story, or are we constantly trying to figure out what’s going on? Does the story veer off on a tangent? Is it confusing?
- If there are any subplots, are they seen all the way through to fruition, or are they just forgotten about?
- Do the characters behave true to their personalities? Or do they behave out of character, annoying the reader?
- Are the character flaws believable?
- Are there any moments of lullness anywhere that may temporarily bore the reader?
- Are there any issues with backstory? Is there too much? Is there too little? Is it sprinkled throughout appropriately, or is it a big one-time dump that slows down the reader?
- Are there any issues with point of view (POV). Does the POV change at the appropriate time? Or is there a lot of “head hopping” confusing the reader as to whose POV we’re in?
- Is there a compelling ending providing an emotional climax for the reader, or do things just end abruptly, which can be anti-climactic?
For the evaluation, I will point out these things and let you know if they are done well or need working on. I will provide some broad suggestions on some of these issues for you to consider. It is up to you to implement any changes you would like to make.
Feedback will be given either in Track Change, in a separate Word document, or a combination of both.
All suggestions and changes (if any) are consciously made with the author’s voice in mind.
Payment Terms for Editing:
There are three types of payment terms, depending on the size of your project.
Term 1: Under 18,000 Words
For projects under 18,000 words, payment is collected in full upfront.
Note that there is a $288 minimum for all editorial projects.
Term 2: 18,000 to 36,000 Words
For projects between 18,000 and 36,000 words, the payment plan is 40-40-20. I will collect 40% of the cost upfront. Once I am approximately 40% of the way through your manuscript, I will give you the option to continue with my services or end our contract. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the second deposit of 40%. Once I am approximately through 80% of your manuscript, I will again give you the option to continue or not. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the remaining 20% of the cost and finish your project.
At any of the intervals, should you decide not to continue with the edit, then we are done, and all is well. If in the future you would like to use my services again on another project, just reach out when you’re ready. Note that if you choose not to continue with the edit and then change your mind, I will not resume the same project if more than nine days have passed. If that is the case, and you wish for me to work on the same manuscript, we would have to start over from the beginning.
Term 3: Over 36,000 Words
For projects that are over 36,000 words, the payment plan is 30-30-30-10. I will collect 30% of the cost upfront and then start on your project. Once I am approximately 30% of the way through your manuscript, I will give you the option to continue with my services or end our contract. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the second deposit of 30%. Once I am approximately 60% of the way through your manuscript, I will again give you the option to continue or not. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the third deposit of 30%. Once I am approximately through 90% of your manuscript, once more, I will give you the option to continue or not. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the remaining 10% and finish your project.
At any of the intervals, should you decide not to continue with the edit, then we are done, and all is well. If in the future you would like to use my services again on another project, just reach out when you’re ready. Note that if you choose not to continue with the edit and then change your mind, I will not resume the same project if more than nine days have passed. If that is the case, and you wish for me to work on the same manuscript, we would have to start over from the beginning.
What’s Included in the Beta Read:
If you’re not ready for an edit or an evaluation but would like someone to take a look at your work as is, I also provide beta reading services at a rate of $2 per page. As a beta reader, I read your manuscript once and let you know the following:
- Does your story make sense?
- Are your characters likable and realistic?
- Are there any inconsistencies?
- Are all loose ends tied up?
- Is there anything that isn’t needed?
- Is there something missing?
- Is the pacing good, or is it dragging on and on?
- Do the change of events go together?
- Does anything appear contrived or forced?
- Are there any unnecessary redundancies?
As a beta reader, I will not be correcting these things, just pointing them out so that you are aware. I may or may not make suggestions for corrections.
Payment Terms for Beta Reading:
The payment term for a beta read is 50-50. I will collect 50% of the cost upfront. Once I am about halfway through your manuscript, I will give you the option to continue with my services or end our contract. Should you choose to continue, I will then collect the remaining 50% of the cost and finish your project. Should you decide not to continue with the beta read, then we are done, and all is well. If in the future you would like to use my services again on another project, just reach out when you’re ready. Note that if you choose not to continue with the beta read and then change your mind, I will not resume the same project if more than nine days have passed. If that is the case, and you wish for me to work on the same manuscript, we would have to start over from the beginning.
Minimum Payment:
There is a $288 minimum charge for editorial projects, with the exception of a beta read, which has a $88 minimum charge.
Rush Job:
Rush jobs are evaluated on a per-manuscript basis. I will skim through portions of the manuscript to see if the work that needs to be done will fit into my current schedule.
Rate:
There is an additional 8% of the total (before any discounts) charged for rush jobs, rounded down to the nearest dollar (no change).
Phone Calls and Video Consultations:
An initial phone call or Video consultation of up to 40 minutes is complimentary. Any further phone calls or video consultations are $9 per 15 minutes with a 15-minute minimum.
Note:
- All word count is rounded up to the nearest 100th.
- All payments are rounded down to the nearest dollar (no change).