Every editor charges differently, but it's common to give a price per 1,000 words.
*The top tip I can give to reduce the cost of editing is to get one or two beta readers to give you feedback before you hire a professional.*
Every project is different and the fee depends on several factors:
What type of editing is required?
Developmental editing is a very demanding, in-depth service, so it's more expensive than proofreading.
How complex is the project?
A 100,000 word epic fantasy with multiple points of view is going to take longer to edit than a 60,000 word memoir.
Has the manuscript been read by other people and revised accordingly?
If I'm the first person to see your manuscript, it's going to be expensive. It's worth it to find beta readers before getting a professional edit.
Has the document been properly formatted?
Learn the basics of applying Word Styles to your document, and that'll save one to two hours of editing time!
More about editing rates
I take into account many factors when quoting a rate. I never slap a price tag on a manuscript without a careful review! However, I start with the standard minimum rates given by two professional editing organizations based in the US and the UK:
Plan ahead! I'm usually booked two or three months in advance. So get in touch a few monthes before you're finished and book a space. I want to help you meet your publishing deadlines.
Projects are scheduled once a 30% deposit has been made.
What's the fine print?
Before we work together, I'll send you an editorial work agreement that spells out all the step, the estimated time frame, and costs. We won't start until we're both comfortable!
I work on a Mac and use MS Word and Track Changes.
The style guides I use include The Chicago Manual of Style and New Hart’s Rules.
The standard dictionaries I use are Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged and the Oxford English Dictionary.
Where in the world are you?
I’m living the dream in London, UK, and I’m happy to work with you wherever you are.
Authors I’ve worked with live in the UK, the US, the UAE, Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, and Turkey.
What professional associations do you belong to?
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
The Editorial Freelancers Association
The Society for Editing
The Society of Young Publishers
Mentorship programme 2021
Committee member 2020
The Historical Novel Society
What are you reading?
See what I’m reading on Goodreads, have a look at my blog, or let me know if you need a recommendation. I’m always happy to talk about books!