Rates You Can Afford. Service You’ll Value.
You’ve got a budget to work with and I’ve got bills to pay. My goal is to set a rate that is practical and fair for both of us. I’ll treat you right, you’ll treat me right, and we’ll both be happy. Simple, yes?
Every project is different, and I can’t give you an estimate on yours until I know what I’m dealing with. I’m sensitive to budget constraints and will flex with you, within reason, to strike an arrangement that satisfies us both. I charge a minimum of $200.00 for any project.
Writing
$50.00 an hour. This includes whatever research is required. A discounted rate may be arranged for larger projects.
A word about book jacket copy: I got my start writing and editing cover copy for a publishing house, and I still enjoy doing it. Normally, though, I limit it to a service I provide my authors. That’s because, having edited a book, I know how to approach its jacket copy. If you’re not one of my authors, I can still write your copy; however, see my above comment about research. Doing the reading necessary to understand your book and marketing strategy (if you have one) is vital, and I include that time in my invoice. Questions? By all means ask me.
Book Editing
- Basic copyediting: $40.00 an hour. Focuses on grammar, spelling, word choices, transitions, styling of citations and source notes, simple organizational elements (such as subheads and text breaks), accuracy of Scripture quotes, flagging of potential permission issues, and overall clarity. If you are an experienced writer, are confident your manuscript is well-organized and well-written, and have your notes in good shape, this is probably the level of editing you need.
- Heavy copyediting (line editing/content editing): $45.00 an hour. Includes all of the above but digs deeper into the logic, structure, and flow of the manuscript. At this level, I may move or delete blocks of text; suggest revisions, additions, or deletions; and write or rewrite sections of content myself, which you can approve or decline. If your source notes are missing or incomplete, I will work with you to conform them to the Chicago Manual of Style.
If an edit requires me to make such substantial revisions that it becomes, in effect, a ghost writing project, my writing rate of $50.00 an hour will apply.
- Proofreading: $35.00 an hour. Checks for typos,misspellings, bad breaks, and overall consistency prior to printing. Catches the small (and sometimes large) details that can get missed in editing or crop up in the design phase.
For most copy- and content-editing projects for independent authors, I log my hours and send an invoice weekly. You pay only for the hours I actually invest while, on my part, I am able to meet my living expenses (because editing takes time).
Proofreading is rarely as demanding as editing. So normally I will bill once the project is complete.
I will need to see your complete manuscript as a Word document in order to determine what kind of work will be involved.
When the first pass on an edit is finished, I will email you the following:
- a Word document with change tracking so you can see and interact with my markups, comments, and queries
- a style sheet which, besides the usual documentation of style and spelling, also includes my comments on unique points of your project
Subsequent passes will be determined according to the nature of the project.
Payment Methods
I accept payment by
- PayPal
- Credit card
- Check, money order, or cashier’s check
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