Pricing for editing services
The main factors that influence the cost of editing are the length of the manuscript, the type of editing you want, and the current state of the manuscript in terms of writing quality, error frequency, and number and complexity of the big-picture issues present.
The estimates below represent the most common ranges I charge for each type of editing. The majority of the editing I do falls into these ranges, but it’s possible that your manuscript could fall outside them. And sometimes we can reduce the cost of editing by adjusting the scope to focus just on the areas that are most important to you or that you need the most help with.
My rates are in line with, and in some cases range slightly below, the averages for fiction editing reported by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Copyediting
Focus on writing and mechanics
$.02-.03/word
- Redlining and comments alongside the manuscript to help you communicate clearly with your readers
- Sentence-level suggestions to help your writing flow and make it more engaging and impactful
- Identifying and resolving errors based on the guidelines of The Chicago Manual of Style
- Ensuring consistency with a style sheet that tracks spelling, capitalization, and punctuation choices
- Occasional feedback on story inconsistencies and internal contradictions
- A great choice for manuscripts that have already resolved any big-picture issues
Developmental Editing
In-depth focus on the story
$.025-.04/word
- Comments alongside the manuscript for scene-level improvements to help each scene drive the story forward
- A separate revision letter with big-picture feedback on the story as a whole
- Feedback on the plot and story structure, including the key scenes that make up your story arc
- Feedback on character development and character arcs, as well as point of view and perspective
- Feedback on the setting and worldbuilding and how well they immerse readers in the story world
- Feedback on how the story meets the expectations of your genre and its readers
Editorial Assessment
Big-picture focus on the story
$.008-.015/word
- All feedback is presented in a separate revision letter that provides big-picture feedback on the story as a whole
- Occasional feedback on specific scenes or sections of the story that require special attention
- Feedback on the plot and story structure, including the key scenes that make up your story arc
- Feedback on character development and character arcs, as well as point of view and perspective
- Feedback on the setting and worldbuilding and how well they immerse readers in the story world
- Feedback on how the story meets the expectations of your genre and its readers
For each novel I edit (copyediting, developmental editing, or editorial assessment), I provide free query editing or free blurb editing and keyword research, depending on the publishing path you have chosen.
Pricing for supplemental services
Blurb Editing
Sell your story to your readers
$125
- A short PDF guide to help you write your blurb and get it ready for editing
- Developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting for 1 blurb of up to 250 words
- Captivate prospective readers with a great blurb so they can’t wait to get their hands on your book
- Provided for free if I’ve done a copyedit, developmental edit, or editorial assessment of your manuscript and you choose to self-publish
Query Letter Editing
Sell your story to agents and publishers
$125
- A short PDF guide to help you write your query letter and get it ready for editing
- Developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting for 1 query letter of up to 500 words
- Put your best foot forward with agents and publishers to increase your chances to get a book deal
- Provided for free if I’ve done a copyedit, developmental edit, or editorial assessment of your manuscript and you choose to publish traditionally
Full Query Editing
Polish both your query letter and synopsis
$250
- A short PDF guide to help you get your query letter and synopsis ready for editing
- Developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting for 1 query letter of up to 500 words and 1 synopsis of up to 1,000 words
- Put your best foot forward with agents and publishers
- Provided for free if I’ve done a copyedit, developmental edit, or editorial assessment of your manuscript and you choose to publish traditionally
Pricing for book coaching
Story Coaching
Get help planning your story
$100
- You send an outline of your novel (1-2 pages)
- I provide a written report assessing the story and any areas of concern
- We discuss your story in a 30-minute Zoom session where I present my feedback and you have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have
- Can be beneficial at any stage of the writing and revision process
- If we have worked together previously, additional coaching is discounted to $75
Manuscript Coaching
Get feedback on your manuscript
$150
- You send up to 5,000 words of your manuscript
- I provide developmental feedback in a written report
- We discuss your story in a 30-minute Zoom session where you can ask questions about my feedback or ask for additional advice
- Can be beneficial at any stage, as long as you have 5,000 words
- If we have worked together previously, additional coaching is discounted to $125
Extended Coaching
Get even more feedback
$250
- You send up to 10,000 words of your manuscript
- I provide developmental feedback in a written report
- We discuss your story in a 60-minute Zoom session where you can ask questions about my feedback or ask for additional advice
- Becomes more beneficial the further along your manuscript is
- If we have worked together previously, additional coaching is discounted to $225