Prices for Services

Copyediting: $25 to $50 per hour

Copyediting is a very close reading of your content and is done before proofreading. Copyediting involves a deep technical approach to finding problems in text. And while copyediting is an extremely detailed check for errors, it also considers consistency (or lack thereof) along with good flow to ensure readability. This close reading checks your spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, syntax, correct use of foreign words, idioms, specific facts, along with a degree of fact-checking. But don’t worry. I won’t make changes related to fact-checking without querying you first. My copyediting will find and correct the typical errors while improving flow, clarity, and consistency – all this while preserving your unique writing style and voice.

Proofreading: $18 to $28 per hour

Imagine that you have already had your project copyedited, and you’re ready to launch. But wait a minute. Are you sure everything is perfect? Even a great copyediting job might not have found every problem. And maybe you introduced a few extra errors after the copyediting while you were making last-minute additions, deletions, or other edits on your own. And what about the problems that very likely crept in while your formatter was working your text into the layout for your book or other project? Or maybe you started your project with a different copyeditor, and now you want to have a new copyeditor check for anything the first copyeditor might have missed. This is where proofreading comes in. Proofreading is your last defense. It’s the last chance to find and correct those embarrassing errors: spelling, grammar, word usage, and a lot more. Don’t take a chance. Skipping this final step can be disastrous.

Bundle – Copyediting and Proofreading

Some copyeditors and proofreaders will tell you that they will save you time and money by doing the copyediting and the proofreading at the same time. They call it bundling. I don’t know how they think they can do that, because really…that’s just not possible. Think about it. Copyediting and proofreading are done at different times during the process. Copyediting gets done first. Then the writer typically reviews the edits suggested by the copyeditor, accepting some and rejecting others – and often makes at least a few more edits. Of course it’s not only possible but also likely that new errors will occur at this point. Then someone (probably a typesetter or formatter) works the text into a layout, and this is another place where new errors almost always occur. If you take advantage of my “Bundling” option, I will do both jobs (copyediting and proofreading) – not at the same time – in two appropriately timed editing sessions. This gives you the best chance for perfection and also can save you time and money.

Nonrefundable Deposit

I require a 33 percent nonrefundable deposit before starting any project.

Late Fee

I will assess a late fee of 3 percent on all payments over 30 days past due.

Notes

After a close review of your project, I will send you a proposal that includes a price estimate and an estimated completion time. If you agree with my estimate and other possible considerations, I will send you a contract detailing our respective responsibilities. Once you sign and date the contract and return it to me, and I have received the required nonrefundable deposit payment, I will start work on your project.