Rates and Services
Services and Fees for 2009/2010
Introduction | Rates
and services | Resume | Testimonials
| Books I've edited
Please read these notes carefully
before contacting me. In particular, please check to see if I do the kind
of editorial work you seek. You can then email me
to see if I am available. In general, my availability
is limited. I commit most of my work time to long-term work and maintaining
The Purple Crayon, and must schedule
other projects around these commitments. Sometimes that means I can't begin
a new project for some time, or that I can only fit it in on the weekend.
For the same reason, I often can not give firm dates of completion for a
project, as the long-term work takes precedence. In other words, if you
need someone to get started tomorrow and deliver in a couple of weeks, you
will need to look elsewhere.
Services: All forms of editing, specializing in children's books,
from project editing of a book from start to finish, through developmental
editing (editing for structure, style, and content), manuscript evaluation
and critique, rewriting, to line-editing (editing at the sentence level);
associated researching and writing tasks, including copywriting. Note that although I am willing to
do copyediting and proofreading, my rates are more than double the norm,
so you would do well to look elsewhere for such services. I work with authors and publishers.
Fees: My fees are hourly, and small projects may be subject to a minimum. You can find people offering similar work for less than I charge: I set my rates at the levels I do because with my experience and skills I believe I am worth it--and because I am not willing to cut into my limited available time for less. Generally, I charge a higher rate for more substantial editing and for rush jobs.
Critiques: These are my most basic and least expensive service. My rate is $100 per hour; you will receive an editorial letter covering a manuscript's strengths and weaknesses and general suggestions for improvement. I will not make on-manuscript notes. I will give you a firm estimate on seeing your manuscript, but you can expect critiques to cost $300 or so for a picture book, $400 for short fiction or nonfiction, and at least $500 for a novel-length book (this will vary depending on the length).
Developmental and/or line-editing: Developmental editing gives you more detailed comments than a critique, including on-manuscript notes and sample line-editing as needed. My rate for this is $125 per hour, and most projects will require at least 4 hours of work, or $500. Line-editing is time-consuming, so as part of a developmental edit I do not do it on every page unless this is agreed ahead of time. A manuscript that is nearly ready to go may only need line-editing, so I provide that as an option.
Consulting: For work other than on manuscripts, such as help with cover and query letters, publisher suggestions, and comments on where a manuscript fits in the market, I charge $150 per hour; the actual consulting may be in writing, over the phone, or in person. This is subject to a two-hour minimum if a free-standing project; there is no minimum if this is included in a larger project.
Project editing: For publishers, I project edit books from acquired manuscript to production, performing all tasks normally done by an in-house editor. Normally, I charge a negotiated project fee for these services, payable half on signing and half on completion.
Other services: Editorial or writing work that doesn't fit in the above categories is generally subject to my $125/hour rate.
For rush jobs, I charge a premium of 25 to 50% on top of my standard fee, depending on the deadline.
Estimated costs: I will provide a written estimate in a letter of agreement before starting work on a project. As a rule of thumb, more pages generally means a higher total fee. For example, I can read and take notes on 30-40 pages of a novel per hour, and then need an additional two to three hours to write up an editorial letter. Thus a novel of 200 pages will likely take me at least 7 hours to critique, or $700. Developmental editing is slower, so will cost more than a critique for a project of the same length. Consulting projects will vary depending on the project; my hourly rate is higher, but consulting may only take up an hour or two, as a free-standing job or add-on to another project.
Conditions: Because being paid to evaluate children's books could lead to a conflict of interest with my full-time work, I will work on children's book manuscripts only under certain conditions: in the short agreement I send all clients is the stipulation that you may not submit the manuscript involved to me at any publishing house (of course, you can still send it to any other editor, even one at a house where I am working, so this is a small loss to you.). Other expectations are negotiated before the job begins, and can be renegotiated by either party if circumstances change.
Getting started: Please contact me by email (see below) with a short description of your manuscript and an explanation of what you want me to do. If I am available and think that it sounds like a good match for me, I will ask you to send me the manuscript; I prefer to see the project before settling on terms. I then briefly evaluate it, and if I think I can be of help I propose terms and send a short contract to you, setting out what I will do and what I expect from you. I do not proceed until the contract has been signed, and, for new clients, a deposit has been paid.
Payment: Payment is due within 30 days of the completion of the project or at agreed-upon intermediate stages. For most projects, I also require partial payment at the beginning of the work. I will invoice: please advise of elements required by your accounting system. Payment can be made by check or money order in US dollars or UK pounds. I do accept other currencies, but payment must be made in full in advance, and include an additional 10% to cover bank charges. I do not accept payment by credit card or PayPal.
Contact me by email.
Back to PC Editorial page
The Purple Crayon