Because every book is different, because every writer comes to their project with different levels of skills and talent, and because it’s a creative process in general, it’s impossible to quote a flat price that fits every single client.
With that said, I know what it’s like to search for a service provider and to be frustrated by the lack of information when it comes to trying to figure out costs. In an effort to at least get you in the ballpark, I’m going to offer some very–let me say that again, VERY–basic ideas as to what different levels of editing might cost. Please know, I personalize every single project I take on, and I take into consideration many different variables when quoting a fee–the amount of work the book needs, the deadline the client has set for the project, the length of the book, etc.
If you’re interested in working with me, the best way to figure out what the costs will be is to shoot me an email at sharon@editorsharonhoneycutt.com and provide me with basic info about you and your book. (I go into more detail about that on my “Contact” page.)
I belong to the Editorial Freelancers Association, and they provide a rate sheet for different kinds of writing and editing services.
For copyediting (basic up to heavy), they recommend a fee of $30 to $50 per hour. They estimate an editor will complete anywhere from two to ten pages per hour. (Please note: These pages are formatted according to industry standards at 250 words/page.)
For average copyediting, I usually find that I can complete somewhere around twelve pages per hour, more than the EFA estimates, meaning that the overall project will cost less than if the fee were built only on the EFA guidelines.
For developmental editing, the EFA recommends a fee of $45 to $55 per hour. They estimate an editor will complete one to five pages per hour. Developmental editing is intensive work, and it does take longer. However, I find that I usually complete somewhere between eight to ten pages per hour when performing a developmental edit.
For proofreading fiction, the EFA recommends a fee of about $30 to $35 per hour. They estimate an editor will complete eleven to fifteen pages per hour. I usually hit right around fifteen per hour. Proofreading nonfiction takes a bit longer and costs a bit more.
As I mentioned, and I want to repeat because it’s so important, each project is different–even different projects from the same client are different–so each one must be evaluated on its own.
If you’re not sure what the different kinds of editing involve, please review my “Services” page where I go into detail describing each service.
I hesitated for quite a while about putting this information on my website because fees vary so much. However, having recently gone through the process of hiring service providers for my daughter’s wedding, I know that I appreciated being given access to at least a ballpark figure for fees. I thought you might appreciate it too.
Please don’t hesitate to email me and send any questions you might have my way. As my mom always says, “It never hurts to ask.”
And she’s right.
