Isn’t proofreading looking for grammar errors and typos? What’s the difference between that and a copyedit?
Proofreading is more of a final pass for typos and general errors, and copyediting is where you are really doing that sentence-level editing for grammar and usage (and more, but for the sake of simplicity let’s stick to this). If you can only budget for one service, you’re going to get the most bang for your buck by going with the copyediting service. However, I also understand that sometimes the less expensive proofread is all an indie author can afford, and that’s okay!
What if I don’t know what type of editing I need?
You can send me a sample to edit and if I honestly think your story would benefit from structural/developmental editing first, I’d be happy to point you in the direction of other editors who provide those types of services. Editing is not cheap, and I never want a client to pay for something they may not need yet.
Why is a copyedit more expensive than a proofread?
A copyedit involves editing the manuscript for grammar, syntax, spellings, and punctuation, as well as light fact-checking and continuity details within the story. A copyedit also includes the creation of a style sheet which details all those editing choices to make sure everything is consistent.
How does the editing or proofreading process work?
Once you reach out via the inquiry form on my website, I will follow up with you by email to get any additional info and the 1,000-word sample edit document. Within two business days of receiving the sample edit, I’ll return the edited document back to you to review, along with the project cost for the full manuscript copyedit, my schedule availability, and any other questions you may have.
What do you charge for copyediting and proofreading services?
I charge a flat rate per project, and my rates typically fall within $.011–$.015 per word for copyediting and $.009 per word for proofreading.
So for example, a copyedit for a 60K-word manuscript would cost between $660 and $900. A proofread for a 60K-word manuscript would cost $540.
That’s a big range, which is why I offer a free sample edit and project-cost quote so that you know exactly what you will pay before you feel committed to anything.
How do I pay you?
If you’d like to move forward with a copyedit or proofread service, I will send you a service agreement and invoice via Honeybook, where you’ll pay 20% to secure a spot in my schedule. Honeybook allows payments by ACH transfer or credit/debit card.
What software do you work with?
I work with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader for pdfs. I use the Tracked Changes feature on Word so you can review and accept or reject any revisions I have made.
What genres do you work with?
I like to say that I am an editor for all things cozy and mysterious! I love to work with cozy mystery, general (“traditional”) mystery, cozy fantasy, and middle grade fiction.
What’s your turnaround time?
My turnaround time for a copyedit of a full-length manuscript is four weeks. My turnaround time for a proofread of a full-length manuscript is two weeks. In the service agreement and invoice, you’ll know exactly when your project will be completed by!
How do you check for timeline consistency in a story?
As part of my copyediting process, I create a simple visual timeline so I can map out what happens and when. This has been extremely helpful for me to spot timeline issues.
For example, in chapter three, the character has dinner and then mentions having eaten lunch an hour before.
(So much gratitude to Amy J. Schneider, the author of the book The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction, for this tip!)
Still have questions?