Evergreen Editing

Because each book is different (different word count, different needs, different level of “done-ness”), I offer authors flat rates that are tailored to their projects: this lets me be transparent from the start about your investment as a client. I generally do not charge hourly rates.

For manuscript evaluations, I do have the same pricing for all clients: I charge $0.018/word (so, for a 50,000-word document, that’d be $900). The cost of a manuscript evaluation can then be credited toward the next editing service we do together.

In general, if you are seeking a type of true editing (developmental, line, etc.) and you have a manuscript that’s between 20,000 and 100,000 words, you can expect to be paying a few thousand dollars. The exact number will depend on how long your book is, how much work is needed, and any particular time constraints you have.

My other services tend to come in at under $1000. If you are seeking a manuscript evaluation, you can expect to pay $0.018/word. Formatting varies by project, but is usually between $200 and $300. Proofreading of previously copyedited texts may also come in below $1000 depending on their length, condition, and complexity.

Short answer: Not really.

Long answer: I price projects in a way that’ll let me deliver the best possible work to you in a timely manner. That means that the rates I offer don’t allow for haggling. That said, if you have a particular budget constraint, please let me know up front! Often, we can help each other out. Sometimes, I can skew prices lower in exchange for a longer turnaround time.

Like pricing, this depends on the book. In general, you can expect each stage of editing to take weeks, not days or months. My book edits are completed in about three weeks on average. This is an area I’m often able to adjust for your needs: before signing a contract, I’ll make sure both of us are clear on the timeline and due date.

If hired for multiple services (say, a manuscript evaluation and a copyedit), I will propose a start and end date for each phase of the project. Keep in mind that those dates are contingent on me having the manuscript before each phase’s start date. Author-generated delays may result in being bumped back in my schedule!

It really depends: it could be minutes, it could be years. If you are going with a traditional publisher, you’ll be at their mercy–months or even years down the line is common! If you are self-publishing, you have a bit more control over the timeline–as long as things like cover design, typesetting, and copyright purchasing go smoothly, it’s usually possible to have your book published within three months or so. If you’re uploading an ebook to Amazon, it’s frightfully fast: it can take five minutes if you want!

(I wrote and published a silly ebook on Amazon in an hour just to see if it was possible.)

When you begin working with any editor, be sure to tell them about your time constraints. Whether you have a deadline you need to hit or a Christmas party to pass your books out at, it helps us to know when you need to have us finish our work. Also keep in mind that you’ll have to give yourself time to review and address edits once we return the text to you, so receiving your edits is not the end of the project.

I offer complimentary sample edits for prospective line and copyediting clients. You’ll send me your entire manuscript, and I’ll edit 1000 words from the middle of the text. This is great for both of us: you’ll get a sense of what my work looks like, and I’ll be able to tell you what the cost of editing the full text will be. The sample edit is truly free: if you don’t like my work, you’re under no obligation to work with me. Longer sample edits are available for a fee, but 1000 words is generally more than enough for you to make your choice.

Please note that I’m unable to offer sample developmental edits or manuscript evaluations since those are by nature related to the text as a whole. I can, however, share an example of an editorial letter so you can get a sense for my feedback style.

Possibly. While I’ve indicated my specialities on this website, I’ve worked in many different genres and academic, professional, and personal expertise in a wide variety of subjects, from Bible stories to part-time piracy. Reach out to me, and I’ll tell you if your writing is in my wheelhouse. Depending on your genre, I may be able to refer you to another excellent editor.

The Chicago Manual of Style is my primary specialty. This is the style guide most popular books are written in, both fiction and nonfiction. I also regularly use The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style for books of a spiritual nature. I’m happy to use additional style guides as requested, though I don’t have expertise in AMA, APA, or MLA.

Microsoft Word is the gold standard for editors and writers. This is the program I spend my days in and know the best, and I have add-ons to make it an extra-powerful editing tool. Unless otherwise specified ahead of time, this is the program I’ll use to edit, which means you’ll need access to it to implement/reject my edits.

Google Docs is also an option for editing, though I don’t recommend it for copyediting or proofreading. Other programs (like Pages) are not in my usual rotation, but depending on your manuscript’s needs, we may be able to make it work.

I hear you. It’s jarring to work hard on a project, only to have it critiqued by a total newcomer to the text. That said, I prioritize giving feedback on developmental edits that is kindly worded, actionable, and always in service of your target audience’s needs–you won’t hear criticism from me, only observations and suggestions.

To ease into the feedback-receiving phase, I encourage authors to use beta readers before working with a professional editor. This has a few benefits: 1) it primes you for receiving conflicting feedback and teaches you how to “metabolize” it, 2) it alerts you to issues an editor may bring up later (except beta readers are often very cheap or even free, so less money out of your pocket), and 3) if you’ve never shown your text to anyone else, it eases you into the process of collaboration and of that odd, vulnerable sensation of others seeing your manuscript for the first time.