DJ Edits

The bottom line, however, is that you need to know a reasonable price for manuscript editing. How much should you actually pay? And how do you know when you're being taken for a ride?

Level of Editing

The first thing that an editor will take into consideration when determining fees is the level of editing required to make the manuscript presentable. Few editors can take a manuscript that needs developmental editing and simply proofread the document; it isn't in our nature. That said, you will need to find an editor who can work within your budget for the level of editing required.

Word Count

In many cases, you'll pay less per word for a longer manuscript than you will for a short one. Some editors work on sliding scales that benefit the client for book-length novels and books. To discover if this is the case without asking directly, simply ask for two quotes: One for a 3,000-word short story and one for an 80,000-word novel. From there, you can divide the price by the word count and see whether length makes any difference.

Type of Material

A technologically-complex manuscript will usually cost more to edit than one without any complicated jargon or explanations. Some editors won't even work on technical projects, while others will do so for a price. Make sure to ask about the editor's technical editing fees if your manuscript is technical in nature.

Editor's Experience

This is where your editing fees come with a Catch-22. You will probably save money by hiring an inexperienced editor who has very few clients under his or her belt, but you might be sacrificing quality for price. Paying more for an experienced, talented editor will ensure that you don't have to repeat that process. It just depends on your budget and your manuscript quality.

Rush Delivery

Most editors have a rush delivery service, which involves an additional fee for fast editing. For example, I offer 24- and 48-hour rush delivery for an additional 10% of the editing quote, though this will certainly vary by editor. If you're working on a deadline or are simply impatient, you will probably pay more for editing services.

Bottom Line

Now that I've outlined some of the factors that go into determining an editing quote, let's talk about the bottom line. How much should you spend on editing services?

Proofreading. For a small editing job such as proofreading, the project will take your editor the least amount of time and it will involve the least amount of effort. Some editors charge as little as $0.02/word for proofreading, while others might charge around $0.05/word. That comes out to between $5.00 and $12.00 per page.

Copy Editing. Since it's more involved and is more of a time commitment, copy editing will be somewhat more expensive than proofreading. According to the Writer's Market, the average copy editor charges between $0.12 and $0.40 per word, which comes out to between $30.00 and $100.00 per page.

Developmental Editing. This is the most complex of all editing, and is sometimes referred to as a Ghostwriting/Editing Blend. The editor will add and subtract entire paragraphs (or even pages) to improve upon the manuscript. Since it's extremely involved, most editors charge between $0.30 and $0.50 per word, which amounts to between $100 and $125 per page.

You Get What You Pay For

As a final note, I want to remind you that you'll often get exactly what you pay for. If you try and go the "stingy" route, you might want up with an editor who doesn't know what he or she is doing, which is simply money down the drain.

If you are a writer, and especially if you are an experienced writer, you might be
wondering why you would want to consider having your writing professionally edited. I
am a writer myself, and while I do self editing on all of my writings, anything that I
submit for consideration for publication, I have professionally edited by a colleague of
mine—and I am a professional editor!

Truth is, much like an attorney should never represent himself in a court of a law, a writer
should never attempt to do the final edit on their own works.

Why?

Well, there are many reasons for this, but I’ll just briefly touch on the most obvious ones
here:

1. When you edit something you have also written, you read it from the perspective
of knowing what you meant to write, instead of seeing it exactly the way it was
written. Someone else who was not inside your head at the time of the written
may not see it as clearly as you do, or may see things you missed.

2. If what you’ve written is quite lengthy, like a novella or novel, or a non fiction
manuscript or eBook, then you probably are sick of the writing at this point, and
being able to take a break from it will allow you a better perspective when you
come back to it. Passing the writing off to a professional editor who has never
seen the writing before and has not been as immersed in it as you have will
provide a fresh set of eyes to ensure nothing is missed.

3. Having someone other than yourself look at your writing before you submit it for
publication is critical, even if you do not hire a professional editor, because the
feedback you receive from others who read your writing will be a good indication
as to how your target audience will receive what you have written. However, a
professional editor who is in the industry will be able to give you the added
feedback from the perspective of how your writing will be received in the
marketplace.

4. Professional editing services are something you can use in your query letter to
editors or agents and will show that you are committed to investing in yourself
and your writing to make it the very best it can be.

There are, of course, many other reasons and ways that professional editing services can
help you in your writing career. These points above touch on the most obvious and
probably the most important reasons why you should consider professional editing
services from your writing.

There are a lot of things you should consider when hiring an editor to help you hone writing chops and polish your manuscript.

• Experience/skill level/past successes (How did your editor become an editor? Who has he or she worked with?)
• Pricing structure/total cost (Make sure you're getting what you're paying for!)
• Personality (Do you click?)
• Areas of expertise (Does the editor know your genre? If your book is too close in plot to another book on the market, would the editor notice?)
• Business philosophy (Can you ask questions after the edit is complete? How accesable is the editor before/during/after the edit or eval is complete? Is this a person you can count on?)

The process can certainly be confusing, but following the 5 steps below should keep you on the right track.

1. Go with your gut. For a full-length book, you'll likely be working with an editor for at least a few weeks; I've worked with some of my writers over several years and several books. The editing and evaluation process works best and will be the most valuable to you if you can develop a friendly, easy relationship with your editor. Early conversation - whether by e-mail or phone - should leave you feeling confident that you're working with someone who wants to help you succeed. If you don't feel comfortable with one editor, move on to another.

2. Get a second opinion. I always recommend that writers ask for references, particularly when they're looking for an editor to perform a good deal of work (line edits, developmental editing, extensive copyediting, manuscript evaluations and critiques, etc.). Go ahead and ask an editor if you can talk to one of his or her previous clients - they'll be able to give you unique insight into the process and the value of the services you're considering.

3. Do your research. Google the editor's name and/or business name. Look for any complaints or warnings other writers may have published online. At the very least, ask the editor about any troubling posts. Of course, Google has its limitations - don't worry too much if you find that your editor's name brings up a whole cast of strange characters - there are at least 5 other Lindsay Murdocks that pop up on my GoogleAlerts - one of them actually lives only a few towns over!

Also, although I've mentioned it before, I have to reiterate - check any editor you're considering hiring against the Preditors and Editors database. Not all freelance editors are listed there - but if an editor does have complaints against him or her, chances are those complaints are documented on this site.

4. Take a taste. When you order an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant, the server will have you take a sip before serving the rest of the bottle, just to make sure you like it. An editor should do the the same - offering you a sample edit so you can see precisely what you're getting for your money. I offer a free ten page sample edit or evaluation to ALL potential clients. Most editors I know will do the same.

5. Get it in Writing. Some editors use written contracts, some don't. At the very least, get a detailed description of what you're getting for your money, what your options are, what deliverables you can expect when, how much it's going to cost, and when payments are due. Ask questions and get answers. Remember, your editor is a professional who will be working for you.

BONUS: Be nice, and expect the same from your editor. We're all in this together!

Good luck!