COPY EDITING Editing someone's creation is a personal and sensitive assignment. It is important for me to have an understanding of the story each author is telling, the target audience, and the level of editing the author is expecting. Once I understand your specific editing requirements, I review each manuscript, correcting spelling, word usage, grammar, punctuation, and note other issues for your attention.
Scope:
Documents and manuscripts written in American English
Guided by Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition & Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary
Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)
I prefer fiction novels, novellas, novelettes. I will not read/edit erotica, or poetry (will consider non-fiction)
Process: In general, I print the document you send. I read and mark-up the printed copy. I then make changes using MS Word "Track Changes" to the document. I return the edited MS Word document to you. I will also mail my marked up copy to you upon request. A style sheet will be provided.
Standard rates: $25 per hour. I can usually copy edit and correct 5-10 pages per hour.
Industry standard for a manuscript page is 250 words
PROOFREADING Proofreading is intended as a final check to catch anything the copy editor may have missed. If you are an author with a manuscript or document that needs an initial pass for grammar and style corrections, see copy editing above.These rates apply to PDF proofs of manuscripts that have already been copy edited.
Standard rates: $20 per hour. I can usually proofread and correct 10-12 pages per hour.
Industry standard for a manuscript page is 250 words
PAYMENT INFORMATION PAGE/WORD RATES The page format I use to calculate rates for Microsoft Word documents is 8.5" x 11", double-spaced, with default margins, 12 point Times New Roman. For proofreading PDFs, I use the PDF page count. Charges are calculated based on the initial length before editing. INVOICING For short projects, I invoice when the job is completed. For long editing projects (over 100 pages), I require 50% up front and 50% upon completion. Payments are due within 15 days of billing. MONTHLY BILLING If you or your organization will need my services on a continuing basis, we can set up a running account where I invoice you for your total page or word count each month. This simplifies payment and lets you avoid minimum charges for individual documents. ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT All charges are in U.S. dollars. Invoice will have an address where you can mail a check or money order and my Paypal account info.