BETA READ
A beta read of a manuscript happens before most editing. Beta readers will give general feedback to the author on plot holes and inconsistencies and character issues. It may point out strengths and weaknesses or even if the content is interesting to read. This feedback is less in-depth than a manuscript critique. Having a beta read done can save the author time and money as some manuscript problems can be corrected before the paid editing process starts. As a Christian editor, if you have me do a Beta read for you and you choose to hire me for a line edit or copyedit after you have made the recommended changes, I will deduct $50 from my editing fee.
BASIC PROOFREAD $.005-.01/word
This is one of the last steps of a manuscript before publishing. This step is essential to polish the words of the text as well as its overall appearance. A proofread includes a review of the text for typographical errors, misspelled or misused words, grammatical problems, and punctuation mistakes. It will also check for inconsistent formatting, alignment, and spacing errors. Consistent spelling of character names, locations, and specialized terms will be reviewed. Any text references to illustrations, tables, and figures will be checked for correlation.
COPYEDIT or LINE EDIT $.015 to .03/word
Once your manuscript content is organized, you will need a copyedit or line edit. A copyedit can be light, medium, or heavy depending on the manuscript’s condition or the author’s request.
A light copyedit will check spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation. It will check to ensure material is logical and understandable and correct continuity problems as well as point out inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Statistics and quotations will be checked for proper citation.
A medium copyedit will also look for redundancies, sentence clarity, word choice, and maintenance of tone and voice.
A heavy copyedit (also referred to as a line edit) includes above copyedit items as well as editing to check that wording and syntax convey the appropriate tone or emotion, pacing is appropriate for the scene, text flows well on the paragraph, chapter, and book levels. For fiction works, point of view will be addressed for consistency.
CHILDREN’S BOOK EDITING prices vary depending on book type and length
Children’s books are special because they require additional elements in the editing process. An editor must be sensitive to the intended ages and reading levels of the reader. Special attention to pace, flow, sentence length, paragraph construction, and word choices are essential. Due to the wide variety of editing needs for children’s books, pricing varies for editing services. Picture books up to two thousand words are a flat fee. Over two thousand words are on charged per word. A light copyedit will correct spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation as well a check vocabulary for age level and correct by one grade or less, if needed. It will include checking for consistency of the story to ensure accuracy of time and location details as well as light fact checking. A medium copyedit also addresses flow, style, and clarity and includes reducing reading level by two or more grades, if needed. Formatting errors such as margins, indents, spacing, and fonts will also be addressed.
SUBSTANTIVE (CONTENT) EDIT $40/hour
A substantive edit involves working with the author early in the editing process to help organize the content and structure. As an editor, I must use honesty and integrity to point out strengths and weaknesses in the manuscript. This includes content that doesn’t adhere to the theme, tone, or marketing focus of the manuscript as well as identify outdated content and factual errors. Clarity of subject, explanations, logic, and gaps in structure and content will be addressed as well as weaknesses of plot structure and character development, and incorrect point of view. If the manuscript needs more work before a substantive edit can be done, a manuscript critique will be performed for $300. If a substantive edit is performed after making the recommended changes from the manuscript critique the $300 fee will be credited toward the substantive edit.
Illuminate Editing, LLC 