Quality, not quantity
Our job is not to just pump out another project. We strive to take our time and make you look your best.
What does Editing Cost?
There are different levels of editing, and there are different costs associated with each one. In addition, each author and each project is different, so it’s difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer to project pricing. An editor will have to examine your manuscript and decide how much effort is involved before a price can be given. With these things in mind, below you'll find some guidelines you can use to determine what your project may cost.
Before diving into that information, have a look at Editorial Rates - Editorial Freelancers Association to see what industry averages rate ranges are for different levels of editing.
His Light Editing offers the editing described below:
Coaching and Mentoring – Usually for unpublished authors, coaching and mentoring are customized programs that bring newer authors up to speed on writing techniques necessary to create a professional piece of literature. Some published authors will also benefit from this service. Coaching and Mentoring may take place at any time during the writing process, from before writing starts, until after a manuscript has been completed. Sessions may range from intensive one-on-one teaching to lessons that send you off to learn on your own. Depending on the type of program selected, pricing can vary widely.
Developmental Editing – This type of editing looks at storytelling as a whole. It may get into some of the details of punctuation, usage, grammar, and syntax, but that’s not the focus of the edit. The focus is to make sure the structure of the story works, that the plot is compelling, and that there are interesting characters. In other words, it takes a bird’s-eye view of the manuscript and the author’s abilities.
Copy Editing – The copy edit is intended for completed manuscripts, but will occasionally be applied to incomplete ones. This type of edit gets into the details of punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling. It also makes sure that ideas are properly expressed, and that writing is tight. A copy edit is what most people think of when they hear the word “editing.” It’s intention is to move a manuscript from the author’s final draft to submission-ready material. Those wishing to attract an agent or submit directly to a publisher should have this step completed before submitting.
Proofreading – This is the final edit before a manuscript goes to publication. The assumption is that a copy edit has already been completed. Proofreading’s purpose is to catch any errors that slipped by during copy editing or that were introduced during or after the copy edit. It’s the final polish before publication, and it’s best not to have the same editor do both the copy edit and the final proofread because a fresh set of eyes often catches little things that a prior editor missed.
Project Particulars
Before looking at His Light Editing’s pricing, there are a few things you should know that are critical to your understanding of how pricing is determined. The most important is an understanding that almost every pre-published author has a much higher estimation of their abilities than what is required for a professional in the publishing industry. Even if you’ve had a friend who is a writer or English teacher/professor look over your work and tell you how great it is, those people are usually not part of the publishing industry and don’t have an understanding that a professional editor will. Most new authors who think they only need a proofread will probably require at least a copy edit. Those looking for a copy edit will many times require a development edit and possibly coaching. An evaluation of your manuscript by a professional editor is critical to determining what kind of edit is needed – despite what your initial expectations may be.
If His Light Editing suggests a certain level of editing, but you don’t agree, then it might be good for you to opinions from other editors or to find an editing service that will work to your expectations. We look for teachable authors. We aim to build long-term relationships. We want to help people reach a level of professionalism that makes their work shine. If you can’t receive constructive criticism, His Light Editing may not be best for you.
With the above thoughts in mind, it is our opinion that you will not get a better value for your money anywhere else. You may find someone willing to work cheaper, but you are highly unlikely to get the same quality of editing you’ll find here. Conversely, you’ll find that most professional editors are charging more than His Light Editing, yet we can offer the same quality of care that others will charge you more for.
Our rates are...
His Light Editing uses a per-word pricing model. We believe this is most fair to you as the author. We are charging for “words crunched,” regardless of how long that may take us to complete. This way, you can rest assured that time isn’t being wasted while you’re being charged by the hour.
Developmental and Copy Editing are both $0.02 per word.
Proofreading is $0.01 per word.
Coaching and Mentoring are custom projects with custom pricing. We work with your needs and your budget.
How do we keep rates low and still offer high quality? It’s not what you think. We are selective with our clientele and our projects – we choose projects we want to work on and authors we want to work with. Our philosophy is that this is as much a ministry as it is a business. We are interested in raising up new writers, and we do that by helping them with reasonable rates. Our hope is that this leads to long-term relationships, but that’s not a requirement for us to work with you.
Ready to get started? Contact us, and we’ll get details from you about your project. If it looks like you’re a good fit for His Light Editing, we’ll provide a quote after looking at your manuscript.