Indie Author Series: Editing (Which Type to Use, When to Use It, & Where to Get It)

This week's Indie Author Series is all about editing. Most indie authors are desperate to find (and keep) someone who can get the job done effectively and efficiently.

I'm sharing with you the types of services offered, the price for each version, and places (or people) where you can go to get what you need.

Editing services as offered by Createspace (Amazon)... and independent editors:

Basic Copyediting

Fine-tune your manuscript's technical elements with a round of editing focused on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

✧    Basic Copyediting is the most popular and least expensive option and should be used if you only need someone to read your book and identify the most obvious issues, ones you will not see because - as the writer - you see the words the way they appear in your head and not in the document.

o        Createspace's pricing: $120.00 up to 10,000 words or $0.012/word for 10,000+ (independent editors prices usually begin @ $0.003/word)

               ·         Grammar

               ·         Spelling

               ·         Punctuation

               ·         Consistency

Comprehensive Copyediting

Refine the stylistic and technical elements of your manuscript, including grammar, spelling organization, and tone, with an in-depth and thorough review looking for problems.

✧     Comprehensive Copyediting will help you identify plot holes, character inconsistencies, fact errors, or syntactical issues.

o        Createspace's pricing: $160.00 up to 10,000 words
$0.016/word for 10,000+ (independent editors up to $0.025/word)

Stylistic elements

·         Concept

·         Intended word use

·         Organization

·         Tone

·         Characterization

·         Genre-specific writing conventions

Technical elements

·         Grammar

·         Spelling

·         Punctuation

·         Consistency

Comprehensive Copyediting Plus

Strengthen your manuscript's overall composition and correct technical elements; this service is well suited for first-time authors, and non-native English speakers.

✧    Comprehensive Copyediting Plus will help you identify plot holes, character inconsistencies, fact errors or syntactical issues.

o        Createspace's pricing: $220.00 up to 10,000 words
$0.022/word for 10,000+ (independent editors ??)

Composition

·         Sentence structure

·         Possible reorganization of the manuscript

·         Rephrasing text for smoothness and clarity

Stylistic elements

·         Concept

·         Intended word use

·         Tone

Technical elements

·         Grammar

·         Spelling

·         Punctuation

·         Consistency

o        Comprehensive Copyediting Plus is not a ghostwriting service.

I've had the opportunity to work with two great editors: Cassie McCown (of gathering leaves has lots of best selling authors on her client list) & Ashley's Freelance Editing (Ashley has several New York Times Bestsellers List Authors).

Cassie's Affordable Pricing:
Standard Pricing for Proofing and Copy Editing:  $0.003 - $0.009 per word

Standard Pricing for Content Editing: $0.008 - $0.025 per word

Rates are determined with a sample edit of 7-10 pages.