What does a book edit cost?
My
fee is one-cent
per word per software word count plus $20 for return of your manuscript.
(EXAMPLE: 75,000 word manuscript is $770)
Other
editors with comparable experience may charge more, but that doesn't
mean that their edits are greater in scope.
I don't incur large advertising costs to recover through increasing
my fee, nor do I pay anyone to maintain my web site. As a result of
my minimal expenses and the fact that I'm an honest man, I'm in a position
to charge a far more reasonable fee for an in-depth edit that includes
manuscript markup and a detailed written report that explains what you'll
need to do to improve your manuscript to publisher standards. Satisfaction
guaranteed!
Also,
I don't just point errors; I explain them, providing you with
an education to enable you to perform a stronger rewrite. For instance,
if your manuscript includes point of view violations, a major reason
for fiction rejection, I offer a thorough explanation of the concept
and provide easy to understand examples.
Check
out my testimonials from prior clients. None were solicited; I asked
permission to use these quotes only after the client voluntarily chose
to thank me for my services.
More
information is available at Schedule
an Edit.
Why do I need a book editor?
If
you plan to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers, you
should eliminate all possible errors in advance. Manuscript submissions
may be rejected for the simplest of reasons. Likewise, you could be
unknowingly committing major errors. You have only one opportunity to
make a first impression on a publisher; a professional edit will maximize
the impression you make.
If you plan to self-publish, you'll want your printed book
to compare favorably with traditionally published books, all of which
are subjected to thorough edits; that's what assures consistent quality
from one book to the next. To maximize your self-publication experience,
have your manuscript professionally edited and avoid potential embarrassment
by correcting all errors prior to printing.
What can I expect from a book edit?
My
edit includes marking up your manuscript and providing a thorough report
that is rarely less than ten single-spaced pages in length and is usually
closer to fifteen, depending upon the number of problems I detect. You'll
need to correct all of the marked items on each manuscript page, then
address the major concerns in a comprehensive rewrite. This could involve
considerable rewriting, depending upon the degree of the problem(s).
An edit alone will not impact your chances of publication. The quality
of your rewrite incorporating the editorial advice will determine your
level of success. An edit doesn't excuse you from further work on your
manuscript; in fact, the opposite is true. You'll need to perform a
thorough rewrite following an edit to vastly improve your manuscript.
Consider
an edit a learning experience. If you're unwilling to learn, save your
money -- but don't expect to be published.
What is the most important consideration in selecting
a book editor?
If you plan to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers and
hope to avoid rejection, how can someone who has never rejected manuscripts
for a major publisher know how to warn you about problems that could
lead to manuscript rejection? The Internet abounds with editors eager
to attract your business but the overwhelming majority have never actually
worked in an editorial capacity for major publishers. Punctuation and
grammar are only two of many reasons for rejection. Without actual professional
experience, an editor cannot know what those other reasons are.
Don't
confuse editing with proofreading. Any decent English professor can
proofread your manuscript to correct/identify poor grammar, punctuation
errors, incomplete sentences, etc. My edit includes all of these, plus
a thorough assessment of your manuscript that involves "reading
between the lines" to evaluate your focus, cohesiveness, structure,
characterization, etc. English professors are not qualified to address
a manuscript through the eyes of the publishing industry. Few English
professors, if any, have had commercial editing experience.
How long does book editing take?
I can often start a book edit the day you initially contact me, but
in any case turn-around time is rarely longer than two weeks. I'm a
full-time editor, so a day job doesn't interfere with my editing schedule.
I often devote weekends and holidays to editing as well.
Why is manuscript format so important?
If your manuscript doesn't look the way publishers expect it to, they
are likely to reject it without reading a single word. Publishers have
specific format requirements that will be revealed to you through my
edit. I require basic manuscript formatting reflective of industry standards.
This gets you, the author, accustomed to formatting your manuscript
properly and the editing process easier for both of us. For you, a properly
formatted manuscript provides more white space for editorial notations,
thus it's easier for you to read my notes. And from my perspective,
properly formatted manuscripts are easier on my eyes, which makes me
more effective in spotting errors. To learn proper manuscript format,
CLICK
HERE.
Why should I avoid sample edits?
Even
the weakest of manuscript editors can appear deceptively strong on the
basis of marks on a few pages of text. Inexperienced editors encourage
"sample" edits because it gives them a deceptive opportunity
to compete with more seasoned editors who don't have to "prove"
anything. If an editor has actual experience with major New York publishers,
what more could you want from a prospective editor? Besides, there is
no accurate way to judge the depth of a potential editor's skill based
upon the results of a few pages alone. Many major manuscript issues
cannot be "marked," but must be explained in a report. Again,
when a prospective editor can prove that he/she has actually edited
some of the literary giants of the world, what more assurance could
you possibly need that this editor can deliver quality professional
results?
Where can I find out if an editor I'm considering has been involved
in dishonest practices?
For
your own protection and peace of mind, you should verify a prospective
editor's credentials. Also, check Preditors
and Editors, a site devoted to warning you about dishonest
people in the publishing industry.
Should
a manuscript be given a complete reading first before the actual edit
commences?
Since
your success with a publisher will ultimately depend upon the first
impression that you make on a publisher, your editor should approach
your manuscript based upon first impressions as well.
For
example, an editor who reads through a manuscript first, then edits,
will likely leave an issue alone if he/she feels that you cleared the
matter up further into the text. There is an inherent problem here,
however. Your manuscript will likely be rejected by publishers when
the issue first surfaces. Expecting publishers to continue reading after
identifying an issue of concern is impractical. Publishers are bombarded
with submissions and simply don't have time to read every word of every
manuscript submitted. In the overwhelming majority of cases, manuscripts
are rejected at the first occurrence of an issue of concern. It's essential
for new writers to make an unblemished first impression; therefore,
editors should base their feedback on initial reactions rather than
opinions formed after the fact. An "edit as you go" approach
is far more effective in terms of making a solid first impression.
How
does a manuscript edit affect my potential success as an author?
Consider this analogy. Imagine a NASCAR racer. His car is
finely tuned and runs at its best when all allowable additives are injected
into its fuel. Even with his car at top performance, however, it's still
up to the skill of the driver to maneuver around the other cars, take
the curves most efficiently and win the race.
How
does this relate to you, your manuscript and your editor? The driver
represents you, his car is your manuscript and the car's fuel additive
is your editor. If you were a racer, and attempted to compete using
only plain unleaded fuel, you would be at a decided disadvantage to
the other drivers who used the additive. Your car would perform sluggishly,
and you'd be unlikely to win any races relying upon your basic driving
skills alone.
Your
additive as a writer is your editor. He/she tells you what your manuscript
needs in order to make the best impression on publishers. This feedback
alone, however, like the racer's additive, is not enough to get you
published. You've got to effectively incorporate the editorial suggestions
into your manuscript before it can perform at its maximum. Only you
can accomplish that; not your editor.
Don't
rely on an edit alone to determine your level of success. If you fail
to adequately incorporate your editorial advice, you've wasted your
money on a manuscript edit.
What if a potential book editor's credentials are difficult to verify?
Move on to someone else. Don't take anyone's word for
his or her credentials. Verify it in black-and-white. For instance,
to verify my credentials, go to AMAZON.COM
and search for Michael Garrett. I'm not the only author / editor by
that name, but you'll readily find the books that I've written -- my
novel, KEEPER, my non-fiction book on the writing profession, THE PROSE
PROFESSIONAL -- and the internationally published HOT BLOOD books listing
my name as co-editor on the covers.
Are
you affiliated with any other editors?
Absolutely not. I'm a one-man operation and personally edit every line
of every manuscript. I never sub-contract your work to someone
else.
An
editor whom I'm considering has very little work experience but a strong
academic background. Which is more important, actual work experience
or academic credentials?
Academic
background carries little weight in the editing of manuscripts intended
for commercial publication. For instance, a high school or college English
professor could examine the grammar and punctuation of your manuscript
but entirely miss commercial issues important to the publisher, factors
that are neither recognized nor taught by the academic community. If
academic credentials were essential to commercial publication, most
English teachers would be best-selling authors. Successful authors generally
come from entirely different walks of life; John Grisham, for instance,
was an attorney prior to becoming a best-selling author.
Why
is total payment in advance necessary?
To
get the best, most accurate evaluation of your work, an editor must
be totally honest and candid in his/her remarks. If
paid half up front and the remainder on completion, editors may have
a tendency to sugar-coat their comments to assure receipt of the final
payment. Remember, you're paying for honest criticism. You may not agree
with everything your editor says about your work. Sometimes the truth
hurts, but only total honesty from your book editor will prove helpful.
Editors who allow payment plans cannot be as forthcoming in their comments
as those who require full payment in advance.
Do
book editors ever sub-contract their work to lesser qualified people?
Yes,
some editors incorporate deceptive practices in attracting business
based upon their own credentials, then subcontract manuscripts to lesser
experienced individuals for the actual work. Ask any book editor whom
you're giving serious consideration if he/she performs all of the work
himself/herself. I edit every word of every manuscript myself. I'm
not affiliated in any way with other book editors.
My
agent insists that I hire a specific book editor to edit my manuscript,
yet the editor he is pushing has less impressive credentials than others
and is more expensive. What could this mean?
It's
not unusual for a publisher or literary agent to recommend that you
seek the help of a book editor; however, when one specific book
editor is heavily endorsed, there could be a kick-back arrangement going
on wherein the referring party receives a percentage of all referral
business. In this case, you typically lose because the recommended editor
may not be the best/most qualified professional to edit your manuscript.
Use caution; it's typically best to find your own book editor.
I receive no referral fees from any source.
Likewise,
publishers are in the business of publishing and agents are
in the business of agenting. If either urges you to pay for
their editorial services, go elsewhere. Rarely are they qualified to
offer such services.
Are book editors usually qualified across the board
or do they specialize in specific areas?
As is the case with most other professions, book editors are typically
experienced within only a few specific categories. No one is
qualified to professionally edit everything. For instance,
a children's book editor would be of little help in editing a science
fiction novel. I often turn business away when I don't feel that
I'm the best editor for someone's manuscript. In such cases I urge potential
clients to investigate other editors before deciding on me.
Is
there a down side to hiring a book editor to work with my electronic
file and make all changes/corrections for me?
Hiring an editor to work directly with your electronic file actually
excludes you from the learning process you would otherwise experience
by making corrections to the manuscript yourself. If you're serious
about a career as a professional writer, you should take the time to
learn what your editor points out to you so that you won't make those
same mistakes in the future. I will work with electronic files, but
must charge a higher fee.
Should
I copyright my manuscript before sending it to a book editor?
If you're concerned about the security of your manuscript during the
editing process, visit the U.S.
Copyright Office's FAQ page. You'll find that your work
is protected by law even without formal registration. It's highly unlikely
that your manuscript will be plagiarized by anyone.
Could
an unscrupulous book editor steal your idea? It's possible, but highly
unlikely. Serious writers rarely wish to write someone else's idea;
in fact, all writers whom I know have more ideas of their own than they'll
ever have time to write. The theft of an idea is essentially a needless
fear.
SCHEDULE
AN EDIT
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