How much does a book editor cost
Writing a book is one of the most fulfilling things you can do in life as you gain lots of benefits by sharing your thoughts, ideas, and aspect of life. A lot of authors, amateurs or professionals, consider a book editor’s main job is to correct grammar; however, a book editor’s work is so much more. Authors usually create something creative and tremendous but end up losing touch on how to get their books into the world and, more importantly, how much it will cost them to publish.
The ordinary next step to take once you have finished the draft of your book is to look for a book editor. Besides correcting spellings and punctuation, a book editor will proofread your manuscript and also be a fact-checker. Additionally, there are different types and levels of book editors that would cost you high, affordable, and budget.
Without any affirmation, generally, development editing can cost you three cents per word, copyediting two cents per word and one cent per word for proofreading. Nonetheless, several factors determine the cost of a book editor. Before you select the editor to hire, remember freelance editing rates range vastly from one editor to another.
Once you are prepared to move to the editing stage, be sure of what kind of editing you are looking for to determine how much are to pay.
Different Kinds of Editing
There are few different kinds of editing which include;
Development Editing- The development editor is involved with the writing procedure, sometimes before the author has begun writing the book. The primary purpose of a development editor is to focus on the big picture of the book, macro editing, and content editing. It includes the whole development and structuring of the book, the characters, the plot of the story, and the momentum in which it is shared.
Before sending the book for copy editing, a development editor recommends the order in which the chapters are dispensed, along with the comprehensive content, flow, and exhibition of text. Other writers will only go straight to the copyediting, depending on their writing skills as there are levels of copy editing that are from necessary to heavy line editing to even casual ghostwriting.
Copyediting- Mainly, the copyeditor’s purpose is to ensure the writer does not lose the reader’s interest by reading through the entire script to check for orderliness, flow, redundancy, transition, and the appropriate use of words. It includes inspecting texts and rectifying grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Throughout the manuscript, proper tense and tone should be perpetuated, and the copywriter should ensure this by providing advice to change from one thought to the next smoothly.
A copyeditor’s central role is grammar editing, micro editing, flow, and structure editing. To hinder confusion, a copyeditor ensures there is clarity in the flow of the text to maintain the author’s style and tone by polishing the script to revamp the copy.
Proofreading- A proofreader has an ultra-careful approach to detailed work as his or her primary duties are to check consistency, format, and layout. With their capability to stay attentive throughout the entire manuscript, they cannot missout to note the mistakes that need to be changed.
They have to ensure that spelling and style are flawless and compatible; the photos and illustrations are captioned accurately, headings, page numbers, and captions are precise, and finally, the texts match the original.
Factors that determine Book Editing Costs
Timeframe- Your deadline or how fast you need the work completed determines the amount you are to pay. If you are flexible with your target date, you are probably going to pay for less. It is why it is advisable to submit your manuscript to your editors early enough to give them ample time to review and better for you as you will pay less. A more massive book that requires a shorter time to be edited will demand a premium pay for a quick turnaround since most efficient editors are always booked.
Type of Book- A more complex book will cost more than a more straightforward manuscript for editing. To edit academic work that has more citations will require more than editing one without endnotes or footnotes. The book editing rate will be affected by the level of complexity and niche of your work.
The number of words- It is evident that the larger the manuscript, the more you are to pay. All book editors usually charge by word contour page count. For accuracy, every word has to be checked and rechecked, and by this, knowing your word count is important to an editor’s cost approximation for taking on the project.
Level of your writing experience- All writers have different levels of writing, as there are beginners, mid-level writers, and professional writers. Beginners will require more help, hence more time and more money. Manuscript from professional writers needs less time to correct, and edit thus costs less. Beginners should consider hiring an editor as an investment for the book and themselves. A great editor will improve your writing skills, and through this, you receive excellent feedback.
How improved your text is- This determines the number of times of self-editing you have done on your manuscript or the type of editor your handing over to. If you are handing in a rough draft that you have not checked for any grammatical errors, it will cost more. First and foremost, an expert writer will spend less since he or she is prone to have many mistakes and naturally go through their manuscript before handing it over to an editor.
The editor’s experience level or demand- An editor with years of experience and numerous best-sellers in their portfolio will cost more than a new editor. As you get what you pay for, an accomplished editor may bring more value. Also, if you choose to work with an editor whois in high demand and booked months out, you will probably have to pay more than working with one who has more time in his or her hands.
Rates differ from one book editor to another, where you can find some freelance book editors that would charge you for about $20 or less per hour, and a professional one would charge slightly more for the same time. It is expected for you to pay extra for editing specialized subject matter or technical writing.
Importance of Using a Book Editor
Most writers, whether beginners or professionals, believe in their writing and trust to find they can do all by themselves; however, it is well-advised that every writer needs an editor. Aside from all the tasks mentioned above that editors provide, it shows that if you are writing a book, you may need more than one editor depending on the level of your writing professionalism.
Some of the other most essential benefits of working with a book editor are:
They see what everyone might have missed- A book editor is there to check grammar, punctuations, and typos. He or her profession is excellent grammar, and before your book goes for publishing, an editor is there to ensure perfection. Writing a book is never an easy task, and chances are you are exhausted when done and assured of yourself that everything is in its perfect form. Book editors are unbiased, neutral, and collected; thus, they bring a different perspective that will direct you to the right focus.
Advance Planning- if you want your material to be well-planned and organized logically and convincingly, a development editor will come in great use. Sometimes a writer can lose focus on the main list of the storyline; hence the content will not flow. Development editor comes in handy at the beginning of the process to help the writer to bring out his good idea into something workable. A development editor helps to organize your thoughts into words that are legible and coherent.
Uniqueness- Nobody wants to be a cliche writer, and with content editors, they help you look at the big picture, structure, language, accuracy, flow ideas, and writing style. Other writers or authors inspire a lot of writers, as others have ideas on how to keep their readers intrigued and hooked but may not know how to keep it consistent. The voice of the characters should remain consonant and unblemished. The editor has gone through a lot of manuscripts, and he or she is the best person to give you a well-informed and objective critique.
Every writer, whether professional or novice, should consider a book editor as an expense that should include in the costs to write and publish their books. All authors want to sell an excellent book that will give them credibility, and through the use of a proficient book editor, your text will be well-polished into the very best it can be.
Always remember, a book editor is not there to derail or mislead you from your main focus or storyline. He or she is there to guide you on achieving what you want through your writing and always be prepared for corrections and heavy criticization, especially if you are a beginner.