How much to pay for an editor?

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   What is the going rate for a highly skilled editor? I am writing a book which will utilise my great research and analytica; skills. I am really enjoying it actually, something to get my teeth into.
   
   I have quit a part-time degree to write it, so that should tell you all that you need to know about the effort that will be expended. My language skills however, whilst sufficient for web writing, aren't incredible.
   
   What exactly does a good editor do? Will the reorganise sentences, weed out grammatical errors? Replace the odd word? It will need to be somebody with Sufidreamer level skills.
   
   How much does that tend to cost? I may just ask Sufi actually.

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      Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      There's a difference between an editor and a proofreader, both in terms of the kinds of changes s/he makes and the price tag attached.  Sounds like you want the former, and of course that that's the more expensive option.

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         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I would need an editor, not afraid to admit that. Either that or classes.
         
         I studied a social science, so the research and analysis was seen as most imperative.
         
         With the exception of some essential terminology (or buzz words). I always found that asking what broadsheet a lecturer subscribed to, and then quoting their features, was a fine way of scoring a few extra ticks
         
         Cheers for that though.

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            Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            We all have our strengths.    As a freelance writer, I also did some proofreading and editing.  Funny how I'm great at finding others' mistakes, but in my own writing I play fast-and-loose.  It's not that I don't know the rules, I just choose to selectively ignore them.

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   ps. Don't worry, I do have another degree, it wasn't essential. In fact, it was just damn pointless.

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   Len Cannonposted 14 years ago

   "great research and analytica; skills." should read "great research and analytical skills."
   
   I think that is worth at least five bucks.

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Sure, I will pay you when Google starts sending me 27000 hits a day again
      
      The ';' is next to the 'l' on the keyboard in fairness, but that is precisely why I need an editor

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   Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

   You should contact lrohner, she does a lot of editing.

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ok thanks for that suggestion. lrohner v sufidreamer bidding war
      
      It's a long way off finished, although I would probably pay for editing a couple of chapters at a time to make it affordable.

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   I would assume that the writer pays for an editor in order to impress with a manuscript? And then the publishing house then sorts their own editor to suit their own ideals?

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   Ry - One of my closest friends is an ex-magazine editor (left to be a stay-at-home mom), twice-published author and now freelance editor. She also does graphic layout and design for books.
   
   Send me a message if you want me to get the two of you in touch. She's wonderful at her job and really, really easy to work with. She'll be pretty truthful with you about prices -- whether good or bad -- and what you should look for. Heck, maybe the two of you can even work together!
   
   ETA - Here's one of her books. (I can't remember the name of the other one.): http://www.amazon.com/Green-Your-Cleanu … 1580113958

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That would be great Lrohner. I am nowhere close to getting something to send to her yet.
      
      Whilst my research on this topic has been undertaken for well over a year, I only started the process of writing it a week ago
      
      I have been flirting with the idea of writing it for a long time though and already have a list of fifteen publishers to target.
      
      As the book tackles a social taboo (or a government taboo at least) and touches upon some conspiracy theories, although not too close to the wire, I doubt that she would want to "work together" in a formal credited sense
      
      I will email you soon so that I can get in touch we her, or you can email me if you wish.

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         lrohnerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I'm on a brand spanking new laptop right now after some icky problems with my old one. I haven't ported my stuff over yet, and your email addy is in my Outlook contacts on the old one. Just drop me a blank email and I'll send you her info. You can reach out to her whenever the timing is right.
         
         And good luck on the book! You can count on me to buy one of the first copies!

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            ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            If it ever gets published!
            
            This will be one which is never self-published, it will be too comprehensive and too valuable to me.
            
            You know those people who write a book which gets published 10 years later after 50 rejections? It will probably be one of those.
            
            Everything else that I am writing will not be worth reading and thus will be available for between $0.99 - $1.99 on kindle without the use of my real name
            
            Email sent.

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   Ryan - Take a look at that link to Jill's book. If you look at the Table of Contents on the page that has Part III - Dirty Jobs, you'll see a pic of someone with a yellow sponge washing a glass sliding door on the bottom left of the page. That's my oldest daughter. She was one of the models in the book -- although it was a few years ago. She was all excited to do it until the book came out, and most of the shots that included her were just of her hands! But still, her first (and only) claim to fame.

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   Libra001posted 14 years ago

   Hi,
   
   I am currently establishing myself as a freelance editor/proof reader.
   
   I worked in publishing for five years and want to continue editing manuscripts for a living.
   
   I currently charge 0.5p per word, which really is competitive on the market at the moment.
   
   Many publishers charge around £100 per 1000 words, before they can even consider publishing your work. This is especially true if you are thinking about going down the self-publishing route.
   
   If anybody would like their manuscripts proof read I would be delighted to help.
   
   Leanne

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