There are various good resources online that can help you understand the differences between editing and proofreading and can aid you in deciding on what type of editorial service you need. I have also included the stages that require copyediting and stages that require proofreading on my services page. Sometimes some of the work does fall into the middle category – it involves interventions that are more than what proofreading involves, but cannot quite formally be categorized as copyedits.
What is important to note is that the editorial process is rigorous, demanding, and time-intensive and involves a close and careful reading of the text in all cases. Editing is much more than finding and fixing grammar or spelling mistakes and looks into the text in a holistic manner. Content flow, structure, and organization are equally important when it comes to effective and professional editing, which requires skills and experience.
Pricing (and time estimate) depends on the amount of intervention required and the complexity of the content. More technical texts will be priced higher than regular content. Complex texts or texts that require in-depth changes also require more time for completion. Number of rounds, revisions, and passes also affect the total pricing. In case of project management, the overall time involved including the administrative time, the time spent in coordination and meetings, etc., is factored in.
There are various online resources that can help you with current rate averages, estimations of timelines, and a general budget calculation. For example, see the chart of suggested rates, provided by (1) Editorial Freelancers Association (US), (2) Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK), and (3) Institute of Professional Editors Limited (Aus. and NZ). See also Reedsy's rate estimate blog, which also contains a calculator.
Please note that these links provide only suggestions and estimates, and the actual billable cost always depends on the manuscript that you supply and the work that it requires. Each project is different and the pricing will therefore vary. Anything that requires work beyond the normal working hours (specific shorter deadlines) will incur additional costs. It is helpful that your editor assesses the complete manuscript to form a budget and advise you.
Still better, drop me a line and let's discuss the options.
For starters, tell me about your requirements and the type of text you want me to work on. If it is a book, then I would want to know the genre, the estimated or actual word/page count (for the calculation, each 250 words constitute a page), the type of intervention that you think this needs, and your expectations from me. Then, depending on my schedule and availability, I would request for the complete manuscript for a fair idea of the work involved and how long it would take me.
If there is a set of files, then the entire set is necessary for me to see the amount of work involved. If there are a lot of images and tables involved, then please do share the images as well as the captions and credit lines, preferably in a separate folder. Larger tables and data charts should also be shared separately to prevent issues with the files.
If it is proofreading, then any supplementary material, such as the style sheet that was created during the editing stage, would be very helpful (but not essential at the estimation stage).
Once I have looked at the content and have an estimate in mind, I will share the details of the estimate (this can be a total project rate as well) and the work plan with you and we can take the discussion forward. The work will only begin once we both agree to the terms of service in writing or signed a contract, whichever is applicable.
Sometimes changes are unavoidable, or there could be new and updated material that is pertinent to the content. Any deviations from the initial terms of service and the project plan can always be discussed, but those also must be confirmed in writing, and are subject to a revision to the initial cost estimate. Please let me know if you need additional time or help. It is best if we communicate openly.
The portfolio tab lists a selection of the projects I have worked on. However, I cannot provide edited and marked-up copies of any of my previous projects for confidentiality reasons. I would, however, be open to do a sample edit of the manuscript for a small fee, which can be later adjusted into the actual project fee, if we decide to move ahead. This fee is otherwise non-refundable.
"What is your policy on Artificial Intelligence?"
I presently do not use any form of AI in my work. The only automation tools I use for editing are PerfectIt and macros. I may search the meaning of a phrase or concept, or search for a word substitute on the Web and, as such, the results may include suggestions by AI. In terms of other tools, I do use Crossref to verify certain references and their DOIs, and have used Zotero to manage referencing in the past.
I am still learning about AI and whether or not it would benefit me in any manner. I will disclose the use of AI here, should I ever decide to incorporate AI into my workflows and use it to automate any processes. However, for the core editing, proofreading, and manuscript assessment part, I will not use AI, nor will I ever upload unpublished work on any form of AI agents/tools.
In the case a client has their own customized and secure AI agent, I will be using AI as per their organizational policy, and as agreed upon at the start of the project.
I can work with Google Docs, InCopy, and content management systems. Where a software requires special licences (InCopy, for example), clients are requested to provide the access.
My only request to the clients is that do not mix the software types. If the manuscript is in Microsoft Word, please stick to the same throughout the editorial process, and also request your co-authors and reviewers to do the same. Mixing software even if to change a spelling can create compatibility issues that are time-consuming to resolve.
If there is anything else on your mind that is not covered here, I would be happy to have a quick chat.