FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I use the Editorial Freelancer's Association's pricing system as a template. It can be found here: http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php "Common editorial rates regardless of whether a project is flat rate or hourly tend to fall within the ranges indicated below. These should be used only as a rough guideline; rates vary considerably depending on the nature of the work, the time frame of the assignment, the degree of special expertise required, and other factors. The industry standard for a manuscript page, however, is a firm 250 words." I tend to charge in the middle range, unless a project is very complex or work-intensive. I will also negotiate with certain clients, depending on circumstances. Type of Work Estimated Pace Range of Fees EDITING Editing, basic copyediting 5-10 ms pgs/hr $30-40/hr Editing, heavy copyediting 25 ms pgs/hr $4050/hr Editing, website copyediting $40-50/hr Editing, developmental 15 pgs/hr $4555/hr Editing, substantive or line 16 ms pgs/hr $4060/hr FACT CHECKING $30-40/hr MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION $45-55/hr PROJECT MANAGEMENT $9-30/pr pg $40-90/hr PROOFREADING 9-13 ms pgs/hr $30-35/hr RESEARCHING $40-75/hr TRANSCRIBING variable $3-5/pg Writing, fiction $40-50/hr 20¢-25¢/wd Writing, ghostwriting $50-60/hr 26¢-50¢/wd Writing, grants/proposals/sales/PR $50-60/hr 30¢-95¢/wd Writing, journalism $40-50/hr 26¢-50¢/wd Writing, medical $60-70/hr 80¢-95¢/wd Writing, nonspecified $40-100/hr 20¢-$2/wd Writing, technical/trade $50-60/hr 45¢-55¢/wd NOTE ind = indexable page, ms = manuscript, pr = printed, pg = page, hr = hour, wd = word
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I read at least 600 books a year on a wide variety of topics, from a number of genres. I listen to podcasts on the sci-fi/fantasy field, whch is the genre I work with the most. I attend on-line webinars on topics that will help me be a better businesswoman, and I research ways to do business more efficiently all the time. I frequent several writer websites to keep abreast of best practices. I also keep abreast of technological advances, for my own interest, and also to consider what investments would be a boon to my business running efficiently. I attend seminars on entrepreneurship, and maintain a large network of industry friends and acquaintances, from whom I not only get job leads, but also get contacts, tips and tricks that help me to improve myself, my site, my business and my bottom line. I attend sci-fi/fantasy cons, both general and specifically for authors, and maintain and gain relationships and contacts in those fields. I purchase and study the updates to all style guides, (Chicago Manual of Style, APA, etc.) so I always have the latest stylistic rules at my fingertips.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I was working 80+ hours a week as a high school teacher, and I burned out after about 7 years. I loved teaching, loved my students; it was the administration and the endless fruitless testing. I was an adjunct English instructor for a while, but I would have made more money, with my three degrees, working at Starbucks. I'd always helped friends with resumes and any writing and editing work they needed for businesses they started, and I know a lot of published authors. I got asked to critique a manuscript by an award-winning author, and she was so impressed, she got me my first freelance copyediting gig at Carina Press (subset of Harlequin Publishers.) And that was the beginning. I researched different business types, taught myself a lot about sole proprietorships, asked a lot of questions, and began marketing and networking like crazy. And the rest, as they say, is history. And I LOVE it, for all its drawbacks. But no job doesn't have drawbacks, so the cost-benefit ratio works out in my favor!