Choose the editing package that works best for you. 1, 2, or 3 rounds of edits…or just a round of proofreading. Prices and turnaround varies for each.
To maximize your total turnaround time and minimize the amount of edits marked in the first round, consider doing a round of self-edits before turning in the manuscript. This is a pre-edit round of revision that focuses on areas such as formatting and simple proofreading, along with any trouble areas you are aware you have (like repetitive words). For more information on self-editing click HERE.
Further information: This editor makes changes according to The Chicago Manual of Style and will favor U.S. English spelling. The work is done with Microsoft Word 365 on a Windows PC, utilizing the Track Changes, highlighting, and commenting features. If you are using a different program or processing system, please ensure that these changes can be read and sent between software/devices to avoid a fee for not using Track Changes on additional rounds of edits. (more information at the bottom of the page).
Turnaround times are based on average editing timelines, but can take longer occasionally. Scheduled first-round edits that come in on time have a week of priority editing which will usually see short edits completed or long edits half-way through, and then work is done in order of deadlines. First round edits are considered late 3 days after the scheduled start date.
IS THIS THE SERVICE YOU WISH TO SCHEDULE? Need to ask additional questions?
Contact Victoria at v.millerartist@gmail.com
PACKAGE 1: SIMPLE PROOFREADING
TURN AROUND TIME: 1-2 weeks. Plan accordingly.
COST: $0.005 per word + PayPal fees due at the time scheduled. ($0.005 x 50,000 words = $250). Minimum fee: $45 (if the word count is too short to surpass $45, you will be charged the minimum fee for the time and work put into the proofread.)
SCHEDULING: In advance. Last minute spots are uncommon.
SUGGESTED FOR: Manuscripts that have already undergone content editing.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Proofreading is a less in-depth line edit. I will be checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, repetitive wording, awkward phrases.
Please understand that this is meant to come after content editing has occurred. No content or development notes will be given, nor critiques or notes to improve narration, pacing, characterization, or plot. If you need help with any of these things, please consider a round of content edits instead.
PACKAGE 2: ONE ROUND OF CONTENT + LINE EDITS
TURN AROUND TIME: 1-3 weeks. Plan accordingly.
COST: $0.006 per word + PayPal fees due at the time scheduled. ($0.006 x 50,000 words = $300). Minimum fee: $75 (if the word count is too short to surpass $75, you will be charged the minimum fee for the time and work put into the proofread.)
SCHEDULING: In advance. Last minute spots are uncommon.
SUGGESTED FOR: Manuscripts that have undergone critiquing and revision, and have had some self-editing.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Checking for spelling, grammar, punctuation, repetitive wording, pacing, characterization, continuity, weaknesses in plot or narration, prompts and/or notes where expansion/reduction may be needed, cutting redundancies, critique notes, eliminating confusing tense or POV changes/head-hopping, detailed notes and a checklist for self-editing.
It’s recommended to still have a proofreader take a look after content edits are done. Revision mistakes often sneak in during the author’s side of the editing process.
PACKAGE 3: TWO ROUNDS OF CONTENT + LINE EDITS
TURN AROUND TIME: 1-3 weeks per round, not accounting for author turnaround in between. Plan for 2 months to see editing done on schedule with room for delays by either party.
COST: $0.007 per word + PayPal fees due at the time scheduled. ($0.007 x 50,000 words = $350). Minimum fee: $75 (if the word count is too short to surpass $75, you will be charged the minimum fee for the time and work put into the proofread.)
SCHEDULING: In advance. Last minute spots are uncommon.
SUGGESTED FOR: Most authors. The additional round allows the editor to check behind changes for any additional guidance. It also allows the editor to check changes by the author for revision errors like missing/extra words or typos. (please keep all revisions in Track Changes.)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Checking for spelling, grammar, punctuation, repetitive wording, pacing, characterization, continuity, weaknesses in plot or narration, prompts and/or notes where expansion/reduction may be needed, cutting redundancies, critique notes, eliminating confusing tense or POV changes/head-hopping, detailed notes and a checklist for self-editing.
It’s recommended to still have a proofreader take a look after content edits are done. Revision mistakes often sneak in during the author’s side of the editing process.
PACKAGE 4: THREE ROUNDS OF CONTENT + LINE EDITS + PROOFREADING
TURN AROUND TIME: 1-3 weeks per round, not accounting for author turnaround in between. Plan for at least 3 months to see editing done on schedule with room for delays by either party.
COST: $0.008 per word + PayPal fees due at the time scheduled. ($0.008 x 50,000 words = $400). Minimum fee: $75 (if the word count is too short to surpass $75, you will be charged the minimum fee for the time and work put into the proofread.)
SCHEDULING: In advance. Last minute spots are uncommon.
SUGGESTED FOR: New authors, or those who want extra assistance due to a history of heavy revision errors in final manuscripts. The first round is an in-depth line and content edit. The second round is more for checking changes and ensuring they work for the book, purely content specific. The final round is a proofread to check for those pesky revision errors while also checking any second-round changes if they were required. (please keep all revision in Track Changes.)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Checking for spelling, grammar, punctuation, repetitive wording, pacing, characterization, continuity, weaknesses in plot or narration, prompts and/or notes where expansion/reduction may be needed, cutting redundancies, critique notes, eliminating confusing tense or POV changes/head-hopping, detailed notes and a checklist for self-editing.
While this edit does contain a last round of proofreading, fresh eyes for a final pass by an additional proofreader is still recommended just because those last minute changes can still input silly errors like typos or missing/extra words from changing sentences.
Refunds/Additional Service Fees
Because I offer a rate based on word count rather than hours put in, there are sometimes variables that increase the work load enough to call for an additional service fee. Likewise, it’s difficult to refund a service rather than a product, so there are several limitations in my refund policy to protect the time spent on edits yet still respect not moving forward with additional rounds of edits. Please read this section carefully.
RESERVATION FEE: A non-refundable $20 fee is expected up front to hold your place. It will be deducted from the final edit cost if the edits come in on time (within the first 3 days of the editing date). If edits come in later, it is considered an inconvenience fee that has already been paid.
LATE FEES: For every 15 days late after the deadline of return edits, a $50 late fee will be implemented before round 2 or 3 can move forward. Deadlines are 2-3 weeks so it gives an author more than enough time (a month) to do their end of edits before ever seeing a fee. Please be upfront with any known schedule conflicts so they can be taken into consideration to avoid an unnecessary fee.
ADDED WORDS: The only time you will ever be charged for adding to your word count between edits is if the added content exceeds 5,000 words. On average, a decent content edit for a well-developed book will add 1-3k in words in round 1 of edits, so most books won’t see this happening unless it is in need of a lot of expansion and developmental work. To estimate this cost, the fee will be the editing rate multiplied by the difference of word count between round 1 and the additional round.
TRACK CHANGES: If doing 2-3 rounds, Track Changes is REQUIRED to make Edits run smoothly. A $75 fee will be required going forward for every round turned in without the feature used as it adds extra time and work in having to restore all the changes the author already accepted the first time and having to accept them again to proceed. A basic tutorial for Track Changes can be found HERE.
REFUNDS: No refunds on 1 round edits/proofreads. If, for some reason, a second and/or third round has to be cancelled due to a discrepancy with my style or unexpected incidents in life, a 10% partial refund of the editing cost may be refunded for edits that were more than 45,000 words when they began since the majority of the work goes into my first-round edits. No partial refund will be given for short stories or novellas, nor will a refund be granted if multiple reminders about the Track Changes fee on my website, invoice, and editing email were ignored and edits are cancelled as a means to not pay the fee. You can cancel edits in that case, but no refund will be granted.
ADDING A ROUND: If you decide you need another editing pass, it will cost 20% of the full editing fee. So if it was a 50k book and you purchased one round at $300. It would be $60 for an extra round and to add you back on the schedule.
Victoria Miller 