Writing in your Heart discussion

Ask questions regarding editors here. Recommendations and experience also welcome.

What is the average rate for an editor?

Carey wrote: "What is the average rate for an editor?"

It varies depending on the length of the work and whether they are doing just copy editing or also content. Some charge per word, maybe a few cents. Others have packaged rates. I think that $200 to $500 is the rage. $500 is a really large book that the editor judged needing a lot of work. For my first book, which is 106K words and needed the most editing of the three I paid $300. It was worth every penny. I paid less for the other two.

Sarah wrote: "Carey wrote: "What is the average rate for an editor?"

It varies depending on the length of the work and whether they are doing just copy editing or also content. Some charge per word, maybe a few..."

That was a really good price because all of my stories are over 100k words and the quotes are always at least $1k. Depressing....

Carey wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Carey wrote: "What is the average rate for an editor?"

It varies depending on the length of the work and whether they are doing just copy editing or also content. Some charge per wor..."

That's totally frustrating. I'm sorry. Get recommendations from reputable authors. There's a lot of people advertising as editors but you want someone who has experience. That's way too high of a price.

Sarah wrote: "Carey wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Carey wrote: "What is the average rate for an editor?"

It varies depending on the length of the work and whether they are doing just copy editing or also content. Some ..."

Thank you, I thought so.

I'm a freelance editor while I finish up my degree and have edited novels, novellas, and articles that have all been published and not one time have I ever charged anywhere near 1K...I would definitely ask what exactly you are paying for and how they are coming up with that figure because that sounds like highway robbery....and I'm an editor lol...good luck with you future writings!

Caitlin wrote: "I'm a freelance editor while I finish up my degree and have edited novels, novellas, and articles that have all been published and not one time have I ever charged anywhere near 1K...I would defini..."

Thank you, Caitlin. It's great to get the direct input of an editor. What do you think is a reasonable price range and how should writer's qualify quotes? Thank you!

Caitlin wrote: "I'm a freelance editor while I finish up my degree and have edited novels, novellas, and articles that have all been published and not one time have I ever charged anywhere near 1K...I would defini..."

I think they were charging per word, and then extras. Majority of my stories are over 100k. Thank you for your comment, that makes me feel better for being gun shy.

Sarah wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "I'm a freelance editor while I finish up my degree and have edited novels, novellas, and articles that have all been published and not one time have I ever charged anywhere near 1K...."

Good question, I would like to know as well.

The editor is really important. Even they miss things. Go for an established editor even if it costs a little more. I think sites like Kirkus and the Foreword Review offer editors. My son (author Michael Phillip Cash) gets his done at Createspace, and he gets it edited twice with different editors.

Carole wrote: "The editor is really important. Even they miss things. Go for an established editor even if it costs a little more. I think sites like Kirkus and the Foreword Review offer editors. My son (author M..."

@Carole, thank you. That's great advice. And you're right that even great editors miss things. Mine is top notch, but she has missed things. I have five beta readers read before her. Then she does her edits and then I have two more beta readers and myself do a round of edits. The more eyes the better.

I am an aspiring YA Fiction editor and would love to be a part of any of your editing processes! My previous experience includes reviewing books (since 2010) and beta reading for established YA authors such as Tera Lynn Childs (2015) and Suzanne Lazear (2014).

Editors are very important I learned that the hard way! It seems my eyes purposely deceive me when I try to edit myself! Missing words, lack of sentence structure, lapses in time. It's worth taking the extra money to make sure your hard work is error free!

Colette wrote: "I am an aspiring YA Fiction editor and would love to be a part of any of your editing processes! My previous experience includes reviewing books (since 2010) and beta reading for established YA aut..."

Hi Colette! It looks like you've been doing some great projects. Did you go to school for editing? I think that new editors are some of the best because they have fresh, eager eyes.

J. wrote: "Editors are very important I learned that the hard way! It seems my eyes purposely deceive me when I try to edit myself! Missing words, lack of sentence structure, lapses in time. It's worth taking..."

J. I couldn't agree more. I have five beta readers read before it goes to the editor and some of the errors they send me make me doubt my brain. It's just that our minds fill in the missing words and fixes the errors when we're reading. I've found that editing on different devices and methods helps. I edit on the computer first, then my phone, then kindle and then paper. Then it goes to betas. You might be surprised how many errors jump out on paper that you don't find on the computer. Cool, huh?

Hi Sarah! I am graduating high school this year and entering college this fall to major in English.

Colette wrote: "Hi Sarah! I am graduating high school this year and entering college this fall to major in English."

That's great! It's amazing that you've already had so many projects. You're definitely well on your way to being a successful editor.

What is the going rate for an editor that is reasonable to both parties? I pay .65 a word for a line edit and .50 a word for a content edit.

J. wrote: "What is the going rate for an editor that is reasonable to both parties? I pay .65 a word for a line edit and .50 a word for a content edit."

That's really good to know. Some do estimates based on a project and others do per word/line. I'd love to have an editor weigh in on this or other authors.

Me too!

Thanks for the support Sarah :)

@ J. I found a resource to help us with our question. Shines a little light.

http://the-efa.org/res/rates.php

Thanks Sarah, this is amazing