How Much Does a Book Editor Cost? What Can You Expect in Fees?
Editing is the final step of self-publishing that transforms a manuscript into a novel. Or it’s the first step in turning a novel into a published work. Better yet, it’s both. That should tell you how important editing is. But how much should it cost you? The answer depends on how you define editing.
Types of Editing
Before diving into costs, let’s understand the different types of editing:
- Developmental editing: Big-picture editing focuses on story structure, plot, and character development.
- Content editing: Similar to developmental editing but less intensive, addressing plot holes and inconsistencies.
- Line editing: Focuses on writing style, language use, and sentence structure.
- Copy editing: Addresses grammar, punctuation, and consistency issues.
- Proofreading: The final check for typos and formatting issues.
Editing What You May Think About Editing
Of those, there are two types of editing you should be focused on. These are extremely broad types and they break down into different things that often use names interchangeably.
Copy Editing: Somebody Needs to Edit This. Do You Copy?
The first type of editing is copy editing. This editing focuses mainly on grammar, punctuation, sentence layout, syntactic style, sometimes language clarity, and maybe tone. Very rarely does copy editing deal with actual content.
A copy editor is not typically going to wonder if a fact is correct or if this character would use that word. A copy editor will note if you misspelled the species in your fact or if a character dangles a participle.
Story Editing: The Story of How You Made Up a Story
The second type of editing falls under the umbrella of story editing. It may start all the way at the outline stage (developmental) or it may come in at the end to make sure the plot points hang together and all the characters sound consistently like themselves.
You’ve typed “The End” on your manuscript. You’re thinking about publication. But you aren’t sure that you nailed the three-beat meant to bring home the main theme of your story. You also aren’t sure if the two characters you merged into one on your third revision now read inconsistently. If you’re brutally honest, the plot point that transitions from the second to the third act comes out of nowhere. If you feel this way about your manuscript, then you probably need a story editor.
A story editor will do exactly what the label says: read your story and look for places where the actual storytelling is weak, the characters are ill-defined, or the tone is inconsistent. They are not (unless you negotiate something different) going to look at your grammar, punctuation, or style. The story editor is looking at the architectural framework of the narrative.
If you feel like you need this help even before you’ve started writing, you need a development editor. Development editors typically help you through the process of setting up your story at the scene and beat level before you even start writing. But keep in mind, some story editors consider themselves development editors even if they come in at the end. Make sure you’re all talking about the same services before you agree to anything.
Do You Need to Hire Two Different Editors?
You might get a copy edit from the person who does your story edit, but not necessarily. And you might get some typos or rough grammar pointed out by the person who does a story edit, but only if they catch it.
You often (though not always) use two different people for these processes. And you often will pay very different prices for them.
Factors Affecting Editing Costs
Several factors influence the cost of editing:
- Manuscript length: Longer manuscripts generally cost more to edit, as they require more time and effort from the editor.
- Content complexity: Highly technical or specialized content may require an editor with specific expertise, potentially increasing the cost.
- Book genre: Some genres, like academic or technical writing, may require more intensive editing and fact-checking, affecting the overall cost.
- Editor’s experience and reputation: More experienced editors or those with a strong reputation in the industry typically charge higher rates for their services.
- Turnaround time: Rush jobs or tight deadlines often come with premium pricing, as editors may need to prioritize your project over others.
- Level of editing required: Different levels of editing (developmental, line editing, copy editing, proofreading) vary in intensity and time required, thus affecting the cost.
How Much Does an Editor Cost
Very broadly, there are two ways editors tally their price: by the hour and by the word. Some prefer to pay by the word, which can be especially true if you’re trying out somebody new. If you don’t have a rapport or trust built up, it’s much easier to keep track of word count than it is their hours.
Copy editing is typically the least time-consuming and, therefore, the least expensive type of editing. This service can be priced as low as a fraction of a cent per word all the way up to $35 or $40 per hour. If all you want is a copy edit, be shrewd, and you can get it for a relatively small investment.
Story editing is always quite a bit pricier than copy editing. You can imagine why. This is a much more thorough reading of the work and involves more conceptual thinking. You’re looking at a lot more per word and are probably talking mostly to people who refuse to price by the word anyway. You could be talking about as much as $30/hour without a complete insight into how many hours this could take.
Average Prices by Editing Type
Costs can vary widely, but here are some general ranges for per word editing rates:
- Developmental Editing: $0.03 – $0.08 per word
- Content Editing: $0.02 – $0.05 per word
- Line Editing: $0.02 – $0.04 per word
- Copy Editing: $0.01 – $0.03 per word
- Proofreading: $0.005 – $0.01 per word
For a 60,000-word novel, you might expect to pay:
- Developmental Editing: $1,800 – $4,800
- Content Editing: $1,200 – $3,000
- Line Editing: $1,200 – $2,400
- Copy Editing: $600 – $1,800
- Proofreading: $300 – $600
What Kind of Editor Do You Need?
Nobody but you can decide what kind of edit you need. While you may be tempted to make this decision based solely on your budget, this may not be the best criteria. If you’re less than confident in your storytelling skills, this part will probably cost more.
If you’re a 101 self-publisher, spring for the story edit. It’ll make your end product more professional and polished, which increases your chances of garnering fans. And once you gain experience, confidence, and a few fans, you’ll have access to a whole new resource: beta readers! Beta readers are like test readers. They can often do the job of a story editor and will do so for the price of $0. Remember, these are fans. They already want to read your work. Then you’ll find yourself only budgeting for a copy edit.
The final piece of editing advice is to always budget for a copyedit. While editing is a significant upfront cost, it’s an investment in your book’s quality and potential success. A well-edited book can lead to better reviews, increased reader engagement, more sales, and long-term credibility as an author.