Line editing: $.03-.04 per word
Line editing focuses on your sentences—namely: syntax, word choice, and phrasing. The goal of line editing is to ensure everything is said in the best way possible. A line editor can help your work clearly express what you’re aiming to say while preserving the original flow and style of your piece.
While line editing your work, I’ll focus on syntax, word choice, clarity, eliminating unnecessary words, and maintaining a consistent writing voice and style.
Line editing should happen early in the editorial process—after developmental editing and/or revision of the plot and major characters, but before copyediting or proofreading.
Copy editing: $.025-.035 per word
Copy editing focuses on grammar and spelling, including grammatical and typographic errors, spelling, punctuation mistakes, and inconsistencies in style and formatting.
While copy editing your work, I’ll be looking for spelling errors and inconsistency, grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, inconsistencies in style and formatting, and, if applicable, adherence to style guidelines.
If you already had a line edit, or if you worked with a developmental editor who made sufficient suggestions to sentence-level structure, this copyediting option is for you.
Proofreading: $.015-.025 per word
Proofreading is only done to the final draft of a work, after it has been line edited, copyedited, and formatted.
While proofreading, I’ll check for typos, missing or repeated words, missing punctuation, and consistency in capitalization, font, and font size. I’ll compare the Table of Contents and Chapter titles with page headers for accuracy, and, for nonfiction works, I’ll confirm that in-text citations match the correct bibliographic entry. If your work contains visual or graphic elements, I’ll check that each is formatted in the same style.
This is the final stage of the editing process. If your work has already been copy edited and your next step is publication, then proofreading is the right option for you!
Beta reading for fiction: $.01 per word
For most people, beta reading is the first step in the editorial process, before an editor is hired.
…So why’s it all the way down at the bottom of the page?
Not everyone needs to hire a beta reader. Friends and family members can often stand in as the first critics of a completed manuscript, and there’s many online services that offer free volunteer beta reading.
I recommend sourcing volunteer beta readers if you:
- Are on a tight budget (spend that money on editorial services instead!)
- Have a wide circle of well-read friends and acquaintances whom you can trust to provide honest feedback
I recommend paying a beta reader for their services if you:
- Just finished your first draft and are feeling confused or overwhelmed about where to go from here and would like reliable advice from someone in the industry
- Have specialized or niche knowledge of the subject(s) you’re writing about and want to make sure your content is accessible to the average reader
Things I’m looking for as a beta reader:
- Believable relationships between characters
- Character likeability and development
- Plot holes or confusing plots
- World consistency
- Overused tropes and cliches
- Plot points or character traits that may come across as offensive to some readers
As I read, I make note of any questions or concerns I have with your work. Once I’m finished, I’ll provide a detailed document including everything I noticed and my recommendations for how to proceed.
All prices are based on the Editorial Freelancers Association’s suggested rates.
For all services, I offer a discount for works that center sapphic or trans main characters and/or queer history. Please reach out via my contact page for an estimate.
Emily Vance Brown 