Welcome to my editing services and pricing page. I know what you’re thinking…
What can she do for ME and how much will it cost?
I’m here and ready to help in a number of ways.
Beta reading and manuscript critiques are services that look at the “big picture”, while copy editing and proofreading take a closer look at the mechanics of your story. To make your life (and mine) easier, I calculate my fee for each service based on your word count.
My four stand alone editing services :
- Beta reading: fee £0.002 per word (guideline: £100 for 50k words)
- Manuscript critique: fee £0.005 per word (guideline £250 for 50k words)
- Copy editing: fee £0.018 per word (guideline: £900 for 50k words)
- Proofreading: fee £0.015 per word (guideline: £750 for 50k words)
If you’re unsure which service would be more beneficial, that’s ok. Just get in touch and we can chat about what stage in the publishing process your manuscript is at and what you’re looking to achieve.
The “big-picture” services
Many authors send their manuscript off to trusted beta readers and critique partners to gain feedback from their target audience; ensuring that their book is well suited for readers, is conveying the right message and is enjoyable, before they move on to the next stage in the publishing journey.
Beta reading and critiques can come either before or after a developmental (content/structural) edit.
This stage doesn’t focus the mechanical aspects of your manuscript (spelling, grammar, or punctuation oversights), rather it’s a whole-story assessment. All the major elements of a novel are taken into consideration: plot, story, characterisation, structure, tension, theme, genre, narrative style and so on.
The aim of these services are to highlight the areas of your novel that need the most attention and provide you with suggestions on how to tackle them.
Beta Reading
What is Beta Reading?
An in depth review of your book. Looking at the big picture and whether your story fits with the genre and its target readers.
Have you finished the final draft of your manuscript and want to test the reception with readers before you publish your work? If the answer is “Yes,” I’d love to be your beta reader.
A beta read provides you with general guidance on where your novel can be improved.
I’ll explain in my report what is and isn’t working and give you my overall impression of your book. You’ll also know what I was thinking and feeling while reading your story, as I use the comment function to share my emotions and thoughts throughout your manuscript. A couple of my existing clients say that my inline comments are their favourite part of this service.
Fee: £0.002 per word (guideline: £100 for 50k words)
Want me to beta read your novel? Get in touch!
Manuscript Critique
What is a manuscript critique?
Constructive analysis and honest insight, so you can revise with confidence.
A manuscript critique (also known as an assessment) provides you with a more in-depth report.
My report analyses the main elements of your manuscript:
- Opening scene
- Characters & dialogue
- Plot & conflict
- Flow & pacing
- Setting & world-building
- Writing style
- Overall impression
I’ll highlight what is and isn’t working and offer suggestions on how you can improve your novel further.
Fee: £0.005 per word (guideline £250 for 50k words)
Sound like a great idea? Get in touch!
Over my, albeit brief, novel-writing career, I have developed absolute trust in Kim’s literary judgement. If Kim says, this sentence is clunky, I de-clunk, if Kim says, re-write this, I re-write it. Every observation was spot on. Kim sees the trees as well as the wood.
Holly Bell
Copy Editing
What is copy editing?
This service looks at the mechanical side of your manuscript.
Copy editing helps your author’s voice shine through, while ensuring that your writing is professional and well presented.
I tidy your manuscript by looking closely at all the little details. This includes:
- Errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Ambiguous or confusing phrasing
- Plot, time-line and character-feature inconsistencies
- Text-based inconsistencies
- Word choice
- Sentence structure and sentence order
- Basic point-of-view issues
Fee: £0.018 per word (guideline: £900 for 50k words)
Want me to take a closer look at your novel? Get in touch!
Proofreading
Proofreading is the last chance to catch those previously unseen mistakes.
Before you hit that “publish” button, I’ll diligently look for anything that slipped through the net during the previous rounds of checking and editing once your book has been formatted.
I give that final polish your work by checking for any of the remaining issues:
- Errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Inconsistent spelling
- Formatting issues
- Inconsistent or missed capitalisations
- Typesetting (inconsistencies with font size, font type, bold, italics, underline, etc.)
Fee: £0.015 per word (guideline: £750 for 50k words)
Want me to get out my fine-toothed comb? Get in touch!
Why Choose to work with me?
Empathy & Sensitivity
I know it can be nerve-wracking to ask for feedback from others besides your family and friends.
I aim to carry out my services with the utmost sensitivity, and I do my absolute best to understand your creative intentions and help you achieve them – while still pushing you to improve.
Tailored Service
Every novel is different, and every author is different. However, what we’re all looking for is that perfect spot. Balancing your creative intention with reactions from your potential readers and where your novel might fit in the market.
I take this all into consideration while working on your manuscript.
Invisible Improvements
Editing is often referred to as “the invisible art”. My job is to smooth out the writing, not inject my own style into it. Your manuscript will read like the best version of your work.
Creative Control
I edit using the Track Changes feature of Word, so authors can see exactly what I’ve done. Making use of the Comments function also allows me to explain any edits that are more substantial. Accept or reject any edit.
Experienced
I’ve been working in the publishing industry since 2017, have already worked with a variety of self-published authors. Plus, I volunteer as a proofreader for Distributed Proofreader, the largest supplier of proofread public domain e-books to Project Gutenberg.
Trained & Qualified
Anyone can say they’re an editor, but I have qualifications in this field and continue to hone my skills and grow my knowledge. (See the About page for details.)
Your manuscript is in qualified hands.
“Kim is superb and goes above and beyond in delivering insightful and helpful feedback. She has a brilliant eye for detail, including plot inconsistencies and flawed characterisations. She is professional, with a quick turnaround, and I trust her work completely.
Victoria DeLuis
How much do my services cost?
As I have already mentioned, I provide a bespoke quote for each project based on the length and complexity required.
For a personalised quote, I need the following information from you:
- The number of words
- Deadline
- Format, i.e. Word or PDF
- A short sample from the middle of your document (500 words is usually enough)
I judge the level of edit required from the sample and make sure I’m offering you the right kind of service. Each project is unique, so it’s difficult to provide a generic price list.
However, I know that’s not helpful, so to give you an idea of the kind of prices I charge, here are some examples of my rates for recent projects:
- Copy edit an 92,000-word cosy mystery: £1,656
- Beta read for a 74,000-word paranormal romance: £148
- Proofread an author’s newsletter 1,500-word urban fantasy novella: £22
- Manuscript Critique for a 54,000-word women’s paranormal fiction: £270
Things You Might Be Wondering …
Do you work with self-publishing authors?
✅Yes, the majority of my clients self-publish.
If we haven’t worked together before, I recommend a manuscript assessment first rather than jumping straight into a copy edit. During a manuscript assessment, I look at the “big picture”, uncovering any areas that need improvement and offering suggestions. This reduces the work needed when it comes to a copy or line edit, thus also reducing the costs.
The relationship between author and editor is a special one. There needs to be a high level of trust, mutual understanding, and a good working relationship. After all, we’re working together to ensure your novel is the best it can be.
What’s the process for a Beta read or manuscript a critique?
1. Request a beta read or critique
Contact me and tell me a little bit about your novel.
The number of words
Deadline
Format, i.e. Word or PDF
2. I get in touch.
I’ll email you with any further questions I have about your book, your writing background and your publishing intentions. This will help me decide whether I think we’d be a good creative fit and whether this service is right for you.
3. Agree the details.
If I think we’d be a good fit, I’ll let you know the soonest date I can start work on your manuscript and how long it will take me (usually about 2 weeks). Your place in my schedule is locked in as soon as you confirm the date.
4. Wait for me to do my thing.
Send me your manuscript in full before the project start date. I’ll read and carefully analyse your novel. There will be lots of thinking and note-taking! Once I’ve finished, I’ll email your manuscript back to you with all my thoughts and comments along with the invoice for the fee.
5. Ask any last questions.
My inbox is always open. You can send me follow-up emails to ask for any clarifications or advice. After that, you should feel ready to start the next stage of the writing process.
What’s the process for a copy edit or proofread?
1. Request a copy edit or proofread quotation
Contact me and tell me a little bit about your novel.
The number of words
Deadline
Format, i.e. Word or PDF
2. I get in touch and request a sample.
I’ll email you with any further questions I have about your book, your writing background and your publishing intentions. I’ll ask for a sample chapter from somewhere in the middle, so I can get a sense of the novel and the depth of editing it might need. This will help me decide whether I think we’d be a good creative fit and whether this service is right for you. If I think we would be a good creative fit, you’ll get a reply from me a few days later with a quote that includes the total fee, how long the edit or proofread will take and when I’m available to start working on it.
3. Book me in.
When you agree to my quote, your place in my calendar is booked and a Zoom meeting is scheduled two weeks before the project start date to go through your style and spelling preferences. You send me your manuscript on the agreed date.
4. Wait for me to do my thing.
I’ll diligently edit or proofread the novel using Track Changes and the Comments features of Word. When I’m finished, you’ll get two copies of your manuscript back. An easy to read “clean copy” and a “track changes” copy that shows all the mark-ups and edits made. You will also receive my invoice.
5. That’s it!
However, my inbox is always open. You can contact me to ask for any clarifications or advice.
Will the manuscript be error-free after a copy-edit or proofread?
Honestly? Probably not 100%, although that’s always what I aim for. However, it’s impossible for every error to be caught, we’re only human, after all. The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading says: ‘A good copy-editor picks up 80% of errors; a good proofreader picks up 80% of what’s left.’ Meaning that there will always been the odd pesky error that slips through.
Remember, a copy-edit helps improve the writing – as well as catch as many of those pesky errors as possible.
Do you offer any discounts or packages?
✅ Yes!
SERIES DISCOUNT: If you hire me to work on further novels in the same series, I’ll apply a discount to each of those subsequent manuscripts.
FURTHER SERVICES DISCOUNT: After you hire me for one service, if you consequently hire me to carry-out a follow-on service for your manuscript, I’ll apply a discount to my fee. For example if I critique your manuscript then you request a copy edit for it, or if I’ve beta read your book before it was formatted and you want me to proofread it after it’s been formatted.
Do you work with international authors?
✅Yes! I do work with authors across the world. However, at this time I only invoice in pounds (GBP).
“It was lovely working with Kim and she was very kind and pleasant to talk with. I definitely recommend her to anyone looking to polish their book. I hope to work with her again in the future.”
Madeline McQueen
Let’s talk!
If you’re still unsure which service you need or just want to know more, drop me a line.