Frequently Asked Questions

I specialize in Developmental Editing and Line / Copyediting. The only round I don’t offer anymore is proofreading, but I am happy to refer you to my colleagues who have fantastic eagle eyes! You can learn more about what each of these rounds of edits entails in my Tips for Writers article The Four Rounds of Editing, or by watching my YouTube video What Type of Editing Does My Book Need?

It really depends on the current state of your manuscript, your writing capabilities, and your goals for your book.

You can learn more about what each of these rounds of edits entails in my Tips for Writers article The Four Rounds of Editing or by watching my YouTube video What Type of Editing Does My Book Need? At the end of both the article and the video, I give basic guidance on what your manuscript might need based on a few common scenarios, but you can’t fit every author and manuscript into a single box.

If you need help figuring out which type of editing you need, let’s discuss your manuscript. I’m happy to help!

Nope, there is no such thing! I have worked on books that are well over 100,000 words as well as booklets and children’s books that are only a couple hundred words. I have also edited newly added chapters for books I’ve previously edited, author bios, and back cover blurbs.

An editing pass is when your editor reads through your manuscript, while an editing round is the duration of time your manuscript is in your editor’s hands.

For example, if you hire me for a developmental edit and then a line/copyedit, you are hiring me for two separate rounds of editing, with your manuscript back in your hands in between those two rounds for your rewrites.

Every editor operates their business differently, but at Red Quill Editorial, I have chosen to perform two passes during each editing round, meaning I read through your entire manuscript two times before returning it to you for rewrites. This ensures I am providing you with my best edits and suggestions so you receive the high-quality editing your book deserves.

Every project is different, but my rates average 4.5 cents per word for Developmental Editing and 7.5 cents per word for Line/Copyediting. Factors that can affect cost are your genre, word count, type of editing needed/desired, and the scope of work required. Along with the high-quality feedback I will give you, I also offer a variety of Discounts, a Payment Plan, and Value Adds to give you the greatest return on your investment.

This is an excellent question that really boils down to the success of your book. Whether you publish traditionally or independently, your marketing plan is the key to making sales. After all, you could write the next great novel, but people can’t buy it if they don’t know it exists.

If you publish traditionally, you will receive smaller royalties, but their marketing pros will take care of that aspect for you. If you publish independently, you will receive higher royalties, but the marketing will be solely your responsibility (or you could hire a freelancer to do this for you as another investment).

Another thing to consider is that most authors tap into success by publishing multiple books, not just one. If someone reads one of your books and likes it, they will likely search for your other books and purchase them as well. And this is where the numbers really start to add up and take off.

So keep writing more books, ideally with the goal to release them steadily and consistently (that could mean once a quarter, once a year, or whatever works for you), and make sure you are doing the research and putting in the effort to market your book!

While AI programs such as ProWritingAid, Grammarly, and Hemingway Editor may help you catch and fix certain errors, they can also introduce new errors (six-fingered hands and embarrassing autocorrects, anyone?). Language is full of complexities and nuances that simply can’t be caught by a computer in the same way a living, breathing editor can.

There’s no denying the value a professional editor brings to your book—increased sales and better reviews, plus a stronger grasp of the writing craft for your future works. If you want others to invest in you by purchasing your book, you’d better be willing to invest in yourself first by hiring a professional editor.

In general, the better shape your manuscript is in when you hand it over to your editor, the lower the cost. Performing self-edits, using AI editing software (cautiously), and working with beta readers before you hire an editor can each get you one step closer to perfecting your book, lessening the workload for your editor and lowering your final cost.

Here at Red Quill Editorial, I’m also happy to offer Discounts & Specials and a Payment Plan option so my clients don’t have to settle for less than they deserve. Each of my clients also receive Value Adds when we wrap our project!

A typical editorial contract spreads the total cost out over two or three payments, depending how many rounds of editing you opt for.

Payment 1: A 50% deposit is payable upon booking and covers half of each editing round you opt for, allowing you to secure your spot on my calendar.

Payment 2: The remaining due for the Developmental Edit is payable upon completion of that service.

Payment 3: The remaining due for the Line/Copyedit is payable upon completion of that service.

Yes! I understand that editorial services can get quite pricey at times, and I want you to get the best possible service to help your manuscript shine rather than feeling forced by your budget to settle for something less than you deserve. That’s why I am happy to also offer a Payment Plan to my clients.

When it’s time to make a payment, you will have the option to pay via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or bank payment (ACH) with the click of a button right on your invoice.

I’d be happy to do a sample Line/Copyedit of up to 500 words on an excerpt of your choosing from your manuscript. Keep in mind that a full read of the manuscript is necessary for a quality Developmental Edit, which is why the sample would focus primarily on line/copyediting, although I do offer some developmental feedback where possible. 

I charge a flat $40 fee for sample edits, but if you choose to hire me for editing services, that fee is applied toward your contract cost.

Reach out via the Author Questionnaire to let me know the details of your book. I will send you a detailed proposal packet via email containing information about my services and process, letting you know when I am currently booking for, and providing you with an accurate turnaround and custom cost estimate for your particular manuscript.

The cost estimate is good for two weeks and there is no obligation to commit. I will check in with you a week or two after sending it, but I am not a salesman, so I won’t pressure you into something you aren’t ready for.

1. Fill out the Author Questionnaire on my website.
2. Wait for me to send you a detailed proposal packet containing information about my services and process, letting you know when I am currently booking for, and providing you with an accurate turnaround and custom cost estimate for your particular manuscript.
3. If you accept the estimate, I will follow up with your invoice and required paperwork, including a contract and a brief survey asking your style preferences.
4. Once I receive the completed paperwork and your deposit, I will email you a confirmation of editorial reservation, providing you with a solid start date and deadline for when you can expect the editing to be completed.
5. I will email you again one week prior to our start date to remind you to finalize any self edits and send the most current version of your manuscript to me no later than 48 hours prior to our start date.

You can email me your manuscript or share it via Google Docs.

I can work with PDF and image files for smaller projects, such as children’s books or charts/images for nonfiction books. But for longer text files like a full-length manuscript, I require a .doc or .docx formatted file. This way, I can use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tool, which shows you what I have changed or suggested and allows you to accept or reject any of it.

If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can share the file with me via Google Docs and I can download it as a .docx file for editing, and then upload the new file upon completion.

Check out my Tips for Writers article for more information on Formatting Your Manuscript for Your Editor.

Yes. The contract outlines our agreement of the editorial services to be rendered, detailing the scope of work that includes and what you should expect upon conclusion of editing, as well as the pricing structure. Our contract will also include an intellectual property clause and an NDA, both of which protect your hard work. The goal of our contract is for both parties to be protected and understand exactly what to expect from our agreement to work together so there are no bad surprises or misunderstandings.

No, I do not use any form of AI to edit your manuscript. Instead, I personally go through the entire manuscript using my genuine editorial skills and knowledge.

If I need to fact-check, I perform a Google search, and when I need to check a style guide or grammatical issue, I refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and the Unabridged Dictionary by Merriam-Webster. 

Once I’ve performed both passes of the Line/Copyediting round, I also run a few macros to clean up the manuscript as well as a technology-based program called PerfectIt to double-check for consistency.

All of these are commonly used editorial tools that require subscriptions and are designed to work alongside your editor to help strengthen and enhance my work. Because language is full of complexities and nuances that simply can’t be caught by a computer in the same way a living, breathing editor can, none of these tools can work independently of your editor. They will still require an editor’s keen eye to research and make the final decision with the information provided by these tools and their own human knowledge.

Step 1—Developmental Editing: As the first round of editing, developmental editing looks at the big picture of your manuscript and is often recommended for new authors to help refine their writing craft. It ensures that the story makes sense and the author addresses larger issues.

Step 2—Rewrites: You will then take as long as you need for rewrites before getting back on my editorial calendar for line/copyediting.

Step 3—Line/Copyediting: This is a line-by-line process combining line editing and copyediting into a package deal, saving you both time and money. Line editing focuses on the rhythm and language of your manuscript, while copyediting performs the first attack on grammatical issues. 

***To learn about the editorial process more in depth, check out my Tips for Writers article titled The Four Rounds of Editing.

Every project is different, but as an example, a Developmental Edit of a 55,000-word book will take me about two weeks, while a Line/Copyedit of the same word count will take me about four weeks.

When you fill out my Author Questionnaire, I will be able to give you an accurate turnaround for your particular manuscript. Once you book your spot on my calendar, I will give you a solid start date and deadline you can count on.

Just because we’ve completed our business together does not mean I will abandon you. If you want to bounce an idea for a rewrite off me, please do! If you have a question about grammar, just ask! And if you simply want to check in and ask about the weather, don’t hesitate! I’d love to hear from you, and in fact, many of my clients become lifelong friends and pen pals.

If you need a more extensive chat about the editorial suggestions and changes, I offer 30-minute editorial consultations via Zoom as an add-on service! I also offer 40-minute book coaching sessions to help you during the writing or rewriting process.

Plus, consider me your personal publishing cheerleader. I am just as excited as my clients to finally see your book available for purchase. Every client of mine can expect to be featured on the Red Quill Editorial Facebook page upon publication and added to the pipeline for a feature in The Red Quill Editorial monthly newsletter. I will also add your book to the Red Quill Editorial Bookshelf, where your book cover will include a link for where it can be purchased.

Yes! Because I believe word of mouth is one of the best ways to find someone who offers the quality service you need, I am always searching for partners in the publishing industry who offer reputable and high-quality services for referral purposes.

Whether you need a final proofreading, cover design, illustrations, formatting, marketing & reviews, or printing & publishing, I vet each one of my publishing partners before I send my clients to them, so you can feel confident reaching out to someone in Red Quill Editorial’s Publishing Partners Rolodex.