What does a book editor cost?

My authors are often blindsided by how much a good editor actually costs. I want you to think of it this way – most editors take a minimum of 2 months on your book. Work that out. Simply the first reading can take a few days. Then they read it again. Then they start to work on it, and make sense of it.  I want to remind you that a publisher will allocate an editor and pay them, so this applies only to self published or hybrid published books.

All books need to have a professional editor to take them from a shaky manuscript to finished product. This is the one thing you do not want to pennypinch on. And it’s a rule of thumb that you get what you pay for. If you tell me your ‘friend of a friend’ will edit it, I may scream. If you tell me your partner will edit it, well that’s even worse. Editors are professionals and they are worth every cent.

There are so many variables that determine an editor’s fee:

How much input you need

Many books need a strong directional edit. This means the editor needs to fix big things in your book, change things around and improve the book in general. Others need just straight copy-editing (which means checking your spelling and grammar).

When we get your book we are assuming that it is your final draft. We will quote you on editing it – as it stands. If you feel your novel is not working and you want an editor to try and fix the story with you, that is a different type of editing. The latter requires a more skilled editor who has worked with many books. We will ask to see a sample of the manuscript before quoting you, because depending on the complexity of the manuscript, we may be able to edit three pages an hour, or we may be able to edit fifteen.

Length

An average manuscript is about 70,000 to 80,000 words. If yours is 160,000, expect to pay double the average, because the editor will spend twice as long on it. If its 30,000 words its not a novel, it’s a novella and you will pay less.

Novel vs non-fiction editors

Also different kinds of editors are used here. An novel editor is fixing your story. A non-fiction editor has a very high skill set and is looking for many things and fixing them – like factual inaccuracies, copied text (plagurism), flawed logic, tightening your argument, finding missing information, fact checking and so many things. Non fiction editors often have to check all your facts and often have a strong general knowledge and loads of experience. They will pick up inaccuracides like was Abraham Lincoln born in 1882? Hmmmmm? Can you catch malaria from a friend? I think not.

Is it complex and technical?

Remember you are paying for a highly skilled individual’s time.

If your manuscript is full of footnotes and figures and names that need checking it will take more time.

If your thoughts are disorganized and sentences confusing, you will end up paying more.

If the manuscript is straightforward and clearly written and organized you will pay less.

Hourly editorial rates

Now that you know some of the variables involved, these are the average rates you’ll pay for different kinds of editing. Note that a manuscript page is considered to be 250 words. 

Total editorial costs

So for an average book of 70,000 to 80,000 words, you might pay:

• Substantive editing: R30,000-R60,00 or $3,500-$5,000

• Copy editing: R14,000-R24,000 or $1,200

• Proofreading: R12,00 or $2000

You are hiring an experienced professional to make your book better. It is money well spent. In the right hands, most authors enjoy the editorial process because it’s an opportunity to discuss their work in detail with a deeply attentive reader, and to make it the best it can be.

You make the final call about what changes you accept, but remember that the editor has thought carefully about your manuscript and is bringing all of their professional experience to bear on it.