It has been suggested... · 2:39pm May 27th, 2017
...that I offer my services as an editor for hire, that is, being paid to run grammar checks and whatnot. Certainly an interesting possibility, but I am unsure of the rates I should offer should I pursue that option.
I do mine for free, but I'm also picky about it.
For money, I've seen the rate of $3/1000 words bandied about fairly often,
4548841
Basically the same deal with me. I've been editing for free for a while now, but at one point when I put a rate on it I was doing $3/1000 words. I'm currently back to doing it free for short one-shots and am trying to keep away from longer stories. Now that I actually have a degree in English, though, I probably should be charging...
As someone who's offered such services before and been met with scorn and derision for it? Don't even waste your time trying. For every one actual client you'll get, you'll get fifteen people treating you like you're some kind of asshole for wanting to charge for editing.
4548933
Well, that's the fandom for you. I agree.
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Anyway Masterweaver, I'd go with varied rates.
If it's just a one-shot (2000 words or less) or a single chapter (3000 words or less), then just go for it.
If it's a whole story or multiple chapters, then set a rate.
Then be prepared for all the tolerance that'll come your way.
Offer deals, such as for every 10000 words you edit, they get a chapter free.
If there's someone who's been there for you every step of the way, maybe give them a discount.
I'm not dictating what you should do, I'm just sending ideas your way.
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That'll be 5.99.
4548983
Sales free tax, sales free tax, sales free tax
4549077
Your total comes out to be $6.38
4549122
Jokes on you, I'll pay in Bison dollars
I just want to point out that being an editor is a lot more than grammar checking and the like.
Being an editor also means telling the author in question, "Hey, this doesn't make sense, could you clarify this bit?" "That's an idea, but what if instead you did...." and the like.
This is why editors at newspapers and comics studios have as much power as they do; they essentially decide what gets written.
4549149
Yep. That's the difference between editing and proofreading. I've been doing both for a while. In my opinion, general proofreading really shouldn't be charged unless it's a long story, and even then, the charge should be lower. Full-fledged editing is a different story.
4548933
I was lucky enough to just not get any requests when I put up a charge—no hounding about looking for some kind of compensation. Worked for me at the time—I was already editing six stories and writing two. Then I had to go on an editing hiatus, so it all worked out.
To parrot others, it depends on how much work you're putting into it.
PresentPerfect does it for only $1/1000-wd. but I think he's mainly reading the story and offering criticism in the general sense. If you're doing comprehensive grammar checking, word choices, etc., that's a bit more work. Still more is providing suggestions about the plot dynamics and story progression. And if you're outright editing the entire document for the person, you're basically being commissioned to write a story at that point.
So at one end, $1/1000 is reasonable. If you're actually writing the story for them? For a professional, $20/1000 is the absolute minimum from what I'm able to find online (unless it's a story idea you like, would want to have written anyway, and are expecting attribution for your assistance). The typical professional price range is from $30/1000 to $300/1000, depending on awesomeness, reputation, etc.
So yeah, that's a huge difference (even just the minimums of $1 vs. $20), which brings me to my point: be super-duper effing clear about what service you are offering. Like, have either one service or a range of services in mind, and specify exactly what you will be doing for what price. You should also look at the work in question before you accept the job.
Just my two cents (per word).