Editing Services & Frequently Asked Questions

Editing Services and Fees

Manuscripts and Proposals

Most manuscript or academic editing projects are priced by the word, usually around 3.5 cents per word. Large project prices may be negotiated depending on the work involved and the finish level of the submitted manuscript. Manuscripts requiring special services will be estimated on a per-project basis. 

Journal Article  ♦   Dissertation  ♦  Prospectus  ♦  Conference Paper  ♦  ESL / ELL Paper  ♦  Translated Article  ♦  Research Proposal  ♦  Curriculum Vitae  ♦  Course Proposal  ♦ Thesis  ♦  Grant Application  ♦  Fellowship Application

Request a manuscript sample edit

Julie may complete a complimentary sample edit for certain projects.  For all projects, she will provide an up-front price for editing the project and an estimate of when it will be completed. The minimum charge for all projects—no matter what size—is $30. Most assignments are completed within five to seven days. If you need a faster turnaround, additional “rush” charges may apply. 

The sample edit must be from a page of the project you would like edited. Please include the entire manuscript so that Julie may create a firm price quote for you. Also, please note your required style (such as APA or MLA) and any other special considerations.

Grants and Project Development

Having written successful grants, Julie can assist your organization in researching potential funders, cultivating relationships, and drafting a focused proposal that clearly states your program’s objectives with a defined plan and budget.  She can review and edit your own proposal and provide meaningful feedback. Contact Julie to discuss your project's status and scope.

Résumés, Cover Letters, and Other Materials

Julie creates all résumés to reflect your particular experience and expertise using the language of your field and your targeted position. All documents are completed in Microsoft Word.  Contact Julie for a specific quote. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Working with an Editor

How do you make changes to my document?
All changes use Microsoft Word’s “track changes” feature.  With this, you, the author, have the opportunity to accept or reject each change I make, giving you total control over the editing process. You retain the final authority over changes to your document. 

What style manuals do you use?
I write to the style you require, usually APA or MLA, but also Chicago, Turabian, and AP.  If I have a specific style question that falls outside, for example, the APA guidelines, I defer to the Chicago Manual of Style.  I will flag issues in the text where I make a change to your manuscript based on the suggestions of the style guide, and you always have the option of rejecting those changes. If you require a specific “house” style guide, as in a journal or your dissertation guidelines, I will refer to that guide when provided.

What is developmental or substantive editing?
Manuscripts still in development often benefit from a substantive or developmental edit.  You may have completed a first chapter, a first draft, or a “final” draft that needs a review from someone outside of your project. In other cases, you may be suffering from writer’s block and are looking for some suggestions for direction. At this point, the editor makes suggestions about the document’s organization, evidence, and voice, asking such questions as “Does this make sense to the reader?” and “Can the reader follow your argument easily?”  The editor suggests areas that need to be rewritten, deleted, moved, or further substantiated.  I will make suggested changes and note where you may need to do some additional work.
  
What is copy editing?
If your manuscript is in relatively strong shape, it is ready for a copy edit. This is often the point in the development of a thesis or dissertation when your committee has reviewed it and you want to clean up the formatting and style (APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian) and check for minor errors.  Copy-editing looks for errors in grammar, spelling, wording or capitalization inconsistencies (e.g., healthcare v. health care), minor organizational issues, word choice, and so forth. The editor may occasionally check facts or quotations for accuracy, suggest moving or splitting a paragraph, suggest additional heads or sub-heads, or ask the author to include source qualifications for clarity.
 
What is proofreading?
At the final stage of publication of a book or article, an author and proofreaders have the opportunity to review the final version—or “proof”—of the manuscript for such small errors as typos, wrong capitalization, or missing punctuation. Proofreaders will rarely make changes to more than a few words here and there throughout the document.

What is project editing?
Project editing usually involves managing the editorial team—for example, hiring, coordinating, or scheduling indexers, designers, or copyeditors—and enforcing consistent standards throughout the project.  It may also include developmental editing. On projects with multiple authors, the project editor ensures that the document reads as if it were written by a single person.

Will you re-edit the paper after I have revised it based upon your suggestions?
I am always available to answer questions or clarify my comments. If you require a second edit after you have made revisions, I can review those, usually at a reduced rate. 

Do you guarantee error-free edits?
I cannot provide a 100% guarantee of editing perfection. However, I will provide a thoughtful and comprehensive edit and will do everything I can to ensure your satisfaction.