Interested in booking? Head to the Discovery Call page and get in touch!

Book a Discovery Call

Tag: editor

Categories
Craft

Why Does a Live Developmental Edit Work?

Why Does a Live Developmental Edit Work?

My developmental editing package ‘The End’ is a live package for those who have finished the first draft of their novel.

But why choose a live developmental edit over a report?

To limit overwhelm. It can be overwhelming to receive a 100-page document on your novel. After listening to the needs of my clients, I realised that we would be able to get more done without the overwhelm by combining coaching and editing, working through changes together.

To give you the opportunity to talk through changes ahead of making them. This alone is worth its weight in gold – you should always feel free to push against your editor, and this will provide opportunity for discussion at every stage – far beyond the usual post edit chat.

To collaboratively create solutions that you’re comfortable with. No guessing, no altering to something you’re unsure of without discussion – together, we will make your novel stronger through live collaboration.

To give you support and hold you accountable. Instead of being given a report to deal with in your own time, you’ll be set up with supportive calls to help you through the process. This also increases the likelihood of you finishing the edits within a specific timeframe too!

So, what’s included in ‘The End’ package?

9 hours of Zoom calls broken into 1 hour pre-edit, so I can understand the aims of the novel. Flexible editing and coaching sessions moving forward, giving you the opportunity to work on your edits in between.

A 125-page workbook to help you understand how you have answered your intentions and goals for the novel.

A live developmental edit, with the opportunity to work through your novel in manageable chunks alongside an experienced coach and editor.

The chance to get your edits checked as you work on them, so that you know you’re left with a strong novel.

Accountability so that you can edit your novel on your own timescale.

In-text feedback for the entire novel.

Detailed summaries of coaching calls so that you revisit the discussions as needed, and optional recordings.

Weekly email check-ins.

A detailed overview of our planned work together, taking into account narrative, characterisation, dialogue, consistency, target audience, reader expectations, structure and plot, magic systems, tense and point of view, pacing, setting, themes (internal and external), tension, line editing considerations, and plot notes and recommendations.

If this sounds like something that would work for you, get in touch today. I’m now booking for 2026!

Categories
Coaching Publishing

How Much Does a Developmental Edit Cost?

How much does a Developmental Edit Cost?

Money. It’s a difficult subject. But come on, let’s get into it.

Imagine you’re in need of a Developmental Edit (someone to review your structure, narrative, character development, and more) for your 80k word novel. You reach out to an editor (or more than one!)…

What can you expect in terms of cost?

Based on various factors, you should expect a range between*:

$2200/£1650 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3160/£2360

(Disclaimer: there will, of course, be instances that go lower and higher.) *Based on EFA and Reedsy standard rates

What are the factors that impact this?
  • Experience (someone more experienced will likely charge more)
  • Time in business (someone with a newer business may offer lower rates while they gather testimonials)
  • Complexity (if your work is complex, it may take longer)
What does it include?

Well, that depends too. Editors offer different services. For example, I offer a ‘Live Developmental Edit’. That means, in my Dev Edit package, I charge £0.020 per word, provide a workbook, in-text notes, an editing summary, and include 9 hours of coaching time to go through the edits. Some editors charge more per word and offer a report, so you might find that though we cost the same for a project, we provide different styles of feedback.

How are these costs figured out?

Editors charge differently. Here’s the average:

$0.028-$0.040/£0.021-£0.030 – per word

$50.00–$60.00/£37-£45 – per hour

$7.50–$10.00/£5.50-£7.50 – per page

Why is it so expensive?

Yes, hiring an editor can be expensive. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • The task is demanding, and as editing takes such intense focus, we can only spend a limited amount of time a day on it. It also requires time to think about the issues and the best step forward.
  • It requires specialist knowledge. For example, I studied in higher education for 8 years and have worked in this field for over 10 years. Experience costs money.
  • Most editors are running a small business. That means that there are lots of costs involved, including tax, office equipment, and bills to run them, websites, training, marketing, memberships, and much more. There’s also the stuff outside of that, like food and family responsibilities.
Anything else?
  • Most editors offer payment plans, so don’t be afraid to ask.
  • Be prepared to put down a deposit to ‘save your spot’!
  • Contact an editor well ahead of time, as we book up far in advance.

At the start of this year, I raised my prices in line with my expertise and experience. Still, I’m not near the top regarding charging per word, etc., but I am comfortable with my current rates. Between 2020 and 2024, I was charging below industry average. This often happens when someone starts a new business, as you need those all important testimonials and gaining a client base. I’m sharing this information for two reasons:

1: If you are looking at this slideshow and worrying that you won’t find someone within your budget, look around. You may find someone (like me over the last few years) who is qualified and experienced but working for a lower rate for a period of time to grow their new business.

2: To share an awareness of the industry pricing standard and what goes into it so that you can make more informed decisions in your search for an editor.

I hope this has been helpful!

Looking for a similar read?

What Does It Mean to Edit for Genre?

 

Categories
Craft

The Top 5 Things I Learned from Working with an Editor

Working with an editor

Yes, editors do hire editors, and that includes me. I have learned a lot from working with an editor. When it comes to your own work, you are often so involved that you often need someone else to read it before you send it out to readers. That can come in many forms – it might be that you’re looking for a beta reader (someone who reads your touched up manuscript), an alpha reader (someone who reads your rough draft), or you may decide to go for an editor for a more in-depth analysis. Here are five things I learned from hiring an editor.

1) They can help you see your own work clearly. 

It isn’t easy to see your work when you’re so close to it. When I recently sent my first five chapters to an editor, I took out a prologue before I sent it. This was for a few different reasons, but I was so familiar with the world that I had created that I didn’t realise the prologue missing would cause many issues. Ummm…I was wrong! Some important world-building was in that prologue, and so by removing it before sending, I made my editor say…’Where is this exactly?’ An interesting lesson! The world-building throughout the rest of my novel is tight, so I’m not worried about this. Now I know that the first few chapters require more world-building and detail if I want to remove that prologue.

2) Peer review is valuable. 

It can be scary to send your work to other people, but peer review always makes it stronger. Hearing what other people think, what they expected, and how they feel about your story will allow you to make it so much better.

3) They save you time. 

Yes, although it can feel like you’ve been given more work when an editor comes back to you with a report, they are actually saving you a lot of time. They are ploughing through the manuscript for you, marking up those bits that need changing, and providing you with information that it would have taken hours to find yourself.

4) They give you ideas you may have never considered. 

We all need a fresh pair of eyes sometimes, and an editor can help you see a new direction for your work, a character, or a scene. Sometimes, it’s even something that you may have never considered before.

5) They can spot inconsistencies you cannot. 

As we are so close to our stories, we can miss inconsistencies or repeated details. After all, we know the world so well, so when this isn’t communicated to the reader well enough, it won’t always be easy to spot. An editor can help you see those issues, including other common occurrences such as repetitive words and phrases.

What have you learned from hiring editors? Share with me because I would love to know! 

If you are looking for an editor, get in touch today. I would love to help you polish up your work and make it shine, and I am currently booking from Spring 2022.

If you are looking for a similar read, check out the following:

4 Ways to Edit Your Own Writing
Online Writing Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel

Categories
Coaching Craft

Writing Coach Vs Editor: What’s the Difference?

Writing coach editor

Should you hire a Writing Coach or a Developmental editor? What is each for, and how do you know how to move forward?

I have noticed that this question is bringing people to my website organically, so I wanted to answer it clearly so that people have that answer.

What is a Writing Coach?

A writing coach, also known as an Author Coach or Book Coach, is a trained coach who helps you through any writing issues. I have helped writers find the time in their busy schedules to write, create a writing routine that works for them, develop their novel ideas, and much more.

What is a Developmental Edit?

A Developmental Edit is an edit that focuses on the story. It is concerned with narrative, consistency, characterisation, dialogue – basically everything but the copy edit! When I provide a Developmental Edit to an author, it consists of my going through the work at least twice, and providing the client with an Editor’s Report and in-text comments and corrections, as well as an hour-long discussion/coaching session afterwards to discuss the work.

What is the difference between a Writing Coach and a Developmental Editor?

The difference is the focus. For example, I am both a Writing Coach and an Editor who offers Developmental Editing. When I am hired to coach, I have a series of sessions with the writer, and we work toward their goals through a series of jointly agreed action points. When I am hired to provide a Developmental Edit, I focus on the draft of a novel and write up an Editor’s Report, instead of live sessions with the author.

What stage should I be in to hire a Writing Coach?

You can be in any stage to hire a Writing Coach, from idea to fifth edit! As a coach, I can focus on whatever you would like to focus on. Sometimes that’s at the very start of a novel and is all about your idea, and how you would like the book to be written. At other times it’s after publication, and you want to work on marketing. As a writing coach, we can work together on any writing goal, however varied.

What stage should I be in to hire a Developmental Editor? 

To hire a Developmental Editor, you need to have a novel pretty much written. It could be that you hire someone to edit at a date a few months into the future, with the understanding that you will have completed the novel by then. However, the most important thing to know is that you will be required to hand over a manuscript to the editor on the agreed-upon date, so get writing!

What are the pros of hiring a Writing Coach?

As a writing coach, I can help you achieve your literary dreams. By holding space for you, identifying action points, and asking the questions that drive you to dig deep, you will leave a session with more clarity and purpose. Ultimately, coaching can help you succeed in your goals.

What are the pros of hiring a Developmental Editor? 

A Developmental Edit can give you expert advice on your novel. It will leave you with a roadmap of how to move forward, what needs improving, and how you can make your story the best it can possibly be.

Can I hire someone to do both?

Yes! In fact, I offer a great deal for someone who is looking for a coach AND an editor. This consists of six months of weekly coaching AND a full Developmental Edit when you are ready. If you want to know more about it, click here to find out – https://rachelgrosvenorauthor.com/coaching/

So, now you know the difference between hiring someone to be a Writing Coach or a Developmental Editor, and what is best for you.

As a Certified Professional Coach, trained by an ICF company and with an ILM Level 2, you can trust that my coaching skills are tried and tested. As a writer with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing, and over six years of lecturing in adult education and at universities, I’m a professional writer specialising in helping others find their way forward. 

Any questions? Feel free to get in touch.

Want to read something similar? Check these out!

What is a Writing Coach?
4 Ways to Edit Your Own Writing