Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I need to have a little heart-to-heart (with a sprinkle of humour, naturally!). As some of you know, I dabble in the dark arts of book editing and web content wizardry. And every so often, when the topic of my “fame” (yes, I’m using air quotes so big you could fly a small plane through them) comes up, I get that look. The one that makes me ask, “Do you want me to edit your book for free?”
It’s the look that says, “Oh, you work with words? Fantastic! So, about this 80,000-word fantasy epic my neighbour’s cat wrote…”
It seems the moment people discover I spend my days wrestling rogue commas and taming unruly sentences, a little lightbulb goes off above their heads, illuminating the path to FREE EDITING!
Now, I love you all dearly. My friends, my family, even that guy I accidentally made eye contact with at the grocery store last Tuesday – you’re all wonderful. But let’s talk about this “free book edit” thing for a second.
Because, my dears, when you find out that the editing fairy doesn’t just sprinkle magic dust for free, and that actual money is involved (gasp!), I sometimes get the impression that I’ve personally offended your entire lineage. So, let’s break it down, shall we?
The Nitty-Gritty: Editing a 35,000-Word Book
Imagine you have a lovely 35,000-word masterpiece brewing in your mind (or already typed out – go you!). Now, to turn that gem into a polished diamond, it needs a good edit. Let’s see what that would realistically cost in terms of time and money at standard industry editing rates:
- Time: A professional editor can typically edit around 500-1,000 words per hour, depending on the complexity of the text and the level of editing required (developmental, line, copyediting, proofreading – it’s a whole world!). Let’s take a conservative estimate of 500 words per hour for a thorough edit.
- 35,000 words / 500 words/hour = 70 hours of dedicated editing time. That’s nearly two full work weeks!
- Cost: Standard industry rates for editing vary, but let’s take an average of $0.05 per word for a comprehensive edit. This can be higher or lower depending on the editor’s experience and the type of editing.
- 35,000 words * $0.05/word = $1,750
So, for a 35,000-word book, you’re looking at roughly 70 hours of work costing around $1,750.
This is the average amount of edits a book undergoes in a “Light Edit”…
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But you’re you!” And yes, I am me! A wonderful, slightly quirky, lover of Oxford commas me.
But those 70 hours? That’s time I could be spending on paying clients (who, you know, pay!), pursuing my own creative projects (the ones that don’t involve hunting down misplaced semicolons), marketing my business (because even “famous” people need to eat!), or even, dare I say, winning souls for God’s kingdom (if He calls me to edit His heavenly manuscript, I’m there!).
And here’s the thing I’ve learned: people simply don’t value what they get for free.
It’s a sad truth, but often, work given without charge isn’t taken as seriously or appreciated as much as work that has a tangible cost attached.
Why is editing expensive?
Because you’re not just paying for someone to fix typos (though that’s part of it!). You’re paying for:
- Their expertise: Years of training and experience in grammar, style, and storytelling.
- Their keen eye: The ability to spot inconsistencies, plot holes, and awkward phrasing that the author might have missed after staring at their manuscript for months.
- Their time: As illustrated above, it takes a significant amount of focused time and effort. Time they could be using to earn a living elsewhere.
Now, before you start feeling guilty for even thinking about asking for a freebie, let me offer a solution! I’m a genuinely nice person (most of the time, ask my cat).
I understand that not everyone has a spare $1,750 lying around.
That’s why I’ve created resources like my coaching course (you know, the one I occasionally mention?). It’s designed to help you become a better writer, to understand the fundamentals of grammar and style, and to ultimately minimize the amount of work an editor needs to do.
And guess what? That can significantly reduce the cost of editing!
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t expect a plumber to fix your entire house for free just because you’re friends, would you? You might ask for a quick bit of advice, but for a major overhaul, you understand there’s a cost involved. Editing is the same.
So, the next time you’re tempted to ask for free editing, please remember the time, effort, and expertise that goes into it.
Put in the work yourself first!
Take advantage of the free resources available (like my amazing coaching course – just saying!).
Show that you’re serious about your writing.
Because honestly, unless the Almighty Himself descends from the heavens and personally instructs me to edit your manuscript for free (and provides me with unlimited coffee and chocolate), it’s probably not going to happen.
Love you all! Now go forth and write brilliantly (and maybe consider working through that coaching series😉).
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