Pricing
Before I determine a price for my copyediting or proofreading work, I find it helpful to see a short sample of writing (c. 500 words), as well as details of what the full project entails, including the word count, number of pages, topic, genre (e.g. thesis, journal article, book manuscript, etc.), the service you require (proofreading and/or copyediting), and the time frame in which the work needs to be completed.
Once I have these details, I will offer you a fixed fee quote for my services.
My hourly rates are $40 for copyediting and $30 for proofreading (both NZ dollars - that’s £20/15, or $US25/18). My rate for proofreading student theses and dissertations is $20 per hour (£10, $US12).
As a rule of thumb, I can usually proofread or copyedit around 1,000 to 1,500 words per hour (although this will vary depending on the editorial interventions required). So, to give you some rough estimates (in NZ dollars):
Proofreading a Masters dissertation (c. 40,000 words): $540-$800.
Proofreading a PhD thesis (c. 90,000 words): $1,000-$1,800.
Copyediting a journal article (c. 7,000 words): $188-$280.
Proofreading a book chapter (c. 8,000 words): $160-$240.
Copyediting a book manuscript (c. 80,000 words): $2,100-$3,200.
Proofreading a book manuscript (c. 80,000 words): $1,600-$2,400.
Copyediting and proofreading a book manuscript (c. 80,000 words): $3,700-$5,600.
These examples are only guidelines, and my fee could be a little higher or lower, depending on my initial evaluation of your writing, the amount of editorial work required, and the turnaround you need. I will recommend a fixed fee based on how long I think it will take me to complete the work you require. If it takes me less time to finish, I will only invoice you for the hours I have worked. If it takes me longer than expected, you will still only need to pay the fixed fee agreed at the outset.
I will send an invoice for my fee after the editing and/or proofreading is complete. Sometimes, I may ask for a deposit at the start of larger or more complex projects, or we can arrange payment via instalments. Invoices should be paid within seven days. Payments can be made via bank transfer (to a New Zealand or UK bank) or Paypal (which incurs a small transaction fee).