(Below services will only be active from JUNE 2012)
I am an editor, journalist, researcher, author and publishing consultant. I work with authors and publishers on private and commercial projects in an editorial, advisory, developmental and supportive role. I've been writing for more than twenty-five years and I've commercially published and self-published books of fiction and non fiction in that time. As well as my work running The Independent Publishing Magazine, I've had many articles published in print and online magazines, including Writers' Forum, The Self-Publishing Magazine UK, Publishing Basics Magazine, Self-Publishing Review, Irish Publishing News and Publetariat. I'm also a regular poster on several writers' forums.
As editor of The Independent Publishing Magazine, I attend major trade events and conferences like the London Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, BEA (Book Expo America), O'Reilly TOC (Tools of Change) Conferences, PEN Ireland, The Self-Publishing Conferences UK & Ireland, as well as speaking and presenting seminars at writers' creative workshops, community centres, Literary Festivals and writer gatherings.
I'm very selective about the clients and work I take on. I value my time, and whether I take on a project as a one-off or work with a corporate client on a rolling 6-12 month contract, work closely with an author on a book project, give a speech at a trade show or writers' group - every client deserves the best I can offer from my experience of writing as an author and journalist, and as an editor and researcher in the publishing industry.
I do call it as I see it, and I won't pretend I am the right match for every client. There's too many professionals out there who pretend to be everything to all clients - promise everything, and delivery little of substance. I don't work that way. It either works or it doesn't. At the first point of contact, my job is always to ascertain what is required of me and if we can work well together.
Drop me a few lines via email outlining the kind of work you would like me to carry out, and, whether you are a publisher, writer or organisation, and we can start to build a professional relationship from there. Many of the clients I work with have already built up an understanding and relationship with me through The Independent Publishing Magazine or through my presence online.
I do call it as I see it, and I won't pretend I am the right match for every client. There's too many professionals out there who pretend to be everything to all clients - promise everything, and delivery little of substance. I don't work that way. It either works or it doesn't. At the first point of contact, my job is always to ascertain what is required of me and if we can work well together.
Drop me a few lines via email outlining the kind of work you would like me to carry out, and, whether you are a publisher, writer or organisation, and we can start to build a professional relationship from there. Many of the clients I work with have already built up an understanding and relationship with me through The Independent Publishing Magazine or through my presence online.
EDITING SERVICES OFFERED
Substantive
(Structure, voice, plot, characters, flow etc)
Copy/Line
(Grammar, punctuation, spelling, phrasing, clarity etc)
Proofreading
(Final scan for printer - spec requirements, layout, typography, illustration placement, spacing, headings, basic typo etc)
Please take note. All of the above levels of editing are distinct processes. Typically a manuscript begins with substantive editing of the content, then progresses into copy editing (some refer to this as line editing), before reaching a final proof for a printer or file load up to a distributor. Despite what some editing services advise you - an editor cannot structurally edit and 'proof' (final check) a document at the same time, no more than an editor 'copy edit' or 'proof' a document at the same time. Proofreading is exactly that - reading and making very minor corrections at the last hurdle caused by layout and transposing files. It is not editing and is simply a final check and sign off for a printer.
To summarize; there are many editing services - particularly in the author solutions field who will deliberately or ignorantly misguide authors as to the depth of editing on offer. Copy editing is not substantive editing. All manuscripts go through a degree of substantive editing and this usually requires an author rewriting sections of the manuscript on an editor's advice. Copy editing only happens after the rewrites. Proofing is preparatory work for a printer's typeset/PDF copy.
(please note, stylistically, I do not work with the 'accept/reject' changes mode in MS Word in a substantial edit work project simply because most of the comments/suggestions are made by me, but the substantive (re)writing must be done by the author. The accept/reject mode is only used in copy and proofing work)
RATES
Through experience, I've learned that quoting an editing job is best done by the hour rather than per word. 1000 words of copy editing from one author can mean half an hour of editing - from another - two to three hours of work, depending on corrections required. I'm happy to take a few moments out of my day to look at an MS and provide a very general estimate on the kind of editing needed, but any estimate is based on the first few pages and cannot take into account the inconsistency of an MS.
There are services you will find online quoting as little as a few hundred €£$ for editing. That might work for a booklet, chapbook or long short story, but full editing on a complete MS of 60K plus words takes many hours. Typically, editors working for a commercial publisher will spend several weeks working on an MS, and this may include the work passing through the hands of two or more editors.
There are services you will find online quoting as little as a few hundred €£$ for editing. That might work for a booklet, chapbook or long short story, but full editing on a complete MS of 60K plus words takes many hours. Typically, editors working for a commercial publisher will spend several weeks working on an MS, and this may include the work passing through the hands of two or more editors.
The current rates of editing I provide are:
Substantive - @€28/$39.75/£22.95 per hour
Copy/Line - @€18/$25.55/£14.75 per hour
Proof - @€14/$19.50/£10.50 per hour
MS Evaluation - @€350-450/$490-650/£285-370
MS Evaluation will include a report on the manuscript, the level of editing required to reach publication standard, and also a list of appropriate agents and publishers the MS will be suitable for provided the level of editing suggested is carried out.
PUBLISHING CONSULTATION
I work with publishers and authors in an advisory, developmental and auditing role to progress projects through inception, production and realisation. I am happy to consider all projects provided we can plan in advance. If you need something done tomorrow or the day after, then I'm probably not the person for you. I can turn work around quickly if a client needs that, and if I feel the work will not be compromised, but I prefer not to work with clients who decide what is needed on a Monday, submit on Tuesday, and expect a result on a Wednesday. Good writing and publishing does not work that way unless you are in the newspaper trade. I've always written for articles for magazines. I edit and run The Independent Publishing Magazine. Sometimes that does mean working to deliver copy from breaking story to publication in less than an hour or two at ungodly hours of the day, but that's how I work as a journalist and not how I work as a consultant.
* Basic Consultation session
* Project/Business Review & Strategic Audit
* Tools of Change and Development Plan
(rates of €80-120 per hour dependent on project)
SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS/DEBATES
I've written a considerable amount on writing, publishing and the future of publishing, as well as appearing at conferences, seminars, workshops and debates. I am available to take part in at any event you might believe I will add value and expertise to.
[rates on request and please note, as of June 2012, I am located in the Netherlands)
(PLEASE CONTACT BY EMAIL IN FIRST INSTANCE TO DISCUSS YOUR QUERY, PROJECT OR QUOTE)
(PLEASE CONTACT BY EMAIL IN FIRST INSTANCE TO DISCUSS YOUR QUERY, PROJECT OR QUOTE)
0 Comments
