Novel editing costHow much does it cost to edit a novel?
I price by the word, so the cost depends on your manuscript’s length and the kind of editing it needs. For a 80,000-word novel, my rates work out like this:
- Proofreading/Copy Editing: $520
- Line Editing: $1,000
- Developmental Editing: $1,600–$3,200
- Beta Reading: $400
Price by length
| Manuscript | Proofreading | Line editing | Developmental | Beta read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short story 7,500 words | $56 | $150 | $150–$300 | $38 |
| Novella 30,000 words | $210 | $450 | $600–$1,200 | $150 |
| Short novel 50,000 words | $350 | $750 | $1,000–$2,000 | $250 |
| Novel 80,000 words | $520 | $1,000 | $1,600–$3,200 | $400 |
| Epic 120,000 words | $600 | $1,200 | $2,400–$4,800 | $600 |
Have a different word count? The quote builder prices it exactly.
How the price works
- Proofreading and line editing get cheaper per word as the manuscript gets longer. The whole book is billed at the rate for its length.
- Revision rounds are included: two with proofreading, three with line editing.
- Developmental editing runs 2¢ to 4¢ per word, depending on the project.
- Beta reads are 0.5¢ per word, with a $25 minimum.
- Bundles cost less than the parts: The IndiePub Treatment (Beta Read + Line Edit + Blurb + Author Bio) and The TradPub Treatment (Developmental Edit + Line Edit + Proofread + Blurb + Author Bio).
- The first 5,000 words are a free trial edit. I confirm the final price after it.
Even greater discounts are available for bulk contracted editing work and there is an automatic 10% additional discount for non-profit organizations.
All prices are in USD but I’m happy to make custom, favorably-priced quotes for my Canadian, New Zealander, Australian and other friends.
Free trial edit
Send me up to 5,000 words and I'll edit it for free, no strings attached. Email me@georgedonnelly.com now to get started.