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 [email protected] now to get started.