editing Services
The services below can be mixed and matched based on your budget.
In the world of writing, editing is an indispensable process that breathes life into raw ideas and transforms them into polished, impactful works. Editing goes beyond error correction; it is a meticulous art that elevates the quality, clarity, and overall effectiveness of a written work. By refining language, structure, and content, editing transforms a draft into a compelling, professional piece that captivates readers and communicates the intended message with precision.
But because that process is so nuanced, editing is divided into subcategories that tackle different aspects of your writing. It’s important to know what those subcategories are, so you can get an idea exactly where and what kind of editing fits into your budget.
We’ve broken up the services below based on what part of the publishing process they are involved.
Development
Development/Coaching
- Author Coaching $30/hr
Minimum one hour for phone or zoom meetings.
- Developmental Edit $0.02 per Word
Developmental editing is a collaborative process that takes a broader perspective on your manuscript. A developmental editor works closely with you to strengthen the underlying structure, plot, characterization, and overall impact of your work. They provide feedback and suggestions on story development, pacing, narrative arc, and thematic consistency. Their goal is to help you shape your work into a compelling and cohesive piece that resonates with readers.
- Ghostwriting (Lite) $0.05 per Word
This is priced cheap because it may be a part of a larger edit. If you have a finished draft that still needs more than 2,000 words added to enhance engagement by expanding descriptions and flushing out scenes, then this service is for you.
- Ghostwriting (Full) $0.08 per Word
This is my most expensive service for a reason. This service assumes that you have an outline or skin-bare draft ready to submit and you require a book crafted from scratch according to your specifications. All rights to this content go with you once final payment has been made.
early Feedback
- Beta Reading $50
Beta readers act as a test audience, allowing authors to gauge the effectiveness of their writing and identify areas that may require improvement. They provide constructive criticism, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. By offering fresh perspectives and honest feedback, beta readers can help authors refine their work and elevate its quality.
- Editorial Assessment $100
This is a cross between a pre-edit and coaching. After reading an early draft of the manuscript, you would receive broad written feedback guiding you on your path forward. Unlike beta reading, which can be done by avid readers, an editorial assessment is done by an editor only, This is the most cost effective way to determine how much work your manuscript might need before purchasing a larger service.
The price of this assessment will be deducted from any follow up purchase.
Editing
al a carte services
- Copy Editing $0.01 per Word
Copy editing is an essential step in the publishing process that focuses on enhancing the clarity, accuracy, and consistency of a written work. Professional copy editors meticulously review your text, correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax errors. They also ensure the content flows smoothly and follows the appropriate style guide, making your writing polished and ready for publication.
- Line Editing $0.015 per Word
Line editing involves a comprehensive review of your manuscript, focusing on improving the overall writing style, clarity, and coherence. A skilled line editor examines each sentence and paragraph, refining the language, structure, and tone of your work. They pay attention to word choice, sentence flow, and paragraph transitions, ensuring your writing is engaging and effectively conveys your message to the intended audience.
- Proofreading $0.01 per Word
Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process and focuses on eliminating any remaining errors before publication. A meticulous proofreader carefully examines your document for typos, spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. They ensure that your work adheres to industry standards and is free from distracting errors, guaranteeing a professional and polished final product.
Late Feedback
packages
- Start to Finish Edit $0.03 per Word
This package will guide you from a first draft through to formatting.
Complimentary phone or zoom meetings available at each milestone upon request.
Round One:
+ 8+ Page Developmental Assessment
+ Full plot reviewed and mapped in Plottr with a heavy focus on how the story is delivered as a whole and what changes can be made to maximize the reader experience.
Round Two:
Review changes and repeat round one, if necessary.
Full Copy Edit for grammar mistakes.
Full Line Edit to examine and enhance word choice.
Round Three:
Send manuscript off to 1-2 additional beta readers provided by GrendelPress.
Both reports will be provided to the author. - Full-Service Edit $0.015 per Word
We combine an Editorial Assessment, Copy Edit and Line Edit into one all-encompassing experience.
- Proofread + Interior Formatting $0.0125 per Word
Proofreading is the final step of the process before sending your manuscript for print.
This services includes an Editorial Assessment, a Copy Edit, as well as a finalized PDF and Epub formatted version of your manuscript, ready to publish. - Interior Formatting Only $250
Print and E-Book formatting includes a print-ready PDF and EPub to publish. We are happy to help coach you through the submission process. This al a carte price does not include content editing of any kind. Fiction only.
Pre-launch
Book Details
- Cover Design Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- Book Blurb Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- ISBNs (Upon Approval Only) $45 / $75
For approved requests, we offer a single ISBN for $45, and two ISBNs for $75. Manuscripts must meet our genres and brand guidelines. More information in our FAQs below.
- Amazon Listing Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- Query Letter Consultation $50
A query letter is a formal letter that writers send to literary agents, publishers, or magazine editors to introduce and pitch their work for potential publication. It serves as a writer's initial contact and aims to generate interest in their manuscript
Marketing & Social Media
- Author Website Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- Promotional Material (Digital Graphics) Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- Marketing Plan & Consultation Coming Soon
We are working to bring the best and most affordable service to you.
- Newsletter Setup & Consultation Coming Soon
Virtual Assistant services are available upon request to help manage updates. Priced separately as noted below.
- Virtual Assistant Services Coming Soon
One hour minimum.
FAQs
You might not! It depends on where and how you want to publish.
- I only want to publish an ebook on Amazon
Ok, then it’s not necessary because Amazon supplies its own identification number, an ASIN, instead. - I want to publish my paperback on Ingram Spark
Offers a free ISBN if you publish with them. It’s $49 for their service and it includes one ISBN under their imprint, but it can only be used on their platform.
Here’s the deal. ISBNs are only sold by certain ISBN distributors based on their country. Bowker handles all ISBNs in the United States where we are located. Every ISBN must be registered under a publisher. Publishers purchase ISBNs in bulk because they are expensive otherwise.
So when you use an ISBN through IngramSpark, your book will show one of their imprints as the publisher when it is distributed to retail stores, etc.
Exactly! While our publishing imprint won’t be on your physical book, it’s important to us that customers know that any book containing our imprint fits our genres and interests our readers.
Step One: Evaluate our criteria to see if your manuscript is a match.
- Is your genre dark fantasy, horror, or dark romance?
- Is your manuscript relatively free of spelling and grammatical errors?
- Is it YOURS in whole with no copyright or plagiarism issues?
Step Two: Apply for a Grendel Press ISBN
Step Three: We will evaluate your sample against our brand and submission rules. Often themes that we would not explore in an anthology due to the nature of short stories, we might consider for novels and novellas as long as they maintain our mission statement.
We will let you know within 48 hours of our decision and your next steps for purchasing the ISBN and how to register it with your distributors.