frequently asked Questions
What is book coaching, and how much does it cost?
Jennie Nash, author and founder of Author Accelerator, describes book coaching as a process in which a certified book coach guides a writer from confusion—wrestling with who are you writing for, what you should say, wondering whether you are good enough to say it or if anyone is going to care—to confidence. After working with a book coach, you will know this is the book, this is the structure, this is the message, this is the audience, and these are the exact words you should use to engage your reader.
As your book coach, I meet with you weekly to take you through a book blueprint and help you find clarity in preparation for submitting your manuscript to a publisher. Once you start submitting chapters, we meet biweekly to discuss progress and/or questions. During this time, I add detailed comments and suggestions for edits. I charge a monthly rate from the start of the coaching through the point when your manuscript is complete and ready for publication.
How long does book coaching take?
It depends on how much guidance you need. It can take as little as six months, or it could take as long as two years or more.
What is developmental editing, and how much does it cost?
Developmental editing—sometimes referred to as structural editing—looks at the big picture, your book’s foundation. The foundation has to be strong or no amount of line editing or proofreading will save it. During this phase, the editor considers the flow of the manuscript, whether the point of view is consistent, and how the tension is controlled. She also looks at whether it’s written in the right tense. A developmental editor does more than just read your manuscript and write an occasional comment. She reads the manuscript multiple times and thinks long and hard about what the best approach would be.
When working on a developmental edit, I insert comments throughout your manuscript with suggestions to remedy any big-picture problems.
I also insert suggestions for reworking and/or rewriting sections, and I point out if sections should be moved around.
Rather than charge a per-word rate, I quote projects in their entirety based upon the amount of work it would take to get your project in great shape.
What is line editing, and how much does it cost?
Line editing—also referred to as copy editing—looks at every word and every sentence, checking clarity, consistency, flow, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. A line editor also looks for repetitions and stylistic issues.
During this type of edit, I make sure the text is clear. Typically, I make edit suggestions directly in the document.
As with developmental editing, I determine the line editing rate based on the amount of work it would take to get your project in great shape.
What is proofreading, and how much does it cost?
Proofreading is the final stage of editing. The proofreader looks for errors and corrections from earlier edits and revisions. Depending on the publisher’s process, the proofreader might also check the layout and typesetting before the work is released to the public.
Having worked with your manuscript for several weeks or months, your mind and mine automatically correct errors when we read them, seeing them for what we intended rather than what they really are. Hence, a skilled and trusted proofreader on my team will check the manuscript for errors, while I oversee the process. My trusted proofreaders charge between 3 and 5 cents per word, depending on the urgency of the project. .
are you currently accepting new clients?
I do my best not to overcommit. Using the form below, please reach out and see if I’m currently accepting new clients.
Have more questions? Contact us.
