NEW
I have been offering a freelance editing service since the middle of 1999, and have worked on several hundred books in that time. I have now decided to divide my service into categories, so that it can better suit the needs of my clients.
Please read the conditions under which I offer my work, then look at the table for my approximate charges. The exact figure I quote will have to depend on the estimated time I will spend on your book, and I will give a firm quote only after seeing a small sample.
| Service | Type | Examples | Fee |
| Content, language + line edit | Academic writing | Text book, thesis, research paper, philosophical work | 6.00 | Content edit | Fiction or popular non-fiction | Novel, short story collection, self-help, travel, biography | 2.40 |
| Line edit | Proof reading any text. | Included FREE for technically already competent writing. | 4.00 |
'Content editing' deals with issues like plot, characterization, description, vividness of language, readability, organization, dialogue.
'Line editing' or 'proofreading' is the identification of typos, spelling and grammatical errors, punctuation, malapropisms (a word being used when another word was intended), unwanted or missing spaces, formatting considerations.
Why use an external editor?
Conditions
Testimonials
Links to other resources
Interactive writing course
Why use an external editor?
I am too close to my writing to be objective about it. I simply CANNOT know how it will appear to a stranger unless I get feedback.
While any reader will do for this, most say what they think you want to hear: "Oh it was very good!" And this is completely useless as feedback. You need a dispassionate, sympathetic, yet if necessary, ruthless reader who systematically points out everything that needs attention.
My writing has improved enormously thanks to paid editors who have commented on a book of mine. I learnt from their comments, and applied the new knowledge to all my writing.
You don't have to agree with everything an editor says. Some editorial comments are instruction, teaching you skills and information you may be lacking. You'd better take heed. Other comments are opinions, and you are at liberty to argue or explain. However, even there, you need to ask yourself, 'How could I have prevented this idiot editor from misunderstanding me?' and this will improve your book.
I always find it painful to see my work found less than perfect, but this is part of the birth pangs of bringing forth a child of my imagination.
Conditions
Testimonials
Linda Campbell
Christine Hales
John Russo
Beth Anderson
Martine Jardin
Bonnie Mercure
Joan Melrose
Tom Baldwin
Christine West
Kim Hastings
Linda Campbell
Linda and Bobbye Terry form a partnership: they write books together, communicating by email. I edited their book 'Craig Legacy'.
Linda wrote: Dr. Bob has edited our book CRAIG LEGACY. He's the kind of editor publishing houses had fifteen years ago. The kind that makes your work not only better, but brilliant. He spotted where we needed to expand emotion, delete things that dragged the scene/chapter/book down, and where we'd made mistakes.
Will we partake in his new venture? You betcha we will. We're planning on having Dr. Bob go over all our books before submitting to any publisher, print or electronic.
And don't think Bobbye and I are the type of writers that roll-over for an editor. We don't. There are some things we'll go to the mat on. But for the most part, when a writer's lucky enough to get an editor like Dr. Bob, you just thank your lucky stars, and try your damnedest to make your work something you and your editor are proud to claim.
FWIW, I'm putting the word out among my many e-mail friends about Dr. Bob's new business--especially those authors considering self-publishing. Anyone who goes that route needs a good and a strong editor.
Linda
Christine Hales
I have found Bob Rich to be an excellent and perceptive editor. He is succinct and sees things very clearly.
He has very good skills not only in grammar but also in cutting out the dross to drive forward the story line, whilst leaving in the colour and feel of the story in the appropriate places.
His immediate clarification and overall perception of the story is excellent and he gives clear indication when the story needs to be less disjointed and how to overcome such problems.
He comes directly to the point explaining where work needs to be done, whilst also encouraging the writer to try that one step further.
I feel my writing skills have been honed up whilst my manuscript has been examined by an eagle eye, giving me the opportunity to not only improve it enormously but to go on to be a far better writer.
Christine Hales, author of: Where There’s Smoke There’s Fry.
John Russo
As a beginning writer of fiction, I suffered the lack of confidence that what I was putting on paper would be acceptable to publishers. I knew my plot was intriguing and the characters seemed real enough and after producing over 400 pages I hesitantly submitted my MS to an ePublisher. I was offered a contract and assigned an editor. His name was Bob Rich and much to my amazement he was located in Australia.
In matter of weeks I was getting feedback, suggestions and clarification of points in my story, and sharper character development, which I viewed not as critique but more as having acquired an experienced partner in my writing which became better and clearer.
I wouldn't submit another MS to any publisher now without working closely with Bob. He was understanding in dealing with my creative sensitivity and gently guiding me rather than making me feel he was changing my story. I ended up with a well written better book thanks to Bob Rich.
John Russo
Westport CT, USA
Author of INDIAN GIVERS
Beth Anderson
In working with electronic or POD publishers, in many (not all, but many) cases you're working with not-so-experienced editors, and possibly publishers with little or no experience, who have done no market research. There are some very fine e/POD editors out there today, but few I would trust enough to cause me to make major structural changes. In fact, I can only think of one I trust so much so that I would do just about anything he told me to do whether or not I agreed with it, in order to make my book better. That editor, in case anyone is wondering, is Dr. Bob Rich, who in addition to being a Clocktower editor, also does freelance editing, and I highly recommend him.
Not trying to be arrogant here, although I know it might sound like it, but this whole ebook/POD thing is so new that not a lot of its editors have any real honest-to-God solid editorial background. Line editing is one thing, lots of people can do that, but content editing is a whole different thing entirely. That's when you need a good, reliable, and established editor, someone you really trust. That is, if you want your book to sell and keep selling through word of mouth, because in addition to promo, people do talk to each other. A really great book, properly edited and promo'd, will eventually sell.
I've known authors who refuse to make changes requested by a good editor, and in that case, the author always loses. My feeling is, what good is moral integrity when you're sitting in a writing room surrounded by stacks of unsold novels? I've known unpubbed authors who say all they really want is to hold that first book in their hands, they're not concerned whether anyone ever really buys it. But that first taste of blood will change them forever into an author who does want their book to sell, and who will eventually realize that in this business you do a lot of things you might not want to do, but you do them anyway. Sooner or later all authors who come into this business with stars in their eyes over the thought of holding that first book and looking at it will soon want others to look at it, and then they'll want more, and then more. It's the nature of the beast, and we're stuck with it.
Beth Anderson hotclue@micron.net
Visit my author website: http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com
EPPIE 2001 Finalist MURDER ONLINE in print April 2001, Clocktower Books
NIGHT SOUNDS, in print April 2001, Clocktower Books
Martine Jardin
Bob is an editor of the old class, one who cares about a story. He not only gives advice where the plot is lacking, he picks up even the smallest detail that needs changing. Now that he's given me a sample of his work by editing Blueprint for Revenge, I'll not send any manuscripts to a publisher without hiring Bob to edit it first. I find his cost affordable and I give him the highest recommendations! Martine Jardin.
Martine writes science fiction in cooperation with Di Kemp-Jones, and contemporary thrillers, like the one I edited, by herself. Her web site is at http://www.martinejardin.com/. She is also a talented artist, and drew the cover art for most of my books. You can inspect her artwork at her web site.
Bonnie Mercure
Before I hired Dr. Bob Rich to edit my manuscript I felt that the story had come to a halt and I didn't know how to make it better. Not only did Dr. Bob Rich give me an in-depth critique at a very affordable price, he got me interested in my manuscript again. He offered praise when it was warranted and useful suggestions when a change was needed.
Bonnie Mercure lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children. She has had short stories published in many periodicals and e-zines, including Electric Wine, LC-39, Peridot Books and Challenging Destiny. Her speculative fiction story Mary's Shooting Star has been recommended for the Bram Stoker Award. Besides The Curse of the Three-Headed Circus, Bonnie has a children's book The Old Man and the Toads coming soon to Writer's Exchange E-Publishing. She also has a fantasy novel The Jacob Theory, published by Novel Books, Inc, tentative date May 2002. Bonnie is also an Eppie Finalist.
Joan Melrose
Joan was the winner of my 'Free Edit' contest. Here is what she wrote about my work on her book:
Dear Bob
Thank you so much for editing my book, it has taught me so much. As I went through page after page it was like you were there. Your suggestions were great and I am now following them. I will stay in contact with you. I am fairly new to Sydney and haven't met any other writers, so if there are any groups or gatherings I could attend please let me know. I have joined NSW writers.
Have a lovely day
Joan
Later, Joan cc-d this email to me:
As a member of NSW Writers' Centre I thought you would like to know that my childrens book 'Born Between Worlds' came first in 'Bob's Free Edit Contest' which was advertised in your magazine NewsWrite last year. The book has now been edited and I must say what a wonderful job Bob Rich has done. In winning this competition I have received excellent feedback and editing from a professional writer who has spent considerable time and support in providing me with his expertise. I would reccomend anyone who has completed a book and needs editing to use Dr Bob Rich.
Tom Baldwin
Dr. Rich,
I just finished editing Firestorms (for the last time, I hope). Thank you for your time and effort on my behalf. Your labors were not in vain. I used at least 95 percent of your suggestions and I am sure the book is much better and more readable thanks to your input.
As a small token of my gratitude I would like to send you a copy when it is available through Zumaya. If you could forward your address to me I will mail it as soon as I have a copy.
Tom Baldwin
Christine West
Gang,
I have a wonderful gift for you...a name: Dr. Bob Rich
Dr. Bob is your man here. I sent him 1000 words of a "perfect novel" and he brought up amazing points that I would not know otherwise. From the ridiculous fact that I didn't know enough to only put one space after a period (not two) to comments on my plot development and so forth.The greatest thing about him is that you don't have to hire him sight-unseen. He always takes samples of an author's writing to confirm a price and to give you samples of what he has to offer your book.
I reccommend that we all try him. I mean really, it doesn't cost a cent to e-mail him 1000 words of your work to see what he's all about.
PLEASE
No matter how confident we are as writers, even published authors, if we search deep enough we have to admit that perhaps that little something will make our work that much better.
Do me a favour...try him out, tell him Christine West sent you, and then let me know what you think.
Christine has had an instruction manual published on learning to be a waiter/waitress. It is doing remarkably well, thanks to her wonderful skill as a marketer. I wish she was my agent. We 'met' on the email list Print-On-Demand@yahoogroups.com. I have now edited one 'Young Adults' novel for her, and a second one is coming when she has it ready.
Kim Hastings
Email to 'The-Write-List@yahoogroups.com from: "kimhastings"
Subject: RE: External editing and Dr. Bob Rich
True! To all listees: I sent my manuscript to Dr. Bob Rich for editing. When I got it back, I was thrilled and amazed with his work. I had rewritten and re-read that thing a billion times, but after a while I just couldn't see things anymore. He found everything. Inconsistent page break markers, em dash/hyphen errors, its/it's errors, that/who mistakes. He asked pertinent questions and let me know which things didn't ring true. He discussed practical matters regarding page layout and publishing concerns. He also told me things that he liked. From his comments I'm able to see the story in a different light, and now I can make some important revisions. I would NEVER have thought of them on my own. I strongly recommend his services to anyone. No matter how many times you edit, there's the inevitable apostrophe in a plural, and sometimes a chapter that just doesn't belong. If you have ever considered external editing, give the Doctor a shot, and if you haven't considered it, you should. His sharp eye and ability to clarify will significantly improve my work.
Oh, and he was gentle...
Thank you Bob.
Kim
Links to other resources
Email me if you want to submit a link here.
I already have an excellent one. If you write children's books, you should go to http://www.sallyodgers.com/mentor.htm . This is the mentor page of Sally Odgers. Sally is a wonderful person, a writer of vivid, enjoyable prose and an enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher. Her mentoring program is cheap beyond belief, and worth a hundred times her asking price.
This editing service is listed on www.published.com
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