RATES:

Keep in mind that my per-word rate is not a flat per-word rate; it is based on the individual needs of that manuscript. So instead of saying I charge $0.02 per word for copyediting, I post a range $0.016 to $0.027, for example. Then I give them their quote based on what I want to make hourly and how long I estimate it will take me.

I do a per-word rate for a lot of reasons. I added a new lesson to this course soon after getting feedback from all my beta testers. Check out the “setting and raising rates” lesson. It will explain the pros of charging per word.

OHTER QUESTIONS:

I’d say only about 40% or so give me a reason, but I think that’s more than I would get if I didn’t ask.

I don’t mention the other services in the quote email. The only one I mention is that I can book their proofreader for them, using one of my vetted proofreaders.

I have a next steps email that I send out a few days after I start the editing that explains all the various required and optional steps after editing. And in that email, I tell them I can write or edit their author bio and book description. Then I list recommended outsourcers for all the other various required and optional steps.

I haven’t considered mentoring everything I offer outside of actual editing in the quote email. It might be a good idea, but my quote email is already fairly long. I may do a bulleted list to sum up these things. Good idea!

My feedback

I love the categories and the description on each one. SO welcoming and inviting. Your wording is PERFECT!

Personally I would scale it back, as it does seem like a lot. But you can keep all the same questions and scale back just by making more of them checkboxes they can easily click on, as opposed to short answer.

Introduce Yourself section:

I am not sure why you would need to know where to find them online. If I were hiring an editor, I would be confused, maybe turned off, by that question.

Type of project section:

Change the questions that have options to checkboxes so they can select their answer (this saves them from having to type it in, making it less daunting to answer all the questions). Type of project, list the options to select, with a line for other; same with program; brand style guide or template can have yes or no otpions.

Should the first option in project status be complete, but not yet SELF-edited? The option of complete and has been professionally edited is redundant to your question of if it has been edited in the next section. I would delete that option here and leave the question of if it has been edited in the next section.

Working Together section:

what does project mean to you could have checkboxes with the ability to select multiple ones, and an other line that they could fill in.

What type of editing are you looking for should have options because they might not know what you mean. You should list the ones you offer: developmental, copyediting, line editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluation, and add an “I’m not sure” option.

Have you worked on another editor should ask them what typeof editing was already done. Yes, I worked with a developmental editor. Yes, I worked with a copyeditor. No, etc.

Reflection:

So great that you offer a discovery call!

It is a Google Form. Here’s the link:

https://forms.gle/VZCmuU2zTirJJo539

I haven’t ever worked for a publisher, but I do periodically reach out to authors who I know plan on writing more than one book.

I usually say something like “I enjoyed working on your first book and am wondering if you have any more books in the works. I currently have openings around this time. If you have any immediate future plans for a book, let me know, as I would love to prioritize your book.”

With a publisher, I imagine you could say something like “I am just reaching out to see if you have any work for me within the next month as I currently have some openings.”

That way, you are reminding them of your services and expressing an interest in doing more work for them without seeming desperate or demanding.