Manuscript Editing

All Writers need a good editor

Whether you’re an author who needs assistance with the grammar or style of your writing or a corporate marketing executive who wants to make a strong impression in your external communications, Flatpage can help you.

Our authors typically write essays and articles, blog posts and website content, as well as book manuscripts for independent, popular, or university presses.

Whether this is your first attempt or you’re well published, you need a trusted professional to give you feedback and to serve as your second pair of eyes. Flatpage offers high-quality editing with a fast turnaround and unlimited availability!

Our editors have PhDs in various subject areas, as well as specialized training and/or years of experience as manuscript editors. Many of our editors have published their own books and articles, including online and with renowned publishers.

Developmental / Structural Editing

Developmental editing will help you shape the content of your document so that your contribution takes center stage. Our developmental editors have served as editors of journals and published widely. We can help you shape the argument, organization, and flow of your manuscript.

Line / Stylistic Editing

Line editing addresses the style of your writing so that it has maximal impact. Our line editors are experts at the craft of writing and have published widely themselves. We can help you maintain a consistent tone, improve word choice, identify text to be cut/pruned or expanded upon, and write clear sentences in native English.

Copyediting

Copyediting involves a rinse of your manuscript, with attention to grammar, punctuation, and mechanics (i.e., conforming it to house style or style book like the Chicago Manual of Style). Whether you’re an ESL writer or just need your manuscript formatted, this service will ensure that you deliver a clean document to your respective publisher or editor.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage in the publication process and is reserved for minor typos and consistency between manuscript sections. By the time you are ready for a proofread, your manuscript should have already gone through a content (developmental) edit and a copyedit. This service will ensure that your manuscript is publication-ready.

Pricing

Coaching is intended for clients who are still writing or strategizing their content. Each session includes up to one hour of reading/research (e.g., reading a book chapter or manuscript). It does not include editing of the manuscript itself (see other services below).

Service Details

One session, $225; six sessions, $1,215; twelve sessions, $2,430

Service Details

Manuscript Assessment
Report + Call
$0.05/word (up to 50k words); $0.04/word (50k words and up)

Full Developmental Edit
Draft markup + Report + Call
$0.07/word (up to 50k words); $0.06/word (50k words and up)

Graduate Student Manuscript Assessment
Report + Call
$0.04/word 

Book Proposal Evaluation
Report + Draft markup + Call
$325

Job Application Document Evaluation 
Cover letters, statements, proposals
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200
2,0001-2,500 words: $250
2,501-3,000 words: $300

Note that the rates for developmental editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.

Note that the rates for line editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies. Minimum purchase $100. 

Service Details

Line Edit
Improve word choice and syntax of sentences; address overall flow of writing; ensure consistent voice and tone
$0.06/word (up to 50k words); $0.05/word (50k words and up)

Graduate Student Line Edit
Improve writing style, sentence structure/flow, and tone for dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included).
$0.04/word

Short-Form Line Editing 
For short documents (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200

Minimum purchase $100. 

Service Details

Light Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation, apply style guide to text and citations
$0.04/word

Medium Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation; improve word choice or voice; apply style guide to text and correct citations
$0.05/word

Heavy Copyedit
Correct language, grammar, and punctuation; reformat text; apply style guide to text; overhaul citations
$0.06/word

Graduate Student Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation and apply a style guide to text and citations on dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included). Proof of enrollment required.
$0.03/word

Short-Form Copyediting 
For short documents (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200

Minimum project budget $200.

Service Details

Basic Proofread
$0.03 per word

Minimum project budget $200.

Service Details

One of the last stages in publishing academic and nonfiction books, but also the stage requiring special expertise. Priced per indexable page (PDF page proofs only; count includes body text/foot- or endnotes/illustrations/appendices but does not include front/back matter/bibliography)
$6/ indexable page

Citations
Apply style to foot/endnotes and/or bibliography (CMoS, APA, MLA, others)
$1.50/citation (not per note)

Convert biblio <-> notes
$2.50/note citation

Manuscript Formatting
Correcting layout issues, including front matter, pagination, figures and tables, headings, and page margins according to a style guide (e.g., CMoS, APA, or university guidelines)
$2/page

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