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, our freelance editors 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
Note that the rates for developmental editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.
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
$0.03/word
Note that the rates for line editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.
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
Proof of enrollment required.
$0.04/word (up to 30k words); $0.03/word (30k words and up)
Short-Form Line Editing (Purchase Online)
For short documents under 2,000 words (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
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
Grad Student Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation and apply a style guide to text and citations on dissertations and course papers (only one editorial pass included). Proof of enrollment required.
$0.03/word (up to 30k words); $0.025/word (30k words and up)
Short-Form Copyediting (Purchase Online)
For short documents under 2,000 words (e.g., cover letters, proposals, statements)
Basic Proofread
$0.03 per word
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
Indexing
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)
$5/page
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
Ready to take the next step?
Get a rate quote or speak to our chief editor by clicking below.
Get a QuoteBook a Free Consultation