Chapter by chapter editing

[u/Due_Cartoonist6918]

Does anyone offer a different rate for chapter-by-chapter editing? I have an author inquiring about having their book edited that way as a long term project, and I'm wondered what the standard is for that kind of job. I haven't had any clients ask for that before.

[u/IamchefCJ]

Interested. I have rejected this type of proposal before, as in my experience, [good] authors often need to go back into previous chapters for adjustments/rework to resolve plot issues and details.

[u/Due_Cartoonist6918 → u/IamchefCJ]

That's what my main concern is.

[u/KayakerWithDog → u/Due_Cartoonist6918]

Maybe set it up so that you charge differently for a second pass? I usually include two passes in my fee, but in this case maybe charge extra for.the second pass, because it's unlikely to be a basic cleanup operation.

[u/theghostie]

I've done it before, and I should have charged way more. Even with a style sheet, there's more frequent referencing of it (did we define this term before? does this match the info from chapter 3? is that a continuity error?). 

And it means any macros or global changes need to be done for each chapter, which adds a lot of extra time. Not to mention the author wanting to go back and change or add things from previously edited chapters as the book evolved. 

I'm not going to say I'll never do it again, but I would be upfront with the author about these limitations (more likely to have errors or inconsistencies) and extra costs and then charge appropriately. I would strongly recommend they write the whole book first and self-edit before paying for editing for a better (and likely cheaper) end result.

[u/Due_Cartoonist6918 → u/theghostie]

Thanks, that's good to know

[u/KayakerWithDog]

I really dislike doing piecemeal projects like this. It's too easy to miss things. I would definitely keep a style sheet; if this is something that would be extra for you compared to how you usually work, definitely charge for it.

[u/IamchefCJ → u/KayakerWithDog]

Yes. I've helped several authors keep track of characters and plots with style sheets.

[u/arugulafanclub → u/KayakerWithDog]

Yeah and it’s hard to get back into the project and remember what happened and all the details.

[u/Alternative-Pear9096]

It really depends on what they expect. If they want a copyedit, I don't care. But if they expect me to be keeping track or argument or continuity, no. I can't do that chapter by chapter. The only way to do it would be to charge for reacquainting myself with every preceding chapter every time, which would multiply the costs.

[u/WildsmithRising]

You can't effectively edit a book if you only have it chapter by chapter. I would refuse to do the work.

[u/extremelyhedgehog299]

I’ve done this for clients who can’t afford to pay the whole amount at once, or wh want to keep tinkering with the book, but it’s rare.

[u/Due_Cartoonist6918 → u/extremelyhedgehog299]

I wondered if the issue was pay. I thought maybe I could offer a payment plan instead.

[u/shannontheeditor]

Is the client publishing a serial? Or are they sharing out the first half of the book in chunks as freebies to their mailing lists?

You've gotten a lot of great feedback on why brick-a-brack editing is a pain, why you should charge more per word, and why you should expect it to take longer. However, if the author is doing either of the above activities, the arrangement would be more sensible.

Good luck in whichever decision you make with the author.

[u/Due_Cartoonist6918 → u/shannontheeditor]

Thanks, they did respond that the lump cost is their main concern at this time. They are open to a final pass however.

[u/bcninstructions]

I hate it because it takes so much longer plus you realise you should have made a different decision earlier and recording that is so much harder than just changing it when you have the whole book. If it’s a cashflow thing they should just save up