I know, I've been practically invisible all month. Now I show up begging for advice.
Okay, so in 3 days I fly off to WFC. Yesterday an email from Brian, he of the time-travelling professor novel previously mentioned
here and
here and previously critiqued
here.
Brian attended the Surrey Writers Conference, and pitched an agent. Said agent has asked
(
Read more... )
Comments 19
If you're planning on going into editing as a profession, this would be a lovely way to get started. If said agent likes the first 3 chapters, you may find yourself editing his entire novel. Are prepared for that? It sounds like the last time you tangled with the novel, it didn't go happily. Then again, it can't have gone that unhappily if he's asking you for help. Did you enjoy tangling with the novel though? Or would you rather work on your own stories?
(And why is he pitching agents before his text is ready to go? He shouldn't even be putting you in this situation.)
No idea about a reasonable rate.
Reply
Reply
The only valid reason for subjecting my brain and sensibilities to this again would be a cartload of cash, which frankly would be very welcome just now. And Brian is not hurting for money, though whether he'd want to spend it on this rather than paying some grad student a pittance, I don't know.
Reply
Also wonder if he thinks I'd only need lunch at the Faculty Club in repayment. (To which I say, not this time, bucko. Only the first hit is free.)
Reply
If yes, charge him whatever will make it worth your while. How many words/pages is 3 chapters? Is it 30 pages? Or 60? Do you have anything pressing on YOU at the moment that makes this very inconvenient? Lots to consider.
Reply
I gave him that for free. Also reminded him about standard manuscript format.
I think $500-2500 might have made it worth my while. If I had more than a day and a half to spend on it, along with last-minute packing and trying to get my overdue crits done and all that pre-departure stuff...
Reply
Reply
Reply
I'm going to quote him $50 a page, standard bloody manuscript format and no messing around, maximum 50 pages regardless of his chapter length. Probably he will run away at that point and badger his wife into editing for him.
Reply
Reply
I am so relieved.
Reply
The only way to go with this would be free (for friendship) or insanely expensive.
I do specialized medical editing, and rates vary from $16 (rare) to $50 (rare) per hour for line editing, with the assumption that copy is double spaced 12-pt Times roman with 1-inch margins. The average works out to roughly $20 per hour, and the expectation is that editors will be able to do 5-8 mspp per hour, depending on the copy. I average about 6.
That's nonfiction, of course. I'm not sure how it relates to fiction editing at all.
Reply
Leave a comment