Rate question

[fluke]

Hey there.

I received an inquiry about editing some discipleship material and am trying to figure rates to offer.

This would be for an 8 part series, each series consists of a leader's guide (about 80 pages) and a student guide (about 50 pages). Single spaced. This adds up to 37,000 words. I have been told that the writer is verbose and will need some cleaning.

4 cents a word seems steep (that's $1,480 each part). Some guy named Jeff Gerke charges that.

I'm thinking the best way to figure rates will be to edit for 15 minutes (or do 15 pages) and see what kind of progress I make. Then I will have a better idea of the amount of work.

Does anyone have some rates they might suggest?

Frank

[Christian Soldier]

I'd say either do a flat rate, and charge what you're comfortable with, and reduce the price, until your comfortable with the charge. Remember that whatever price you agree to at the beginning is what you are stuck with.

[fluke]

Felt like I should add that 4 cents a word for fiction from an editor with Jeff's resume makes sense. As my editing resume is shorter and all nonfiction, I couldn't charge that much.

[Christian Soldier]

I agree. Were I to start charging, I'd probably charge 1 cent per word. Now, the after the first authors adds my name in the "Acknolwedgements" page...