MorningStar Editing is such a significant help with our communications to our donors and supporters that we no longer send out any publications without Cassie reviewing, editing, and proofreading beforehand. She has taken our articles for our newsletter, annual report, and direct-mail appeal to a higher level with her editing expertise, and her proofreading is of utmost value to us. We are so fortunate to work with MorningStar Editing and highly recommend them to anyone wanting to present their writing more professionally!
— Beth Alessio, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado
Rates
My rates vary depending on the project because every manuscript is different. What each manuscript needs is different. Sometimes only a proofread is called for, sometimes a copyedit is, sometimes something else altogether is needed. Some projects require more time than others do. Some clients prefer to pay page rates or project fees rather than hourly rates. Because of all these factors, I negotiate fees for each project, unique to the client's situation and the work involved. In all fee negotiations, though, a manuscript page is defined as 250 words. This is an industry standard.
For large projects, I may require periodic partial fee payments to be made during the editing process. For rush jobs, I may require payment in advance. All quotes are valid for 30 days. If the size, scope, or nature of the project changes after a quote has been accepted, we may need to negotiate a revised fee.
Working Agreements
A polite cyber handshake isn't always enough. You want a contract in place. This can be either an informal letter or a complex legal document. What's important is that both parties are protected by a written agreement. My starting point for editorial work is a formal contract written in plain English, vetted by an attorney, adaptable to different projects, and approved by a variety of professional writers.