FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hiring an editor can feel complicated, especially if this is your first time working with one. You shouldn't need to know every editorial term or understand exactly what your manuscript needs before you reach out.

We've answered some of the questions authors ask us most often below.

And if your question isn't here, just ask.

Who does Word Well Edits work with?

We work primarily with independent and self-published authors, including first-time authors and experienced writers working on their next book. We work across genres and with both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. If you're not sure whether your project is a good fit, email us and tell us a little about your book.

Do I need to know what kind of editing I need before contacting you?

If you're unsure whether you need developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, or something else, tell us where you are in the writing and publishing process and what you're concerned about. We can help you determine which service makes the most sense.

Can I get a quote before sending my entire manuscript?

We can provide an estimate based on the information you give us, but your exact quote depends on the actual manuscript word count and project scope.

Do you offer discounts?

Word Well Edits frequently offers promotional codes, special pricing, and other discounts through our newsletter. If you'd like to hear about those opportunities, you can join the mailing list.

We also pride ourselves on offering opportunities for communities. If you run a business, community, or writing-based organization and would like to discuss a partnership with Word Well Edits, please don't hesitate to reach out.

What's the difference between developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading?

Think of them as different levels of looking at a manuscript.

Developmental editing looks at the big picture: structure, organization, pacing, clarity, flow, character development, story logic, and other elements that affect how the book works as a whole.

Copyediting looks more closely at the words themselves: grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, clarity, usage, style, and other line-level issues.

Proofreading is the final quality-control pass, looking for remaining errors and inconsistencies before publication.

What is your complete editing package?

Our complete editing package combines one developmental editing round and one copyediting round.

The developmental round comes first, allowing you to address larger structural and manuscript-level issues.

After you make your revisions, the manuscript goes through a second round of copyediting to polish the revised version.

The package costs $0.05 per word. The quote is based off of your starting word count. You pay once for both rounds.

Why should developmental editing come before copyediting?

Because there's little point in polishing sentences that may eventually be moved, rewritten, shortened, or removed. Developmental editing addresses the larger issues first. Once you've revised the manuscript, copyediting can focus on polishing the version you're actually planning to publish.

Will you rewrite my book?

Editing and rewriting are different services. Our editorial work may include suggestions for restructuring, rewriting, cutting, expanding, or reworking portions of a manuscript, depending on the service you've purchased.

The goal is to help you improve your manuscript, not replace your authorship.

Do you offer sample edits?

Yes. Sample edits are available for $50. This covers a 1,000-word chunk of writing.

A sample gives you an opportunity to see our editorial approach and get a better sense of what your manuscript may need before committing to a larger project.

What is beta reading?

Beta reading is reader feedback. A beta reader approaches your manuscript as a reader rather than as an editor and gives you feedback about the overall reading experience.

That may include things such as where the story or book held their attention, where they became confused, character reactions, overall impressions, along with the strengths and weaknesses from a reader's perspective

How is beta reading different from developmental editing?

Developmental editing is an editorial assessment of how your manuscript works and what could be improved.

Beta reading is reader feedback about the experience of reading it. A beta reader isn't approaching your book with the same editorial checklist as a professional editor.

If you're looking for someone to tell you, "Here's what I experienced as a reader," beta reading may be appropriate. But if you're looking for professional guidance about structure, pacing, character development, organization, clarity, and manuscript construction, developmental editing is the appropriate service.

Why is pricing based on word count?

Word count gives us a straightforward way to calculate the amount of material being edited.

It also means you aren't paying a vague hourly rate without knowing how the final project price is determined.

Once we have your manuscript and exact word count, we can provide your quote.