I was contacted recently by someone about book design, but received no information about the project. I followed up with some questions. The potential client did not respond. Giving it one last try, I followed up a week later to ask if the potential client had any questions. That’s my not-so-subtle way of telling someone to shit or get off the pot.
The potential client replied: “How much is it?”
And there’s the rub. I cannot quote a price for service if I don’t have information. Here was my response:
I need information to calculate an accurate estimate for service. My standard rate is as follows: $50 plus $1 per formatted page + $5 per image placed within the text. So, if your book ends up being 100 pages and has 15 images (e.g., graphs or photos) placed throughout the book’s interior, then my fee would be $50 + $100 + $75 (15 images * $5 = $75) for a total of $225. The number of pages will vary depending upon the book’s trim size (page dimensions), the font(s) used, the size of the font(s) used, word count of the manuscript, and other factors. For instance, using 16 point type for body text will use many more pages than will 11 point type. Rule of thumb is estimating 250 words per page. The per-image fee includes minor image editing (e.g., resizing, cropping, color to black-and-white conversion).
My rates include up to three rounds of revision to ensure you’re happy with the page layout.
So, if you want an estimated fee for book design, then I need the following information at a minimum:
- Manuscript word count
- Book/page trim size
- Number of image files to be place within the book
- Any other specifications, such as separate title pages for each chapter.
The same applies to editing. I have standard rates that enable anyone with basic math skills to calculate fees:
- First round of intensive, detailed editing – $0.03 per word
- If the first round of editing results in substantial revision/rewriting, I recommend a second round of editing – $0.02 per word
- A final round of proofreading – $0.01 per word.
I’ve learned through trial and experience that per-hour invoicing for editing doesn’t work for me. The issue is whether the project’s a good match. To determine that, I need information:
- Fiction or nonfiction
- Topic or genre (I don’t accept scholarly work or horror.)
- Word count (This helps me calculate how long the project will take.)
- Level of editing (I’m a sentence-level editor, not a developmental editor.)
- Deadline for completion (This helps me determine whether my calendar can accommodate the project.)
- Budget. (This is a deciding factor if the budget is ridiculously low.)
The information I need doesn’t require the author to divulge any confidential details about the project, so those authors nervous about someone stealing their work need not fret. There’s nothing in that information that could lead to theft of intellectual property.
Again, when it comes to ghostwriting, I need information before I can estimate a fee for pretty much the same reasons as used in editing:
- Fiction or nonfiction
- Topic or genre
- Anticipated word count
- Deadline for completion
- Budget.
Other considerations include how much research will be involved, whether the project requires interviews with subject matter experts, and other factors.
Although the information needed to calculate fees for service overlaps, the process for delivery of service varies. Sometimes it varies by client or project; other times it’s simply a variation of service model. Regardless of the service, I work in the best interests of the client and the project.
Nothing more. Nothing less.