Costs
Analysis and Evaluation
Coaching
Complete Edit
Rewrite
Proofreading
Ghostwriting
Publishing
Book Production
Sample of Allen's Writing and Editing
"I never hesitate recommending Allen Kates as an editor and writing coach. His writing and teaching skills are superb. I know that his clients will walk away with a well crafted, publishable product."
—Lynn Wiese Sneyd, LWS Literary Service, publicist, author of Holistic Parenting
Analysis and Evaluation (A&E): $250 and up
Is your manuscript ready for editing? You may have already done such a great job that you only need some light editing or no editing at all. On the other hand, you don’t want to go ahead and have it edited and then find out that you have to make substantial changes and that the editing was a waste of time and money. Let me analyze and evaluate your manuscript. You won’t be sorry.
In your written Analysis and Evaluation, I’ll comment on your opening, chapters, characterization, dialogue, description, action, point-of-view, structure, setting, conflict, ending, rising action, dramatic development, and much more. And I’ll write out an Action Plan: what you should do and when you should do it. I’ll also comment on marketability, who your reader is, and what kind of book you are offering.
The A&E often runs from 8 to 10 pages or more. Some A&Es have gone as long as 20 to 25 pages, pointing out specific areas that are strong and those that need more work. I will quote directly from your manuscript and at times rewrite a piece to show you what I mean. I don’t like vague generalizations, nor do you. Consequently, I will be specific and detailed.
When you have finished reading the A&E, you will know if you are ready for editing or what you have to do to get your manuscript in shape.
If you need follow-up on the A&E, I will provide that for free.
The price is based on the length of your manuscript. An average manuscript runs about 250 to 300 double-spaced pages or around 90,000 words. That costs $250. If your manuscript is longer, let’s discuss what to do. As I have received manuscripts as long as 338,000 words, you can see why we have to figure this out together. Let's make a deal we're both happy with.
Time to complete average manuscript A&E: within 2 weeks
Coaching: $50 per hour or choice of packages
When you succeed, I succeed. These are not empty words. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see you succeed at your writing. I want you to tell an exciting, engaging story. I want you to get published, if that is your goal, and attract millions of readers.
When I work with you as a writing coach, we discuss your ideas and thoughts, your goals as a writer, what you want to say, what you want readers to think, and how to develop your ideas into a nonfiction book, fiction novel, screenplay, short story or novella. We talk about writing the first sentence, the first paragraph, the first page, the first chapter. We discuss the ending, your structure, characters, place, atmosphere, description, dialogue, action scenes—everything you need to know to write an enduring and breathtaking story.
Nothing is out of bounds. Everything is confidential. I am your confidant, collaborator, partner, sounding board and number one fan. I am nonjudgmental, supportive and encouraging. As a professional writing coach, I will help you develop a vision of your story from your initial idea through all the writing stages and drafts to the final edit. There may be tears, but we will also laugh a lot.
Every writer is unique and no one can say things the way you can. I will help you emerge, develop your own style and voice, and talk to the reader’s heart. And when you succeed, I will lift a glass of wine to your success.
The initial 1-hour consultation is free. This will tell us if we want to work together.
Coaching Costs and Packages
Package 1: $50 per hour
If your coaching needs are minimal, you may be better off going with an hourly
rate calculated in 5-minute intervals.
Package 2: $500
Unlimited coaching through a manuscript's development.
Package 3: Free if you hire me to edit your manuscript
If your initial manuscript is about 100,000 words or more, and you hire me to
edit your manuscript, you will receive unlimited free coaching.
Complete Edit: $.02 to .03 per word
In a Complete Edit, I will read and edit everything you have written. Among other things, I’ll fix the basics like grammar and spelling mistakes; replace overused, misused or uninteresting words with more compelling action words; invert sentences for more suspense; simplify and smooth out your prose; add subtext and tension to your dialogue; move sentences to create more impact; delete or rewrite unnecessary repetitions; improve your narrative and description; and offer suggestions (if any) for further development.
The cost of the Complete Edit depends on how long your manuscript is, its difficulty or complexity, how soon you need it done, and other ingredients. The key deciding factor in determining cost is how complicated it is. If you have me do an Analysis and Evaluation, I will have a good idea what the manuscript will need and how long it may take me.
Some editors divide editing projects into light edits, medium edits and heavy edits. As you have guessed, a light edit is faster and less expensive to do than a heavy edit. But in my experience, I have found that every editing project consists of all 3 types of editing. Some areas need a light or medium edit. Other areas are quite complicated and take a lot of time. For you to ask an editor to do just a light edit may sabotage your project without you realizing it.
The Complete Edit includes a 1 to 2 hour discussion afterwards, if necessary.
“Allen’s expertise in writing, and his ability to teach others was instrumental in bringing my first rough draft to a successful published story.”
—Sandra J. Dixon, PMHCNS-BC, author of The Invisible Girl: Uncovering Repressed
Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Rewrite: $0.03 to $0.09 per word
Why such a wide range of costs for a Rewrite? Rewrites can be simple or very involved. In a Rewrite, I may rewrite every word you have written, and often need to do additional research and fact-checking. On the simple end of the scale are memoirs, short stories, and novellas. On the difficult end are psychology and business manuscripts that may require translation into popular language.
An Analysis and Evaluation will help us determine into which area your manuscript falls. Often not everything has to be rewritten. Some areas are more difficult to work on than others.
I'll be happy to send you a free sample of my writing.
“I thank gratefully… Allen R. Kates for his miraculous suggestions and solutions.”
—Anoop Chandola, author, The Dharma Videos of Lust And Bust: A Novel of Religious
Mysteries
Proofreading: $.01 to .02 per word
Proofreading is an essential part of preparing your manuscript for presentation. Can you imagine what literary agents or publishers would think if they found spelling mistakes or dropped words on the first few pages they read? No matter how good your manuscript is, they might toss it in the round file, also known as the trash can.
If I have not read your manuscript, I would be happy to proofread it for you. I’m a detail person and read slowly and carefully when I proof. However, if I have already read your manuscript, then I would recommend using a colleague of mine who often proofreads manuscripts I’ve worked on. I’ve found that if you have read a manuscript and then try to proof it, you will often fill in words you think are there, read too quickly, and sometimes miss spelling mistakes or misused words.
The cost per word is determined by the complexity of the content. If I do an Analysis and Evaluation, then I will be able to tell you what the Proofreading will cost. Most often, I've found that if the work has been professionally edited, the proofreading falls at the lower end of the scale.
"Allen helped me take complex ideas and connect them to the reader’s experience. What I learned from Allen helped me grow my reputation and expand my business.”
—Dennis Stevens, co-author of The Next Revolution in Productivity, published June
2008, Harvard Business Review
Ghostwriting
If you are interested in having me write your book, please give me a call so we can discuss it and work out a Writing Plan. For details about how I work as a ghostwriter, please go to www.ghostwritingmaster.com
Publishing, Book Production
As well as coaching, editing and rewriting, I can coordinate all the elements for producing a high quality book including cover design, typesetting the interior, registrations, and printing, and assist you with marketing.
If you would like to explore Print on Demand (POD), Internet related publishing options, e-books, self-publishing, or ways to find a traditional publisher, I can help you find the best resources. Please click on "Publishing" at the top of the screen for more information.
Contact Allen
It would be my privilege to work with you on your manuscript. To estimate what your editing, coaching or other requirements may cost, please call or email so we can discuss the details of your project. Be sure to say if your book is nonfiction or fiction and how many words or pages you have written. Please provide as much information as you feel comfortable giving. Everything you tell me is confidential.
Allen R. Kates, MFAW
(520) 616-7643
allen@writingpublishing.com
allen@ghostwritingmaster.com
Sample of Allen's Writing
When editing, rewriting or ghostwriting books, I write in the
author's "voice." Sometimes people ask me what my style is. My style
is different in
every book, as it captures the essence of the author, the way the
author speaks, thinks and dreams.
However, I wrote the book CopShock under my own name and it is a good representation of my personal writing. Examples from CopShock and books I ghostwrote are at: http://www.holbrookstreetpress.com/our-books.php.
Sample of Allen's Editing
If you would like to read a sample of work I've edited, please contact me and let me know whether you would like to see nonfiction, fiction or academic work.
Allen R. Kates, MFAW, PO Box 399, Cortaro, AZ 85652 USA
Book editor, Writing Coach, Ghostwriter, Publisher
(520) 616-7643 allen@writingpublishing.com allen@ghostwritingmaster.com
www.writingpublishing.com www.ghostwritingmaster.com www.holbrookstreetpress.com
