What Will I Get from Substantive Editing?
Substantive editing is a cooperative project between the editor and the writer of the work. Substantive editing looks at the organization, flow, strength of content, format, and clarity of a document. A substantive editor will make specific suggestions about things that could be reorganized or removed, and also about concepts or information that, if added, would strengthen the document’s overall message.
Why Do I Need Substantive Editing?
Substantive editing is beneficial for authors that want to work more collaboratively, or who are too close to a project to see if it is communicating what they intend for it to communicate. A substantive editor can come alongside the writer and work with them from the top down to ensure that the document they create is strong, consistent, clear, effective, and engaging throughout. Substantive editing does not include line edits, copyediting, or proofreading, which are more detail-focused. Instead, substantive editing addresses the structure of a document. If your project is a house, substantive editing evaluates the floor plan of the house, determining that everything is solid before moving on to details.
How Long Does Substantive Editing Take?
Substantive editing can take several weeks to several months. It involves more back-and-forth discussion between editor and writer than lighter forms of editing. Because of this, substantive editing projects are unique and are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
How Much Does Substantive Editing Cost?
Every project is different. For a true quote and a sample edit, please contact me. A good source of information about standard rates is available at the Editorial Freelancers Association page.
Rates for substantive editing can be more difficult to pin down than lighter editing because of the flexible nature of communication between writer and editor, and the possibility of rewrites. Most substantive editing projects are a per-hour rather than a per-project fee. A flat project fee is only offered in certain circumstances; usually by-the-hour costs are standard, with the editor tracking their time and billing you at regular intervals.
Rough estimates for projects of varying lengths:
A 30k word project would range between 20 and 60 hours, and would cost between $800 and $3,600.
A 60k word project would range between 40 and 120 hours, and would cost between $1,600 and $7,200.
A 100k word project would range between 67 and 200 hours, and would cost between $2,680 and $12,000.
A 120k word project would range between 80 and 240 hours, and would cost between $3,200 and $14,400.
Rush fees for quick turnaround apply, and rush may not be available for larger projects given their scope and nature. Rush projects may not be feasible for many substantive editing projects, because they require alteration and addition of content, which depends heavily on the author’s ability to change the content quickly.
The Final Word on Substantive Editing
Substantive editing is a great way to solidify your content and ensure it meets your goals and is accessible to your audience. If you are asking yourself, “Do I need to reorganize this to improve it?” then substantive editing may be a great fit for your project.
