Whether you’re just hatching your idea or you’ve worked it into Web site or book format, there are important decisions to make that are common to all web and print publishing projects in their various stages of development.

Having a specialist with you along the way can make all the difference.

Below are some of the steps we can help you navigate through:

CREATE > Books or articles start as an idea or theory. But how should the idea be presented? What should you lead off with, and who is it for?

If it’s a Web publication or site, should you run it on Wordpress or Drupal or something else? Will it be presented in blog format or as a brochure site? Who will update and maintain it?

CULTIVATE > You’ve already written your book or article, but is it consistent throughout? Does it follow a tight and well-planned outline?

Do you use expressions and language your readers will understand? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Is the usage appropriate?

Or for the Web, you might have set up your content management system, but what are you going to present on the home page? Is the copy modified for Web presentation and search engines? Will you communicate ideas through graphics and typography?

CAPTIVATE > The words sing and are written in the right tone for your audience and prospective publisher, but what is the final presentation going to be?

If you’re submitting the article to a journal or publishing house, you might be ready to captivate them with your polished manuscript at this point. But if you’re going to self-publish, do you need your Word document made into a professionally designed book that you can have Lulu.com publish?

Do you need the text imported into a book template and laid out in final format? Do you need someone who understands design and publishing to coordinate with the self-publisher or printer and guide the manuscript through the final printing?

For Web publication, do you need an editor who can work directly in the code and not mess up the html or php? What about someone who can get your css right and not break your site in IE or Safari? Are your graphics and branding communicating your message fully? Have you optimized your copy for search engines and keywords?

WHEW! That’s a lot to think about!

Ease your mind, fill out this form, and let Valerie know about your project. We’ll review your document with no obligation and give you a free estimate.

That’s great, but how much will it set me back?

We thought it might be on your mind, so here is a quick rundown of our rates.

We’ll look your document over with no obligation and give you a FREE estimate.

**Book Self-Publishers, Read This Section**

Copy editing a book for style, grammar, punctuation, and usage can take 40+ hours depending on its length. To clean up a book and get it ready for publication requires reading the document through two or three times. Typical cost ranges are $1,500–3,000.

Turnaround times usually *start* at 3 weeks, though if you want to pay for a rush job, let Valerie know.

Please realize the amount of work involved and the associated costs when you contact us. We do high-quality, clean editing, not rushed, cut-rate work.

Jason Rich, in the Self-Publishing for Dummies says, “If an editor tells you that he can edit your entire manuscript in a few days or over a weekend, run in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Find someone else. The editing process takes time and careful attention to detail. This step isn’t something you want to rush or cut corners on….allow several weeks for your editor to properly review the entire project and complete the editing process…plan on spending $1,500-5000.”
Self-Publishing for Dummies

Valerie will speak with you directly about the specific needs of your project, but the following generally describes the services our clients request.

Coaching and Consulting

If you’re like most of the authors we work with, you’ve probably got a few questions about your project. Publications like books and websites involve a putting a lot of different pieces together, whether it’s getting a logo or layout or branding or website copy or securing pictures that are print-ready or– you get the idea. We’ll work with you within our expertise and then help you put the other pieces together so you can move on to the next step with a clear plan.

Hourly rate: $55/hr.

Writing and Editing

Blog Editing

Is your blog readership is growing? Are you ready to take it to the next level of professionalism?

Blog editing is a mix of proofreading and customizing the text for the Web environment of search engines and readers who read quickly or scan the text.

Blogs are all about the authors and their voice and subject expertise. Our goal is to maintain your unique voice and conversational style while ensuring that your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. We will work with you to develop a style guide just for you and your site, then we’ll do a custom analysis of your voice and give you a before and after sample so you’ll know what to expect.

We offer quick turnarounds and a personal approach so you can get on with your writing and have the peace of mind that you’ll be at your professional best when it’s presented on your site.

Rate: 0.012 cents per word. $50 initial consultation for style guide setup, samples, and custom writing analysis.

Evaluation Evaluation

Sometimes authors need to know where their writing is and how far away they are from having a refined, publishable text. We’ll read and evaluate the document, giving a complete written report of our suggestions for improvement. We offer coaching for authors desiring continued consulting.

>We’ll estimate the evaluation cost for FREE after reviewing your document.

Article evaluations are billed hourly. Full book evaluations begin at $300. Further resources for self-publishing authors are available at self-pub.net.

Substantive EditingSubstantive Editing

We’ll reorganize and rewrite your document developing logical, accurate, and complete content that is presented appropriately for the intended audience.

Substantive editing is done before copy editing, typesetting, or proofreading.

Rate: 0.08 cents per word.

Copy Editing Copy Editing

We’ll clean up awkward or confusing sentences, check for grammar, spelling, and usage errors, and ensure that the appropriate style is used consistently throughout the document.

Copy editing is done before the document is designed or laid out.

Rate: 0.06 cents per word.

Proofreading

We’ll look at an already edited, designed, and laid-out document for any remaining errors and make sure it is ready to be printed.

Rate: 0.045 cents per word.

Writing

We’ll take your notes and research and generate original copy that is clear, concise, and well-structured. This could be in any subject-area, but we have experience in technical writing, academic writing, and the humanities in particular. Areas of expertise include music, photography, philosophy, religion, history, education, and engineering, among others.

Hourly rate: $65/hr.

Web sites, Design, Branding, and Photography

Do you need a Web site? A logo?

Books, Web sites, and new business launches all require design on some level. Since we’re here to help you grow your idea, we approach design within the context of your overall goals. Design arises out of a complete understanding of what your idea is and how you want to present it. Valerie can speak with you about our design work or will help you find a bigger firm if that’s what the needs of your project require.

Latest Project: Vinyl Wall Expressions, ecommerce Web design and development

Hourly rate: $75/hr.

Contact Us For a Free Estimate

Valerie will typically respond within 24 hours. Please include:

• what type of project you have: print, web, photography, etc.
• what services you need (coaching, editing, proofreading, writing, etc.)
• what your time-frame is
• what type of contact you prefer: if you would to be contacted by phone, please include your phone number
• anything else you want to know about!

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> To reach Valerie by email: vrobinson at robcomm.net.