2025 Coaching, Consulting, & Editing Rates and Info

The “Keep it Simple” Call, Consulting
An “Ask me Anything” Zoom Call

For Novels, Non-Fiction Books, Children’s Books, Short Stories, Screenwriting/Film, TV Writing, the Business of Marketing Yourself & Your Stories (Sites, Socials, +), How to Make More Income as a Writer (Creating Courses, Speaking), and More

Option 1: Get a 1-hour coaching/consulting session. Discuss your WIP. Learn your strengths and weaknesses. Get clear ideas on the state of your work. Discuss the most significant changes to make now and what to do next. You’ll also get the recording of our time together, so you can go back and capture the must-dos and move your writing forward. One-Hour Zoom with Recording: $90 

Option 2 SPECIAL RATE: We’ve met, go ahead and ask me anything. If I’ve met you in person, you’ve attended a webinar or a conference presentation, or we’ve had a conversation on social media, get a 30-minute Zoom brief consultation for $37. Bring me any project, any idea — about your stories, how to market yourself, how to write back-of-book or social content, how to get paid more for your writing or get into speaking — ask me anything. (If we’ve already had a conversation, this is for you.) Just send a message to verify our connection. Then get it here.

Option 3 SPECIAL RATE: We know each other, let’s work together. Additional long-term discounts apply if you’ve purchased one of my courses, are a repeat client, or are affiliated with Apex Writers or Superstars Writing Seminar. Contact me to find out more.

Writers, Solidify your Story: Get Ideation

Do you have an idea but don’t know where to start?
Does the story idea not feel complete?
Do you need a bigger, brighter, more powerful storyline?
Do you need to know, “Is my story idea worth spending time on?”

If you need to know if your story is missing key elements, then an hour (or two) together to solidify your story idea is for you.

• Walk away with solid direction and a plan.
• If your idea is far enough along, we’ll work on getting you a clear story outline.
• If your story needs scenes or beats, we’ll clarify what to do next.

Rates
This kind of results-based story formation is $127 per hour or $77 per half hour.  Discounts apply if you have purchased one of my courses, are a repeat client, or are affiliated with Apex Writers and Superstars Writing Seminar. Contact Erin to find out more.

Get Your Story’s Master Story Map: Create a Complete Story Outline
For Novels, Children’s Books, Short Stories, Film, and TV Writing

Create a complete story outline using Erin’s Master Story Map Guide to finish your novel, film, or television show.

• Fill in “the holes” in your storyline, and make your storyline complete.
• Hit the beats you need to keep readers engaged and thirsting for more.
• Increase your story’s stakes and character draw.
• Make sure nothing is missing.
• Walk away with a ready-to-write guide to work from to finish your story.

Prices are set based on the completeness of your story and are in line with industry standards. Discounts apply if you have purchased one of my courses, are a repeat client, or are affiliated with Apex Writers and Superstars Writing Seminar. Contact Erin to find out more.

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“Feeling inspired, motivated, moved, and energized because of the vast amount of incredible content received from you…” ~ Jodi, April 2021

The following editing rates are comparable to the EFA and
Writer’s Digest recommendations.

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But beware: Not all editors are equal.
It’s time and cost-efficient to work with someone with experience
to help you create your work precisely how you imagine it should be.

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Hire Erin for Professional Book & Manuscript Editing

All prices are subject to change based on word count and other factors discussed in advance before a contract is signed. Prices also reflect quotes for entire projects; single pages are not available at the prices below. See the “Keep it Simple Coaching & Consulting” above for individual/non-project prices.

>> Copyediting

A copy editor is the last person who touches your work before publication. Copy editing includes checking final pages for grammar, spelling, usage, and style. I look for libel and plagiarism concerns, tighten wordy prose, smooth awkward transitions, and note passages that need additional work for clarity. Copy editing includes cutting jargon, suggesting fresh wording, and making your text fit the required word count. In short, copyediting cleans up your work and prepares it for publication. The page quote is for projects only. See the “Keep it Simple Coaching & Consulting” above for individual/non-project prices.

Copy Editing Average rate*
$7 per page

>> Line Editing

Both copy editing and line editing mark up your pages for excellence. But line editing goes beyond combing your work for errors. Line editing focuses on your writing style (is this fluid, easy to read, and powerfully connecting with the reader?) and creative content (does your choice of words give the tone and connection you want?). I include line-by-line suggestions for sentence length and arrangement, to alleviate confusion and remove narrative digressions, and to suggest words or phrases that increase understanding and emotional connection with your reader. The page quote is for projects only. See the “Keep it Simple Coaching & Consulting” above for individual/non-project prices.

Line Editing Average rate*
5 cents per word (=$4,000 for an 80,000-word manuscript)

>> Content Editing // Developmental Editing

Content editing, or “developmental editing,” can also be called substantive editing because it focuses on developing the content and substance of your work.

Is developmental editing for me?
Whether you have a wisp of an idea for your story and want to flesh out that idea — or your story has begun, and you’re feeling stuck — or your story’s completed draft is in your hands and you’re ready to dig in and take it to the next level — developmental editing may be the starting point for you. Developmental editing can be anything from ideating and outlining a nonfiction book to working through a novel, screenplay, or TV series outline. See the “Keep it Simple Coaching & Consulting” above for individual/non-project prices.

Fiction Writing
Developmental editing passes along the most critical elements of fiction writing that may not show up in your manuscript…

>> Creating a structure that hits the necessary beats for a strong story
>> Developing plot direction, plot and scene peaks, scene resolutions, and a “growth of the story” throughout
>> Character development, addressing the ways the story introduces, describes, and unfolds your characters’ flaws, fears, failures, hopes, dreams, and behaviors that change over the story
>> Developing an honest, authentic creation of the setting, including believable world building
>> Sculpting believable dialogue that flows, including dialogue tags that make sense
>> And more…

Content editing is also about making sure that your plot, characters, and dialogue are consistent; that subplots show up and make sense; that your theme shows up throughout; that the hero’s motivation, needs, and wants are addressed; archetypal characters show up with flair and impact; and your reader is drawn into your hero’s journey organically, in a smooth succession of events.

Developmental Editing
Developmental editing costs vary depending on the writer’s skills and the manuscript’s state. Many writers pay the per-hour cost for developmental editing ($97 per hour), discussing single elements each hour (e.g., plot and structure, character development, dialogue, and so on). 

“I can’t begin to thank you enough… You truly have been a Godsend.” ~Jennifer, June 2020

Here’s what others are saying…

These quotes show how writers and authors have been loving the results for many years…

“WOW. The suggestions and changes you made were great — you’ve exceeded my expectations. I’m very grateful for your input and support, and I have learned so much… Thanks for your encouragement and for sharing your vast knowledge. I appreciate you and your efforts.” ~ Kennedy “Chip” Brown (US), November 2016

“The one-on-one is great — exactly what I needed to get my book to a new level. Thank you.” ~ Children’s book author, New Jersey (US), May 2015

“Thank you so much. You’re a star. I love your ideas and the way you help me to shape my words. It’s a pleasure to work with you.” ~ Ph.D. Business Owner designing an international news website (Netherlands), August 2014

“I would like to thank you… [your input] has helped me figure out so much of my story. I feel like it’s coming together, shaping right before my eyes. Thank you, thank you so much!” ~ November 2014

“I’m loving working on refining & improving with my awesome editor Erin Brown… Learning so much & so excited about this book!”
~ James Prescott, UK author, 2015

Let’s begin.

~ Contact me to get the ball rolling. Get questions answered and make a plan. We’ll talk about the details, goals, and deadlines — and get moving in the right direction.

Sounds good? Fill this out…

 

I look forward to working together.

Cheers,
Erin

PS. Again, if you’re not sure exactly what you need, don’t worry.
We can figure that out together when you contact me.

PPS. As of January 2025, I’m open for limited projects.
Contact me now if you’re interested.

PPPS. You can also become a member at Patreon to get exclusive content and coaching. Find out more here.

Private Consulting Policies

Payment: Payment must be made at least 48 hours before a consultation.

• Cancellation: It’s understood that “life happens” with illness, emergencies, and changing plans. If you are ill or have an emergency, an “in-person” appointment may be rescheduled. However, there are no refunds for appointments not canceled at least 48 hours before the appointment for reasons other than illness or emergency. Thank you.

• Payment: If, for some reason, a portion of the work cannot be completed, the completed job is prorated against the payment.

* “Average rate” is based on an assessment of the work’s level of completeness. We agree on a set-rate contracted amount before we begin and after a free overview of your text.

To view more typical editorial rates, visit the Editorial Freelancers Association here.