Rebekah Hendershot

SemperEditing@gmail.com
www.SemperEditing.com
RATES
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WRITING
Writing: $45 per hour or as agreed
Writing includes all the steps of the writing processbrainstorming, researching, drafting, and
finishing. You should expect to need multiple drafts of any writing project, and your estimate
will include several drafts. Because I write such a wide range of materials, you will need to
contact me directly for a personal estimate of the cost of your project. A resum or cover letter
may take only an hour or two; web copy generally takes longer; a short story or other creative
work takes longer still. I prefer to agree on an estimated fee before beginning a project, and
adjust it if we agree that the work significantly exceeds my estimate. Please note: writing services
are never, ever available for academic writing. I dont write papers for hire, so dont bother asking.
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EDITING
About Page and Hourly Rates
Editing services are usually billed by the page, or by the hour if no reliable page count is
available. Pages are based on either 1) the standard Microsoft Word page format, in 12-point
Times New Roman font, double-spaced and with no additional space between paragraphs; 2)
the word count
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of the document divided by 200, if the document cannot be converted to
standard format; or 3) the standard page in screenplay format, if the document is a screenplay.
As a rule, single-spaced pages will be counted as two pages each, unless theyre screenplay
pages, which will be counted as one. If youre in doubt, send me your file for a free estimate.
Application Essay / Personal Statement / Rsum / Cover Letter: $50 per application
This service covers a full consultationadvice on how to organize and write your essay,
statement, letter, or rsumplus an editing polish (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.) when
youre done writing. The cost is $50 for each separate application (each unique school, program,
job, etc.) because different programs have varying requirements, and I edit to those requirements.

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To find the word count in Microsoft Word 2007 and later, either look at the bottom left corner of the window (it
should say, Words: ___) or click on the Review tab and click on the Word Count button in the Proofing pane).
About Copyediting and Content Editing
In copyediting, I correct errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style; query the author
about conflicting statements; and request advice when the means of resolving a problem is
unclear. There are two levels of copyeditinglight and heavy. The rate for heavy copyediting is
higher because its about twice as much work as light copyediting. There are samples of light
and heavy copyediting on the last two pages of this document. If you request heavy copyediting
but turn out to need only light work, you will be charged only the light rate.
In content editing, I work less with how you write and more with what you write. Content
editing can include help with brainstorming, research, organization, outlining, and much more.
It may also involve changing the content of your writing to meet the demands of your project or
assignment. (Yes, that includes academic papers as wellbut not exams. Its still your content.)
Content editing may be billed by the page, or by the hour if your work doesnt have a page
count. Most documents need light copyediting after they have been content-edited, but some
dont, so I charge for the two services separately in order to offer a lower overall rate.
Light Copyediting: $2.00 per page
Correcting faulty spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Correcting incorrect usage (such as can for may)
Correcting references and style errors
Light copyediting is strictly about fixing mistakes. It does not involve rewritingthings like
smoothing transitions or changing heads or text to ensure parallel structure. If some of your
content is missing, I will flag the gap, but will not supply the missing information. Light
copyediting is often sufficient for native speakers of English, but it is usually not enough to meet
the needs of non-native speakers or writers with learning disabilities.
If your light copyediting job must be returned within 48 hours of the time you send it, there is a
25% rush fee, bringing the rate to $2.50 per page.
Heavy Copyediting: $4.00 per page
All tasks for light copyediting PLUS:
Rewriting text and headings to achieve parallel structure or correct English idioms
Flagging inappropriate figures of speech
Ensuring that previews, summaries, and end-of-chapter questions reflect content
In fiction manuscripts, tracking the continuity of plot, setting, and character traits, and
querying discrepancies
In a multi-author manuscript, enforcing consistent style and tone
Changing passive voice to active voice, if requested
The key differences between light and heavy copyediting are the levels of judgment and
rewriting involved. In heavy copyediting, I improve the flow of text rather than simply
ensuring correct usage and grammar; I may suggest ways to rewrite something rather than
simply flagging problems; and I may enforce a uniform level, tone, and focus as specified by the
publisher. Heavy copyediting is usually the best service for writers with learning disabilities or writers
who are not native speakers of English.
If your heavy copyediting job must be returned within 48 hours of the time you send it, there is
a 25% rush fee, bringing the rate to $5.00 per page.
Content Editing: $5.00 per page or $45 per hour
Content editing can include consultation before the writing begins. In content editing, I may
help plan the organization, features, and other elements of your work and prepare
developmental reviews or analyses. Content editing may also involve altering your content to
meet the recommendations of reviewers and determining the style and general content of the
illustrations and/or diagrams. Content editing is not available for any writing done for midterms,
finals, or other exams.
Suggesting formats to communicate the message
Rewriting and restructuring the text to fit the format
Moving entire paragraphs and sentences to improve flow
Ensuring consistent structure by adding or deleting headings
Identifying gaps in content, and supplying or describing the needed material so that the
author can provide it
Deleting content that is outdated or that does not achieve the desired focus or tone
Developing an effective system for handling trademarks and notes

In large works, content editing comes before copyediting. (You have to fix what youre saying
before you fix how youre saying it!) Usually a work I have content-edited needs only light
copyediting afterward, so I charge separately for copyediting in order to give you a lower
overall rate.

Content editing is not writing; writing is done from scratch, and in it I do all the writing for you.
Content editing helps you write something yourself, or improve the writing youve already
done.

If your content editing job must be returned within 48 hours of the time you send it, there is a
25% rush fee, bringing the rate to $6.25 per page.
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COACHING
Coaching: $300 for six hours of lessons, or as agreed
The goal of coaching is to give you personalized instruction on whatever area of your writing
needs work. Some students need more instruction than others, so coaching is available in six-
hour blocks. Coaching has a slightly higher hourly rate because it includes lesson planning and
other work outside of instruction time. Once you have purchased coaching services, you may
schedule up to six one-hour lessons via Skype (or three two-hour lessons, etc.) within a year of
your purchase. If you do not redeem your full six lessons within a year of your payment date,
your unused fees will be refunded.

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EVERYTHING ELSE
Everything Else: $45-60 per hour, or as agreed
If you need a writing, editing, or coaching service not covered by this rate sheet, my standard
rate is $45 per hour, although it may rise for projects that are urgent, involved, or otherwise out
of the ordinary. Contact me for details.
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LIGHT COPYEDITING VS. HEAVY COPYEDITING

This is an example of light copyediting. The blue marks indicate changes in the document
fixing spelling and punctuation errors (loosing becomes losing), changing words to avoid
repetition (see theses), and clarifying sentences (adding they to indicate who is doing the
learning). These are small, simple changes that make a big difference in how the reader
perceives a document.
For an example of heavy copyediting, see the next page.

This is an example of heavy copyediting. The red marks indicate changes in the document
fixing spelling and punctuation errors, changing words to avoid repetition, clarifying sentences.
Note that this example also includes significant rewriting in order to clarify the writers meaning
(see the last complete sentence, It has been speculated , for some major changes in syntax).
This client has a learning disability that causes irregularities in her use of English, even though
its her first language, so her work needs more comprehensive editing than the first example.
Heavy copyediting is typically best for writers with learning disabilities and non-native
speakers of English.