Manuscript Assessment Pricing: Why I’ve Raised My Rate
Health-wise, October was a rather challenging month. I’ve been ill for most of it. Just a cold, I think, but gosh, it was a horrible one. Every time I thought the worst was over, I’d feel awful again the next day. I’ve only just recovered as I’m writing this.
For the first time, I had to reschedule a project. I always build some buffer into my schedule, of course, but I hadn’t accounted for being out of action for more than two weeks. Eventually, catching up was no longer realistic, and rescheduling was the sensible decision. Thankfully, my author was very understanding.
Marketing also took a back seat this month, and there was no editorial blog post either. On the bright side, past me had the foresight to schedule at least some social media posts in advance, and I’m very grateful for that!
Why I’ve Raised My Manuscript Assessment Price
I had to make a tough desicion this month. One of my recent LinkedIn posts (feel free to connect!) was about editing rates and the importance of valuing the time, expertise and passion we editors bring to every project. Writing that post made me realise something rather uncomfortable: I wasn’t following my own advice when it came to my manuscript assessments.
My previous price was simply too low. And with the cost of the assessment credited towards a future edit, it was even too good to be true. I wanted to raise the rate in January anyway, but after this epiphany, I couldn’t wait any longer.
I want to be transparent here. I originally priced it that way to make it an attractive entry point for authors, and it worked: Manuscript assessments have become a popular service. To make them sustainable, my plan was to offer them alongside other editing projects that paid the bills. In practice, though, that balance didn’t quite work out as I’d intended.
There were times I didn’t get another booking, or when the additional booking was ... another manuscript assessment, which significantly limited my monthly income.
I shouldn’t try to compete with the lowest rates out there. A lower price doesn’t necessarily mean a better fit for your manuscript, and I want you to choose my service for the value I bring, not because I’m the cheapest option. I’ve also removed the credit. While the credit for future bookings essentially turned the assessment into a reading fee – which isn’t unusual – I didn’t just read the manuscript; I analysed it and wrote an editorial letter.
Reading a manuscript takes time, and my feedback goes beyond a traditional beta read. I bring my editorial expertise, passion and experience to every assessment, and my pricing needs to reflect that. In fact, the low price limited the depth and scope of work I could offer, and I’d rather increase my rate than cut corners to make an unsustainably low price work.
So, yes, the new price is a noticeable jump. But that’s largely because the old one was too low to begin with.
There’s also some good news: You’ll now receive a concise editorial letter of about 5–8 pages and qualify for my loyalty rates after a manuscript assessment, which was previously excluded. Also, my other services will remain priced the same for the foreseeable future. (Yay!)
The new price applies to all bookings made from now on. If you booked a manuscript assessment before the price change and would like to book another edit, I’ll honour the commitments I’ve already made.
If the increase has made my service less accessible for you, please feel free to reach out so we can chat about payment plans or explore if a bespoke service might be the better option. And if you do want me to read parts of your manuscript to see what service would suit you best, we’ll figure that part out, too.
October might not have gone to plan, but I’m learning by doing, and that’s okay. I’m still relatively new to freelancing, although February is coming closer and closer – eek! This month’s lesson is one step towards building a more sustainable business while continuing to give every manuscript the attention it deserves.
Thank you to everyone who chose to work with me so far.
I’m now booking for December and am incredibly grateful for that. If you have a romance manuscript and would like a fresh pair of eyes on it, get in touch. I’d love to work with you.
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