Architecture Fees and Rates
Every project is different, and my experience has been that each project merits its own pricing.
Complex projects
For jobs that are complex, have tight deadlines, or require commitment over a long period of time, I prefer to work out a whole-job compensation arrangement, rather than bill at hourly rates. This gives me a certain freedom to meet my own standards and almost always works to the advantage of the publisher, who can budget a known cost.
Whenever possible, I prefer at the outset to meet with the principals involved in a project for which I am a candidate. After discussing the publisher's expectations and evaluating any materials, such as schedule, specifications, draft manuscript, and proposed design, I determine what I think is a fair total price for the job. Such a quote does not include out-of-pocket expenses specific to the project nor does it factor unforeseen events or conditions that affect the time it takes to complete the job.
For all but the most self-limited jobs, I ask for a contract or letter of agreement, the latter I provide on request. In a letter of agreement I detail what I commit to delivering, and when, as well as setting out a payment schedule. I build in an override formula for unanticipated events such as
- late delivery of materials to publisher or to me;
- major changes of plan by the publisher;
- request for services not in the contract or agreement, e.g., fact-checking.
Documented expenses are invoiced separately. These can include, but are not limited to, costs for
- travel to and from meetings with publisher or authors;
- postage;
- long-distance phone calls;
- photocopying of more than 20 pages at a time;
- unusual software programs necessary to completing a job;
- needed books, offprints, or electronically delivered information for which there is a charge (with prior approval of publisher).
Fees for project management, development of marketing surveys or marketing materials, project and manuscript evaluation, and creation and authoring parts of books are negotiated in much the same way as editorial projects.
Hourly Rates
Applicable mainly in short-term projects and small jobs, my rates are in line with those of my colleagues in the Association of Art Editors.
| Copyediting | |
| clean manuscript | $35 |
| problematic manuscript | $40 |
| Substantive editing | $40 |
| Writing | $50 |
| Fact-checking | $50 |
| Developmental editing | quoted by job |