Realistic Costs – Opinions Needed #AmWriting

27 Apr 2018 24 Comments

by Ritu in #AmWriting, RiNoWRiMo, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , ,

It’s that time… I need to be realistic and start thinking about budgeting for the nitty gritty of this novel…

#AmWriting

If I go down the Self Publishing route there are lots of extra costs, which I assume a traditional publisher would normally cover…

I am fortunate enough to have a few people on hand who, when the time comes, are willing to be beta-readers for my novel, but there is more.

  • proof reading
  • editing – in it’s various forms
  • formatting
  • cover design – Chris, I know you are there!

I tried to research and came up with a wealth of conflicting information, so I have some questions for you writers out there…

    1. What kind of budget do you recommend setting aside for editing and formatting your book?
    2. What have been the average rates you have paid for editing?
    3. Do you have recommendations?
    4. My book is at around 84,000 words at the moment. It’s romance, contemporary fiction… what do you think I may pay?

 

So many things to consider!

I really appreciate all the input you have given me so far!

24 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 10:59:05

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. TanGental
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 10:19:37

    I paid for my cover and an editor mostly to look for proofing issues but I also get a plot sanity check. Most cost effective has been Esther Chilton who you’ll know. Ask her to quote. It’ll be less than the 1000 that’s mentioned. Chris is good value but I use a friend who can do a more bespoke service – we take pictures together which he works on. Happy to recommend and you can get a quote. He did Hugh’s Glimpses cover as well as mine. Formatting I can help with it’s fiddly but really don’t pay for it. Use me. I’m free if supplied with cake.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Ritu
      Apr 27, 2018 @ 11:39:06

      I’d definitely be interested in a contact His Geoffleship!!! Thanks for the formatting offer!!! Cake will alwats be available.. . And maybe a curry!

      Like

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  3. Parminder Kaur Sharma
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 09:21:15

    From manuscript to book is a tough journey .. more than what I had presumed before I started ..

    While I chose the mid way between self publishing and traditional .. no denying the fact both had its pros n cons..and with my experience i came to know there are many hidden costs involved .. but nothing like from #amwriting to #havewritten ..-all the best

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 08:58:41

    I am curious to hear what you find out Ritu. Although I am NO WHERE NEAR completed…I do have hope that some day I may finish something….

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Erika Kind
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 07:16:35

    Sis, this totally depends on how much worth it is to have specific things done by someone else or making the effort to make it yourself. Just an example. My book I’m Free (the English one) aside from the translation was completely edited, designed, and promoted by my publisher. Most of all because it is in English (not my mother tongue) I wanted to be 100% sure that it turns out completely professional. Perhaps it is a difference to a novella but anyway. I took the master package that Balboa Press offered including prints of business cards, flyers, order postcards, hardcover AND softcover versions, e-book, listed on all internet platforms and promoted at booksellers worldwide, also a book clip was included… I was involved in the whole process and could decide whether to accept their suggestions, bring in my own or tell them to make me different suggestions in EVERYTHING. The book has 330 pages and the whole thing cost a bit over 8’000 $ (as I said, it was the biggest package available).
    I think for a novella I would not have done this. But all of those publishers offer different packages and the author can decide what they need. One of the benefits is that you are getting royalties from the first sold copy on and a big part of the price is yours since you paid for it in advance. You might not get so much when a publisher takes all the costs or only after you sold a few hundred copies. Then again, when you have people on hands who can help you with detail work you could do it over create space or a similar platform. In the end, you need to compare and decide where your priorities are.

    Liked by 3 people

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  6. Eric Klingenberg
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 06:38:37

    I’m allowing about £1000 for my editing budget, I don’t know if that will be enough.

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. April Munday
    Apr 27, 2018 @ 06:16:14

    If you’re not already doing it, I recommend listening to some podcasts. You’ll get lots of useful, current information from them. The ones I find the most useful are The Creative Penn and Self-Publishing Formula. The Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn have very helpful websites.

    Liked by 2 people

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