Ryan C. Niman

The following are services I’m confident in offering at rates competitive with the going rates of the Editorial Freelancers Association. All prices are listed in U.S. dollars, although I can receive payment in other currencies. I only list prices per hour as I find that the most reflective of the work involved, but I’m happy to work something out if you’d like to calculate on a per word or per page basis.

Sample edit or evaluation

• Up to 1,000 words (or 5 minutes of timed content)
• Can be any type of editing or accessibility service listed below
• Optional 30 minute video conference

All general nonfiction and educational materials

• Proofreading: $40 an hour
  • Proofreading includes checking for errors including spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation, and typographical errors. It can also include typesetting and page layout specifications. It is limited to errors and a specific list of client-provided style choices. If this is your first time hiring a copyeditor, you’ll likely need more than just proofreading.
• Copyediting: $45 an hour
  • Copyediting goes beyond proofreading, looking at consistency and accuracy across the manuscript. It includes broader adherence to a style guide (such as Chicago, Canadian Press, Associated Press, or Hart’s Rules) and development of a client- or project-specific style guide to ensure consistency. Having worked with clients around the world, I have expertise in several style guides. And I’m always happy to learn another!
• Line editing: $50 an hour
  • Line editing involves a sentence-by-sentence edit with the goal of improving the writing. It involves leaving detailed suggestions on how to improve the writing, including clarity, flow, engagement, and word choice. Note: while line editing also includes fixing errors, the assumption with a line edit is that the text will be revised, introducing new errors. Such a revised text will likely need a further proofreading or copyediting. I will provide this additional pass at a discounted race.
• Developmental editing: $55 an hour
  • Like line editing, developmental editing is focused on improving the content of the writing. It includes line editing, but also includes looking at the entire project and providing feedback on organization and structure and ways to improve them. Developmental editing is all about developing a relationship and flow of communication between editor and author, so there can be more exchanges of manuscripts, emails, and meetings (at no additional cost) throughout the process.

All editorial jobs include a needs assessment meeting at the beginning and a review meeting at the end (each up to 45 minutes). Proofreading requires an existing style guide, but copyediting, line editing, and development editing include development of a custom style sheet (if needed) and an editorial report.

Accessibility and plain language

I can help you ensure your online, digital, or print content meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at the appropriate level (A, AA, or AAA). This includes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 accessibility requirements in the United States and European Accessibility Act (EAA) accessibility requirements in the European Union.

I can evaluate your material for adherence to plain language standards, including the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and the ISO Plain Language Standards, Parts 1 to 3.

For online content, I can assess the accessibility of your content using multiple screen readers, across platforms, and on different screens (such as phone, tablets, and laptops).

Do you have specific guidelines or requirements you need to meet? I am happy to tailor my work to your specific requirements.

All accessibility and plain language work is $55 an hour and includes a needs assessment meeting (up to 45 minutes) at the beginning, an editorial report, and a review meeting at the end (up to 45 minutes).

Discounts

• Fiction: While I have done fiction editing for friends in the past, I do not have a portfolio of professional work in fiction. As such, I’m offering a discounted rate on fiction work, 10% below the lowest price for that type of work in the EFA rates chart. For example, fiction line editing is listed at $45 to 60. That means I would charge
• Non-profits: I love non-profits! Most non-profits will receive a 10% discount. Small budget, but doing important work? Let me know and we’ll work something out.

Other Services

Need something you don’t see? I can also provide:

• Fact checking
• Research
• Link verification
• Document formatting
• Transcription
• Citation and reference formatting
• And more!

Let me know what you need. Or if you don’t know exactly what you need, I can help you figure it out.

Contact Me

Questions? Please use the button to ask or to schedule a free consultation. I’m happy to message, use email, video chat, or make a phone call—whichever form of communication works best for you.

Email Me