How Will You Grow Your Idea?
Whether you’re just hatching your idea or you’ve worked it into website or book format, there are important decisions to make that are common to all web and print publishing projects in their various stages of development.
Having a specialist with you along the way can make all the difference.
Below are some of the steps we can help you navigate through:
If it’s a Web publication or site, should you run it on Wordpress or Drupal or something else? Will it be presented in blog format or as a brochure site? Who will update and maintain it? 
Do you use expressions and language your readers will understand? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Is the usage appropriate?
Or for the Web, you might have set up your content management system, but what are you going to present on the home page? Is the copy modified for Web presentation and search engines? Will you communicate ideas through graphics and typography?
If you’re submitting the article to a journal or publishing house, you might be ready to captivate them with your polished manuscript at this point. But if you’re going to self-publish, do you need your Word document made into a professionally designed book that you can have Lulu.com publish?
Do you need the text imported into a book template and laid out in final format? Do you need someone who understands design and publishing to coordinate with the self-publisher or printer and guide the manuscript through the final printing?
For Web publication, do you need an editor who can work directly in the code and not mess up the html or php? What about someone who can get your css right and not break your site in IE or Safari? Are your graphics and branding communicating your message fully? Have you optimized your copy for search engines and keywords?
WHEW! That’s a lot to think about!
Ease your mind, fill out this form, and let Valerie know about your project. We wouldn’t want to work without an editor or consultant either. We’ll review your document with no obligation and give you a free estimate.
That’s great, but how much will it set me back?
We thought it might be on your mind, so here is a quick rundown of our rates.
We’ll always look your document over with no obligation and give you a FREE estimate.
Note: Valerie will speak with you directly about the specific needs of your project, but the following generally describes the services our clients request.
Coaching and Consulting
If you’re like most of the authors we work with, you’ve probably got a few questions about your project. Publications like books and websites involve a putting a lot of different pieces together, whether it’s getting a logo or layout or branding or website copy or securing pictures that are print-ready or– you get the idea. We’ll work with you within our expertise and then help you put the other pieces together so you can move on to the next step with a clear plan.
Hourly rate: $65/hr.
Writing and Editing
Evaluation
Sometimes authors need to know where their writing is and how far away they are from having a refined, publishable text. We’ll read and evaluate the document, giving a complete written report of our suggestions for improvement. We offer coaching for authors desiring continued consulting.
>We’ll estimate the evaluation cost for FREE after reviewing your document.
Article evaluations are billed hourly. Full book evaluations begin at $300. Further resources for self-publishing authors are available at self-pub.net.
Substantive Editing
We’ll reorganize and rewrite your document developing logical, accurate, and complete content that is presented appropriately for the intended audience.
Substantive editing is done before copy editing, typesetting, or proofreading.
Hourly rate: $55/hr.
Copy Editing
We’ll clean up awkward or confusing sentences, check for grammar, spelling, and usage errors, and ensure that the appropriate style is used consistently throughout the document.
Copy editing is done before the document is designed or laid out.
Hourly rate: $45/hr.
Proofreading
We’ll look at an already edited, designed, and laid-out document for any remaining errors and make sure it is ready to be printed.
Hourly rate: $40/hr.
Writing
We’ll take your notes and research and generate original copy that is clear, concise, and well-structured. This could be in any subject-area, but we have experience in technical writing, academic writing, and the humanities in particular. Areas of expertise include music, photography, philosophy, religion, history, education, and engineering, among others.
Hourly rate: $65/hr.
Design, Branding, and Photography
Books, websites, and new business launches all require design on some level. Since we’re here to help you grow your idea, we approach design within the context of your overall goals. Design arises out of a complete understanding of what your idea is and how you want to present it. Valerie can speak with you about our design work or will help you find a bigger firm if that’s what the needs of your project require.
Hourly rate: $75/hr.
Contact Us For a Free Estimate
Valerie will typically respond within 24 hours. Please include:
- what type of project you have: print, web, photography, etc.
- what services you need (coaching, editing, proofreading, writing, etc.)
- what your time-frame is
- what type of contact you prefer: if you would to be contacted by phone, please include your phone number
- anything else you want to know about!
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> To reach Valerie by email: vrobinson at robcomm.net.
She likes to keep things "small" and give every client her complete time and attention. She works in collaboration with a writer, a copyeditor, and a php programmer. 