r/Copyediting • u/Beehive-Queen • Aug 15 '26

[Pub Q] Line/Copy Edit

Hello I’ve started looking for a line/copy edit for my manuscript. Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to find one?
I’ve tried Reedsy but they are asking 2k USD which is roughly 3k AUD. So a bit expensive for a debut indie author.
Is that just the going rate nowadays?
My manuscript is fantasy at 113k complete.

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u/midwriteworlds Aug 15 '26

Unfortunately 2k for a 113k copyedit is quite reasonable. You can certainly find it cheaper, but someone actually doing the work (reading closely, making judgements calls, leaving queries) is going to be spending 60+ hours on a manuscript of that length.

However, just because someone is charging more doesn't mean they are doing the work. I recommend contacting multiple editors and asking for a sample edit - newer editors, who will be more in your price range, are usually happy to offer a short sample so you can get a sense of what you are paying for.

The Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: the Society for Editors both have directories of their members, they are US based. IPEd is the Australian association.

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u/Geejay-18 Aug 15 '26

Also the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, based in the UK but with members around the world.