The Writing Zone - Creative Writing Services & Consultations

Services & Fees

Manuscript evaluation: Your completed manuscript (rough or final draft) will be read and evaluated on its market potential. You will receive a detailed, written assessment about the work's strengths and weaknesses, with suggestions about how to improve it and make it ready for submission to an agent or publisher.

This is not an editing service. See proof-reading and line editing below for details.

Rate:

less than 3000 words - $ 125.00
3000 - 10,000 words - $ 250.00
up to 70,000 words - $ 350.00
over 70,000 words - add $ 25.00/1000 words

manuscript evaluations, 1st payment

Proof-reading and line editing:A clean, crisp, technically correct manuscript could mean the difference between a yes and a no when a busy agent or publisher is comparing several good manuscripts. I will check your work for mechanical errors such as spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, alignment, spacing, transitions, redundancies, stereotyping, etc, as well as for areas where flow and clarity are lacking. You will end up with a ‘polished’, professional manuscript that is ready for acceptance, not the reject pile.

Rate:

$ 50.00/hr

Major manuscript rewrite: You have a great idea but your writing skills are not up to par. Your story is written and worth pursuing but it needs some major work. I will make suggestions for areas of improvement (character development, plot or subplot changes, etc), go over these with you, and then rewrite the story, incorporating the new ideas and improving the basic work from the inside out. You will be left with a manuscript that is in professional form, ready for submission to an agent or publisher.

Rate:

Varies with length of work, amount of overhaul required, etc.
Min: $ 300.00 Max: $ 3,500.00

manuscript re-write, 1st payment - $200.00
Manuscript word processing and formatting: A professionally presented, typed manuscript is essential in today’s market. I will type your manuscript from a hand-written, audio, or previously typed copy, turning it into a publisher-ready version (hardcopy and electronic).

Rate:

$ 50.00/hr
Note: rate may vary if a large amount of editing is also required. Minimal editing will fall under the hourly rate.

word processing and formatting, 1st payment - $50.00
Proposal writing for non-fiction books: This is where most non-fiction starts… and ends. Without a strong proposal, your manuscript may never be seen by a publisher. I will help you research your market and competition, understand your target audience, and help you present your ideas in a professional, well-organized manner that will catch the eye of any agent or publisher and have them asking to see more.

Rate:

$ 50.00/hr

non-fiction proposals, 1st payment - $50.00
Query letter writing: The query letter is the first, and often the only piece of writing an agent or publisher will look at when you submit your manuscript for their consideration. Your writing and ideas must shine here. I will help you formulate and polish your query letter, or write it for you.

Rate:

$ 50.00/hr

query letter writing, 1st payment - $50.00
Speaker for schools, libraries, conferences, etc: Various talks, workshops available.

Rate:

Varies, depending on the length of presentation, size of group, book sale opportunities, speaking vs workshops, etc.
Average rate for 1/2 day school presentation - $ 150.00 if books can be sold; $ 200.00 if not.
Plus travel and accommodation costs if required.

Note: Payments for speaking engagements are usually settled in full AFTER the event. We can discuss this at the time of booking.

Transcribing from cassette, MP3, CD, etc to hardcopy

Rate:

$ 50.00/hr

transcribing, 1st payment - $50.00
Personal consultations: Please see ‘What is a writing consultant?’ and ‘How do writing consultations work?’ in the frequently asked questions for more detailed information about this service.

Rate:

Varies, depending on how in-depth the service is, length of time spent with a client, etc. Ranges from free for brief advice and direction to $125.00/mth for one-on-one mentorship (includes unlimited e-mail access, 1 phone call/wk, 1-2 personal meeting(s)/mth if you are in the area, developmental assistance in whatever area of writing you are working at – skill building, goal setting, staying motivated, finding your creative source, development of ideas, or support of ongoing work, etc.)
Average rate - $ 125.00/month

Please note: For most of the above services, I will require a deposit before service is provided, with the balance due after service is completed. PayPal is available for ALL payments - some will require the use of an email address for invoicing, others can be paid directly from this site.

Payment options:

Cash

Cheque: made out to Judy Andrekson

Pay Pal (Add to Cart buttons above)