Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a free sample edit?
To receive a sample edit, click here. In the sample edit, I try to give you a thorough idea of what I can achieve with your book by applying a heavy editorial hand to a portion of your material.
 
Do you make your edits on the book manuscript itself
or on the computer?
That's up to you. Most clients prefer an on-screen edit (using the Track Changes feature in Word), although some like to hold in their hands the edited version of their work while they go through and make revisions; for them a hard-copy edit works best. For an example of what an on-screen edit looks like—and a remarkable lesson on how expert editing can transform a story (even one written by a famous writer)—please see this article published by The New Yorker.

How much do you charge?
My editing fee—based on total submitted word count--ranges from 4 to 7 cents per word (for example, $4,000 to $7,000 for a 100,000-word manuscript), depending on the condition and nature of the material to be edited. Along with the sample edit—at which point I would be able to judge the amount of work involved in the project—I would submit a precise price quote.
 
Do you offer “levels” of editing for different rates?
No. I approach every book project with the same mindset and aim—call it a holistic approach. My per-word rate varies from project to project, depending on the nature and degree of editing required.
 
How do I pay?
I require half the total fee up front and the remainder at the halfway point of the project's completion. Payment is made by check. Those can be mailed to:
 
Karl Monger
P.O. Box 152050
Austin, Texas 78715
 
Can you line up my book with an agent or publisher?
No. I can steer you in an appropriate direction, but the final say on any book project belongs to them. At the same time, I can and do offer my clients practical advice on how to approach and communicate with agents and publishers, many of whom I keep in contact with in an attempt to keep abreast of their tastes and preferences, which often are in a more or less constant state of flux.

Is this all you do?
Professionally speaking, yes. I have been a full-time book editor since 1999.

What is your professional background?
My undergraduate focus at the University of Texas was psycholinguistics—the psychology of language.
 
I was a staff/freelance writer and book reviewer from 1986 to 1999. You can view the book reviews I wrote for the Austin Chronicle by going to the online archives, where you can also read my award-winning short story, "A Day."
 
I began my career as an editor by editing M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations. From there I graduated to scholarly articles bound for publication in peer-reviewed social science journals, eventually expanding my array to include non-fiction and, finally, fiction manuscripts—the order is ironic in that my training as a writer and storyteller was in the field of fiction.