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 3 to 6 cents per word (for example, $3,000 to $6,000 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
2009 Matthews Lane
Austin, Texas 78745
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. Academic coursework entailed an intense focus on the psychology of reading and the psychology of writing.
I worked as 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.
