At the Blue Pencils, we believe every story is unique, so is our pricing. While we aim for transparency, we understand that no two manuscripts are alike. The final quote always reflects the depth of work required, manuscript condition, and the timeline expectations.

What follows is a guide, not a rate card. You’ll always receive a custom quote based on your manuscript’s needs.

Editorial Services & Indicative Rates

• Ghostwriting
• Developmental Editing
• Substantive Editing
• Line Editing
• Copyediting
• Proofreading
• Manuscript Review
• Translation
• Author Support and Mentorship

1. Ghostwriting

Best for authors with a strong idea but limited time, writing confidence, or structural clarity.

You Get:

• Full manuscript creation (fiction only)
• Concept refinement and story architecture
• Chapter-by-chapter drafting
• Character development
• Scene structuring
• Revisions after feedback
• Market positioning guidance

Indicative Rate: ₹3.50 – ₹6.00 per word (Project-based quotes for complex narratives)

Timeline: 3–6 months, depending on length and complexity

2. Developmental Editing (Deep Structural Overhaul)

Best for manuscripts that need significant structural strengthening before polishing.

You Get:

• Big-picture structural review
• Plot and narrative arc refinement
• Character arc reconstruction
• Pacing adjustments
• Chapter reorganisation suggestions
• Scene additions/deletions
• Market-readiness analysis
• Editorial memo (detailed)
• Inline guidance and selective rewriting where necessary

It Is NOT:
Sentence polishing or grammar correction focus.

Indicative Rate: ₹1.20 – ₹2.20 per word                        

Timeline: 3–5 weeks for 60–80k words

3. Substantive Editing (Focused Structural Refinement)

Best for Manuscripts that are structurally sound but need tightening and coherence enhancement.

You Get:

• Scene-level strengthening
• Pacing refinement
• Removal of redundancies
• Narrative clarity improvements
• Logical consistency checks
• Moderate rewriting for clarity and flow
• Transition smoothing

It Is NOT:
Full-scale structural redesign or heavy conceptual reshaping.

Key Difference from Developmental:

• Developmental = Structural Reconstruction. We may reshape the book.
• Substantive = Structural Refinement. We improve and tighten what’s already working.

Indicative Rate: ₹1.00 – ₹1.80 per word

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

4. Line Editing (Craft Elevation)

Best for authors who are satisfied with the structure but want refined prose.

You Get:

• Sentence rhythm improvement
• Word choice enhancement
• Tone consistency
• Emotional depth strengthening
• Dialogue tightening
• Removal of awkward phrasing

It Is NOT:
Structural correction or grammar-only correction.

Indicative Rate: ₹0.90 – ₹1.80 per word

Timeline: 2–3 weeks

5. Copyediting (Technical Accuracy)

Best for near-final manuscripts on the path to submission or publication.

You Get:

• Grammar correction
• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Syntax correction
• Internal consistency (names, dates, timelines)
• Fact-check light verification
• Adherence to a style guide (CMOS, APA, house style)
• Standardisation (e.g., toward vs towards, 19th century vs nineteenth century)

It Is NOT:
Stylistic refinement or structural advice.

Indicative Rate: ₹0.80–₹1.50 per word

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

6. Proofreading (Final Polish)

Best for post-layout manuscripts before print or digital release.

You Get:

• Typos
• Missing words
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Minor punctuation issues

It Is NOT:
Editing. No structural or stylistic feedback.

Indicative Rate: ₹0.50 – ₹1.00 per word

Timeline: One week, depending on the length of the manuscript.

7. Manuscript Review (Evaluation Only)

Best for writers unsure about their readiness for editing.

You Get:

• Editorial report 5–6 page
• Structural overview
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Readiness assessment
• Recommended next step

Indicative Rate: ₹0.75 per word

Timeline: 10–14 days

8. Translation Services (Hindi ↔ English)

Professional, context-sensitive translation that preserves meaning, tone, and narrative integrity —not just literal word conversion.

You Get:

• Accurate, human translation (no AI-generated output)
• Tone and voice preservation (especially for creative writing)
• Context-aware phrasing instead of literal translation
• Clean, readable output in the target language
• Optional editorial refinement for enhanced clarity and flow

Service Levels

Standard Translation

Suitable for general, informational, or non-literary content (website, blogs, etc.).

Indicative Fee: ₹1.0 – ₹2.0 per word

Creative/Literary Translation

 Fiction, memoirs, personal narratives, literary writing

Focused on preserving voice, mood, and storytelling depth.

Indicative Fee: ₹2.0 – ₹4.0 per word

Add-On Option: TEP

Translation + Editorial Polish

A refined version of the translated text with enhanced readability, flow, and stylistic

consistency.

Additional Fee: ₹0.8 –₹1.50 per word

Minimum Project Fee

₹1,500–₹3,000 (depending on scope)

Timeline

• 1,500–3,000 words per day (depending on complexity)
• Urgent delivery timelines may be accommodated at an additional fee

Important Note

Translation is not a word-for-word conversion but a contextual and interpretive process. The goal is to preserve meaning, tone, and readability in the target language.

For manuscripts requiring both translation and editing, a combined workflow can be structured for better consistency and cost efficiency.

8. Author Mentorship

A structured one-on-one guidance programme tailored to first-time or emerging authors.

You Get:

• Personalised roadmap with actionable steps
• Clarification of genre, voice, and audience
• Writing schedule & craft guidance
• Publishing strategy suggestions (self/traditional)
• Feedback summary in a 1–2 page document

Indicative Fee: ₹8,000–₹35,000 per mentorship tier

Timeline: 4–12 weeks (depending on the tier (Basic/Advance/Premium) and responsiveness)

Sample Edit (1000 words): To help you decide the right service level, and a half-page editorial overview.  ₹600 (based on load)

Click Here for International Rates

Please Note:

• Final estimates are provided after reviewing your manuscript sample and word count.
• Heavily disorganised or unstructured drafts may attract higher rates due to the extra editorial effort required.
• We also offer custom packages for novellas, poetry, memoirs, anthologies, and series edits.
• Express/priority timelines are available at an additional charge.
• Clear upfront payment policy (advance 60%).

Not sure what you need? 📩 Contact@thebluepencils.com for a free initial consultation.