What’s a project worth?
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Lately I’ve been refining the tools we use to estimate the cost of writing, editing and proofreading projects. I thought I’d share with you some of the variables we use to predict the time a particular project will involve – which in turn determines the amount we quote.
Here’s a breakdown by project type. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it does cover the main metrics.
Editing
Word count: the number of words (rather than the number of pages) is the most important metric for predicting how long an edit will take. AnyCount gives us an accurate word count for all document types.
Quality of writing: we use StyleWriter for a quantitative evaluation of a document, then use this score to predict the degree of modification required.
Complexity: the more complex the subject matter, the more time it takes to edit.
Formatting: more time is needed if the document requires formatting, particularly if we have to update or modify the existing template styles.
Number of citations: validating and formatting citations and reference entries in a document can be fiddly work, particularly if the references are incomplete. We use Mendeley to manage citations and generate a bibliography.
Proofreading
Word count: again, the most important metric for estimating the time required for a proofread will be the number of words in the document.
File type: most of our proofreading jobs are done using the Adobe Acrobat mark-up tools, but it is becoming more common to work with a Microsoft Word file using the track changes and comment tools. Word’s tools are a little easier to work with, so the proof takes slightly less time.
Quality of editing: a proofread is a final QA check, it’s not a substitute for a proper edit (neither is a quick once-over by Jim from marketing, unless he happens to also be an experienced editor). Sometimes we need to politely suggest that a document is not yet at the proofreading stage and actually needs a thorough copyedit first.
Writing
Word count: as with editing and proofreading, the length of the document is the main determinant as to how much work is required. In this instance, it’s the projected word count for the final document.
Source materials: in order to write, we need information that we can draw on. The different sources for this information determine the time required – it could be background materials supplied by the client, interviews with subject matter experts or our own research.
Complexity: more complicated language and concepts require more time to understand and more effort to clearly explain to a reader.
Audience knowledge of subject matter: by understanding how much prior knowledge readers have, we can gauge the level of detail or explanation we need to provide.
Interview transcription: sometimes it’s more efficient to work from a transcript of an interview than listen back to an audio recording. We use On Time Typing as our transcription service provider of choice.
So there you have it, the main project variables that determine the cost of the work we do. You can help keep your project costs down by providing an unambiguous brief, the best quality information you can and a clear idea of the intended audience for your document.
