Book deal

I just met today with the ad agency CEO who proposed I help him with his book. I'd spent quite a few hours going over his first few chapters, putting together comments and scoping out a role for myself, and in our two-hour meeting today I think it became clear that I'd have something to offer him.

So clear, in fact, that when I gave him two budget options, he chose the higher one. And doubled it. He also kind of doubled the work, so it makes sense, but still it was a surprise since I didn't have the slightest idea of what would be an acceptable number to him.

I spent a lot of time researching rates for book proofreaders, copyeditors, editors and so-called "book doctors." I had to make a lot of assumptions since I didn't really find a clear parallel. Most of the info out there is for works of fiction, which is different from this -- it's a basic business book, capturing the agency's approach/philosophy to branding.

I've long found the rates for editorial/journalistic-type writing very different from the rates I charge corporate clients. Like about one-tenth my going rate. I honestly don't know how they do it, without working 80 hours a week and living in Montana.

Anyway, most of the models I looked at assumed editing of a "finished" draft. In this case, I'm going to be working with him chapter-by-chapter, not only editing what's been done, but serving as a sounding board and counselor on shaping what's to come. So it's a pretty involved process. And, after today, it's even more involved. Beyond just giving my feedback, written and verbal, he wants me to actually do the edits.

Now I don't fancy myself a Book Editor in the Doubleday or Simon & Schuster sense. But I can write and edit, I know the subject matter, and I seem to be in sync with the author, so I can definitely get this book ready for showing to publishers. And hell, in the end it'll likely be self-published anyway.

There's even talk of giving me a credit, beyond the acknowledgements page. Not sure about that -- we'll see how it goes. Now I just have to give him the thumbs up on the budget. Which, I'm actually thinking of bumping up another 20% or so. Not to get greedy, but this is going to entail a good amount of work over the next 10 months.