Melissa Pilgrim
Writer, Editor
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Note About Copyediting
Copyediting is correcting the grammar and spelling as well as proofing the overall final manuscript’s lay-out of a manuscript. It is normally done at the final stage of a project before being published, shopped, or produced.
You can often hire an English major at a local college to do this kind of work for a low, flat fee, giving them valuable experience. (Just be sure they use The Chicago Manual of Style!)
I Specialize in These Services:
Please Note:
Services and Fees
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This entails evaluating a finished manuscript, either in its first draft stage (to assess how the story is being formed) or a late draft stage (normally to see if anything was missed before sending a project out). My general, overall story notes on plotlines, structure, characters, and dialogue are written directly on your manuscript pages for your review. They will then be right there to follow as you revise your project.
Note: This is not a page-by-page type of detailed, structural, developmental revision, but rather an overall evaluation of the project in its current state. This kind of evaluation gives you a solid idea of what needs to be done next and how much work it will entail for you to do as the writer of the project. It does not include doing grammar or spelling edits but does access how much of a copyedit on the writing will be needed later on (which is normally the final stage of any project).
Fees:
- One Act Play (up to 70 pages): $750.00
- Two or Three Act Play (90 to 120 pages): $1,250.00
- Half Hour TV Script: $550.00
- One Hour TV Script: $750.00
- TV Series Pilot & Book Bibles: Starts with the above prices for pilot episode and then the book bible review varies based on length.
- Short Film (up to 30 pages): $450.00
- Short Film (31 to 60 pages): $750.00
- Screenplay (90 to 110 pages): $1,250.00
- Book Manuscript: $5.50 per page based on 250 words per page, DS, evaluation only (Example: A 90,000-word novel would be 360 pages, $1,980.00 total)
Turn-around Time:
- For film, TV, and play scripts it is normally 3 weeks from the time the project is received with 2/3 of the payment.
- For book manuscripts it can vary depending on the project's length, but it is normally done within 3 - 4 weeks. (The timeframe is discussed up front so deadlines can be set and 2/3 of the payment is due up front.)
- The final 1/3 of the payment is due upon receipt of the project being returned to you for all of the above mediums.
BONUS: A complementary, 30-minute phone consultation to go over any further questions you may have about the notes is gifted to all script consulting clients after your manuscript is returned and final payment is received.
Script Consulting
Not sure if your story is best for a book or a movie? Don't know which script format to use? Or are you not sure what to do with your finished manuscript now it's finally done? Whatever your specific writing needs are, I will try my best to help answer your questions based on my 25+ years working as a writer in all mediums.
- Sessions are done over the phone or Zoom and can be scheduled for up to 2 hours at a time.
- Sessions can be done Monday - Saturday, 9:00 - 7:00 (EST)
- You can schedule a one-time session or schedule them monthly, bi-weekly, or even weekly if you need more inspiration and guidance to help you get through a project from start to finish.
Fee: $95.00 per hour
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Interested in seeing if I can help with your writing needs?
Please Note:
Writing is hard work, and great writing is even harder.
The above services are what most clients need to see where they stand with a project and where to go from that point with it. Both services entail a lot of time and information on a set budget and I do my best to give professional advice based on my experiences working in all mediums to help fellow wordsmiths succeed.
But I am also (thankfully) a working writer myself and my time is becoming more limited with being able to help with writing services unless it is to be hired as a professional writer-for-hire for a producer or production company. This is why I no longer can offer editing or copyediting services on manuscripts.
But I am grateful to still help anyone I can when time allows for it. To read testimonies from those I have worked with, please see my Client Projects page.
- To read client testimonies, please click here: Client Projects.
- References for all services listed are available upon request.
- Your project's budget and timeframe are discussed before any work starts so both parties know the payment schedule up front.
Writer-for-Hire for All Other Types of Writing Assignments
Need someone to write your article, web page content, or do some other specific writing project? See if I can help!
Turn-around Time: Depends on project, but a timeframe will be set up at the start.
Fee: $75.00 per hour (A budget will be set up for the project before it starts.)
Writer-for-Hire for a Story
If you are a producer or director looking for a writer to write your script idea for a feature film, TV series, or theatrical play (or revise an existing project), please contact my manager, Marc Wax, about the specific writing assignment at: Wax Entertainment.
- Only the general idea needs to be discussed up front to know if it's a project I can work on (to be sure it is not like any of my own original work).
- Revisions of existing projects includes developmental editing.
- If an agreement to work together is decided upon a nondisclosure agreement can be signed along with the contract.
Turn-around Time for Project:
A timeframe will be set up in a writer-for-hire contract stating dates to finish the outline/treatment and each full draft.
Fee for Project:
- Payment will depend on the project and will be a set flat fee.
- Payments will be made in installments as the project progresses.
- A royalty agreement can be discussed as well, and it can vary depending on the project and the amount of the flat fee initially paid out.
- No deferred payments or royalty-only assignments are accepted for story writing projects.
