Fees & Engagements

Full-Length Books

Nonfiction · Biography · Memoir

$50,000–$100,000+

Full-length book projects begin with a project questionnaire addressing the concept, anticipated length, existing materials and research, additional research requirements, interviews and source access, proposed authorship or co-authorship, and anticipated timeline. After review, Nan determines whether the project is a fit and, when appropriate, provides a customized proposal and fee.

Payment schedule: 50% upon signing · 35% upon completion of the first draft · 15% upon delivery of the final manuscript.

Book-to-Script Adaptations

Project-specific pricing

Book-to-script adaptations are individually evaluated and quoted. Project scope may vary significantly depending upon the underlying work, adaptation and screen rights, intended production, union requirements, format, complexity, and the extent of creative development required. Prospective clients begin by completing a project questionnaire, after which Nan will determine whether the project is a fit and, when appropriate, provide a proposal and fee.

Lyricist

Project-specific pricing

Nan accepts select projects as a credited lyricist, creating original lyrics for music composed or scored by another creative professional. Projects are individually considered and quoted based upon the nature and intended use of the work, creative scope, rights, credits, and applicable royalty or ownership arrangements.

Personal Narratives

Starting at $2,500

Personal stories are generally written with the attribution “as told to Nan O’Brien,” preserving the subject’s voice and experience while transforming interviews, memories, and source material into a polished narrative.

Tributes & Commemorative Pieces

Starting at $1,500

Written to honor a person, relationship, milestone, remembrance, anniversary, retirement, or other meaningful occasion. Final fees are determined by scope, interviews, source materials, length, complexity, and number of contributors.

Legacy Writing

$5,000–$25,000+

More substantial projects preserving memories, experiences, family history, values, or elements of a life story. Fees are determined by scope, interviews, research and source materials, length, complexity, and number of contributors. Projects that develop into a full-length memoir or biography will be quoted as Full-Length Books.

Project-specific pricing

OCN accepts writing projects from corporations, engineering and technical firms, municipalities, governmental agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other entities whose work requires complex information to be communicated clearly and accurately.

Projects may include proposals, public-facing commentary, reports, technical or organizational documents, and other specialized written materials. Because requirements, research, subject matter, audience, and scope vary considerably, projects are evaluated and quoted individually.

OCN does not provide grant-writing services.

Complete Manuscript Editing

Project-specific pricing

A comprehensive editorial engagement for manuscripts requiring more than one level of editing. After reviewing the manuscript, Nan determines the editorial work required and provides a project-specific proposal.

Developmental Editing

Starting at 4¢ per word

Line Editing

Starting at 3.5¢ per word

Copyediting

Starting at 3¢ per word

Proofreading

Starting at 2¢ per word

Rates vary according to manuscript type, complexity, condition, length, and turnaround requirements.

OCN editorial pricing is guided by current professional rate data published by the Editorial Freelancers Association. Final fees may vary according to the requirements of the individual project.

Manuscript Evaluation

Starting at 2¢ per word · $1,500 minimum

For completed or substantially developed book-length manuscripts. Nan evaluates the manuscript as a whole and provides a written professional assessment addressing concept, structure, clarity, voice, continuity, audience connection, strengths, weaknesses, and recommended areas for development.

Writing Project Evaluation

Starting at $500

For shorter written works and works in progress where an objective professional assessment is needed rather than editing. Final fees are determined by length, complexity, subject matter, condition of the work, and scope of the requested evaluation.

Independent Publishing Roadmap — $350

Publishing independently offers authors and creators greater control over their work, but it also requires navigating a process filled with decisions, deadlines, and details that may be entirely unfamiliar.

The Independent Publishing Roadmap provides a personalized, step-by-step plan for moving your completed work toward publication. You begin by completing a detailed project questionnaire, giving OCN the information needed to understand your work, objectives, and current stage in the publishing process. OCN then reviews your project and questionnaire, meets with you for a one-hour Zoom consultation to discuss your objectives and answer relevant questions, identifies the publishing decisions and requirements specific to your work, and creates a clear written roadmap for what needs to happen, in what order, and where appropriate resources may be needed.

The objective is not to publish the work for you, but to provide the knowledge and direction you need to move through the publishing process yourself, independently and confidently.

Publishing Project Management

Starting at $1,000

This level of service builds upon the information you provide through the Independent Publishing Roadmap. The difference is that instead of you moving your completed project through the publishing process yourself, Nan does it for you.

Following your questionnaire, project review, one-hour Zoom consultation, and Nan’s creation of your publishing roadmap, she will manage the agreed-upon publishing process on your behalf. The scope and timing of each engagement are established in advance and are based upon the requirements of the individual project.

The Publishing Project Management fee covers Nan’s professional guidance and management of the publishing process only. It does not include third-party or hard costs associated with publication, including ISBNs, interior layout and design, cover design, printing, warehousing and distribution, and/or other outside services or expenses. Anticipated costs will be identified and discussed with you before you engage Nan to manage the project, and all such costs will be the responsibility of the client.

This service is only for the management of publishing your completed project and does not include editorial assistance. If editorial work is required before the project is ready for publication, it will be quoted separately under Writing services.

If, following Nan’s initial project evaluation and your consultation with her, you decide not to proceed with the Publishing Project Management option, the amount you paid will be refunded, less the $350 Independent Publishing Roadmap fee.