Writing
Services
If you’re an aspiring writer looking to improve your manuscript while keeping costs down, consider submitting just a few thousand words for professional editing. It’s a cost-effective way to learn by doing. Whether you choose rewriting, substantive editing, or line editing, you’ll gain valuable insight into how your work can be improved—without the high cost of extensive rewrite of the entire manuscript. Frank’s services will help you see what works, why it works, and how you can apply those lessons going forward. It’s like a personalized writing workshop built right into your project—empowering you to do more of the work yourself and save significantly in the long run. Ghostwriting / Collaboration / Co-authoring ($15,000 or more)* Converting audio recordings, conducting interviews, and doing research to produce the author’s message in book form can be many months of skilled writing and storytelling expertise. These projects are quoted based on estimated work and time involved. Rewriting ($0.20 per word, $250.00 minimum)* Rewriting the author’s manuscript for a professional presentation in the author’s voice. Evaluate the manuscript’s overall structure. For storytelling, this includes plot and character development, escalation of tension, character development, and consistency. For nonfiction narrative, improve organization, argument strength, clarity of ideas, and logical flow. Stylistic Editing ($0.12 per word, $200.00 minimum)* Focuses on the writing style, language, sentence structure, and rhythm. Maintains the author’s voice, but with better clarity and consistency, resolving issues with effective storytelling, point of view, and transitions. Tighten the message by reducing redundancies and cutting words that state the obvious so each sentence flows well and reads smoothly. Copy Editing ($0.10 per word, $150.00 minimum)* Make significant improvements in sentence structure for better clarity. This is the technical tune-up. Improve accuracy, clarity, consistency, and correctness in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Applies the basic best-writing practices based on The Chicago Manual of Style and The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style to maintain consistency throughout. Proofing ($0.025 per word ($100.00 minimum) The last step in preparing a manuscript for publication, after the text has been drafted, rewritten, and edited to make it the best you can afford. This simple step corrects overlooked punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors. Sensitivity Reading and Evaluation ($0.008 per word ($50.00 minimum) Not an edit in the technical sense, but a review of your manuscript to identify potential problems, itemize writing and grammar weaknesses, and recommend steps for improvement. * Costs for Ghostwriting, Rewriting, Stylistic Editing, and Copy Editing include Proofing * Hourly Rate: $75 When a fixed amount cannot be determined for a project, Frank's hourly rate can be the most affordable and equitable approach.
Frank Ball has a God-given ability with words—turning the ordinary into something extraordinary, lifting excellence into the realm of something spectacular. His heart to serve, coupled with his desire to reflect God’s glory, shines through both his attitude and his work. Every writer seeking God’s best would be blessed to have Frank as a mentor, an editor, and a friend. I count it a privilege to have experienced his influence in my life. — Steve Gandara, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Excellent Cultures, Inc.
“Wow! You found hundreds of little ways to make the story tighter! I just finished going through your edits, and I loved all your suggestions. Thanks a million, Frank! You are such a mechanic with this. Everything you pointed out made perfect sense. Thanks for making the story more powerful!” — Tim Shoemaker, Author, Speaker, and Writing Coach
“Frank Ball is not only the editor I trust with my own writing, he is the editor I recommend to anyone who comes to me for a referral. He is the best kind of word nerd and a master at his craft.” — Thomas Umstattd Jr., Award-Winning Speaker, Podcaster, and CEO of Castle Media Group LLC
Two-Hour Consultation: $297
- Discuss all author concerns.
- Look at ways the manuscript could be improved.
- Develop a plan for publication.
Note: This fee may be reduced to $150 for phone consultation only, without manuscript evaluation and prepared comments.
Graphic Design: $450
- Produce a professional book cover using a vast resource of graphic design options.
- Support the author in creating excellent back-cover copy.
Print-Ready Cover and Content: $1350
- Format the text and margins suitable for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
- Fix composition errors that are common in word processors.
- Create a title page, copyright page, and index.
- Use a professional type style that is typical for traditionally published books.
- Create a print-ready pdf file for the book contents meeting KDP requirements.
- Coach the author as needed in setting up a KDP account, defining book specifications, and uploading the cover and contents.
- Pictures must be placed and resized at a cost of $5 each.
- Complete the layout for a print-ready high-resolution pdf cover file suitable for publishing on KDP.
Note: This fee will be reduced when Frank’s editing services are purhased, allowing some formatting to be completed during the editing process.
Special Mentoring Offer
Seminars, classes, and how-to books are a great help, but there’s nothing better than the individual attention from a writing professional to boost your writing skills to the next level. Just a little one-on-one mentoring can guide your unique way of thinking and help you break through to a more captivating storytelling style.
- Significant savings below Frank’s standard $125 per hour consulting rate.
- Send Frank up to 2,000 words of your manuscript in a Microsoft Word attachment.
- Pay only $397 cost online.
- Frank spends many hours reading your manuscript and itemizing how and where the writing can be improved. He documents substantive editing tips, prepares before-and-after examples, and makes suggestions that are emailed to you after consultation.
- You and Frank have a private 60-minute Zoom consultation to highlight key strengths and weaknesses and answer questions.
Frank’s hours are 100 percent focused on your project, with no interruptions allowed, not even a trip to the bathroom. So you get the maximum value for his effort, which is payable at $125.00 per hour.
Unpredictable variables make per-page pricing impossible.
If you submit your materials and requirements, Frank will give you a free estimate of what the total costs would be. The project can be split into affordable payments, payable at the beginning of each stage of the process. At any point, you have the option of discontinuing or delaying the project’s completion.
You should plan to do as much work yourself as is possible, so the amount of time Frank must spend will be greatly reduced.
Bring Your Story to Life with a Book Trailer — $1,250
- Instant Impact – Video engages audiences faster than text or images alone.
- Perfect for Social Media – Shareable, bite-sized, and memorable.
- Boost Sales & Visibility – A strong trailer can spark curiosity and drive readers to purchase.
- Professional Image – Elevate your author brand with a trailer that looks and feels polished.
- A 60–75 second custom trailer tailored to your book’s theme and audience.
- Engaging visuals, music, and pacing designed to reflect your story’s tone.
- Options for voiceover narration, text highlights, or dramatic quotes.
- A finished video file optimized for social media, websites, and presentations.
- Share your story – Provide your book summary, themes, and any specific ideas.
- Creative development – I will storyboard, choose visuals, and align tone with your book.
- Production & polish – I’ll add background music, AI voiceover, transitions and finishing touches.
- Your trailer delivered – Ready to share wherever your readers are.
