One of the unique areas of my work is that of board games. I’m a reviewer and rule book editor, and I’ve played more games last month than most people play in a year.
Your game’s rule book plays a large role in a gamer’s desire to stick around and play, or give up and go home. I’m here to make sure your rule book is orderly, coherent, and clean. I offer two versions of rule book editing, as well as a rule book writing option, described further below. I am a certified copy editor, and you can see some of the board game projects I’ve worked on here.
Game components with textual assets, such as cards, may also need to be edited. I am happy to work on cards and other components by themselves or alongside your rule book. The rates for editing cards and components are the same as those for rule books.
Please note that when editing or writing a rule book, having a physical, fully playable copy of the game is more than helpful; in fact, it’s highly recommended. Even if it’s just a prototype, having a working game in front of me will help me better understand the rules, mechanics, and nuances of the game. I also ask to be sent a completed copy of the game once it’s published.
Rule Book Editing – Proofreading: $0.02 per word (minimum $50)
This option is ideal for rule books that have already been written, double-checked, and need just one more look before going to the printer. With proofreading, I will check for:
- Punctuation
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Typos
- Capitalization
- Other major errors
- Formatting
- Image/text consistency
- Page numbers (accuracy)
- Other
Please note that proofreading is not a full-fledged edit (see Rule Book Editing – Copyediting below). In this stage, the rule book should be more or less polished.
Rule Book Editing – Copyediting: $0.10 per word (minimum $50)
Just like any manuscript, be it a novel, memoir, or textbook, rule books need to be well-structured. We’re talking coherency, voice, tone, discrepancies (in rules, terms, and other things), and more. I’ll comb through it to ensure everything is as it should be. I will also re-write areas that are unclear or could benefit from a rewording. This rule book copyediting includes three passes, as well as a final proofreading once it’s all laid out and ready to go to print. This is my most popular package, and is what I usually recommend.
Rule Book Writing: Rates vary (contact me and we’ll discuss your project)
There’s no shame in admitting that writing a rule book can sometimes be more difficult than actually designing the game. If writing isn’t your strong point, or you’d simply rather not do it yourself, I am more than happy to work with you in writing the rule book. While not required, having a working prototype of the game is helpful so I can better visualize what is happening. Because all games are different, I understand that some rule books may not require as intense of a process as others. I will discuss your game’s needs with you before settling on a final rate.
Other Services (writing, copyediting, etc.): Rates vary by project
- Press releases
- Kickstarter campaigns
- Web copy
- Game descriptions
- RPG books
- Game/character background and lore
- Flavor text
- Short stories, novellas, etc. based on your game’s world (click here for examples)
If you don’t see a service listed, but think I’d be a good fit for it, please don’t hesitate to ask. For other questions, including rates for specific projects, please also reach out and we can work something out together.
To see the games I’ve worked on, click here.
Payment
I accept PayPal, however if another method works better, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do to make it work for you. Payment must be made in full before I can begin on the project. Extra fees may apply depending on the service (e.g. PayPal and Venmo fees are 2.9% of the project’s cost, plus $0.30).
Timeframe
The turnaround time for your project will depend on its length, complexity, and, ultimately, our agreed upon deadline. Please contact me about specific timeframes in reference to your project. In general, I prefer at least two weeks for rule books.