Cost
How long does it take to get a manuscript typed?
Genuinely, it depends — on length and on how readable the handwriting is — so any figure given before those two things are known would be wrong for somebody. Here's what actually determines the timeline, and when you'll get a real date rather than a guess.
What determines the timeline
- Length. The most obvious factor — a 50,000-word memoir is a shorter job than a 120,000-word novel, straightforwardly.
- How readable the handwriting is. Clear, consistent handwriting is typed considerably faster than a cramped or heavily corrected hand, where every page takes real time to read accurately rather than just transcribe.
- What else is on the desk. Only a limited number of manuscripts are taken on at once, so a new project sometimes means a short wait before it starts, in exchange for proper attention once it does.
When you get a real date
After the free manuscript assessment — the opening 1,000 words, typed at no charge. That sample tells me exactly how quickly your particular handwriting reads, which is what turns a guess into an honest delivery date. A firm date is quoted alongside the price, before anything else is typed.
A timetable that can be kept, not a flattering one that can't
If something is going to run late, you'll be told before the date arrives, not after. That matters more than an optimistic estimate given up front.
Delivered in batches for longer manuscripts
Anything over about 30,000 words comes to you in batches as each section is finished, rather than as one delivery at the very end. That means you're reading pages within the first stretch of the job rather than waiting months to see anything at all, and each batch is invoiced as it's delivered — so you're never paying far ahead of what you've actually received.
Find out your actual timeline
Send a few sample pages for a free assessment, and you'll have a real date to work with.