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COSTS
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How indexers charge
Average BWI fees
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Indexers usually charge by the "indexable page" since it gives the publisher or author a firm idea of the cost of the index early on. Costs can also be calculated by the hour (for example, for re-indexing, embedding, journal indexing, or for unknown quantities), or by the index entry (defined as a concept / term and a page reference).
Although the indexer will need all of the book's pages, the "indexable page" does not usually include the front matter (title page, table of contents, preface, introduction, dedication, etc.) unless those pages are to be indexed. Nor does the term "indexable page" include the back matter, again unless it is to be indexed. It does include short pages, figures, graphs, and pictures.
Even the indexable page method is open to adjustments based on the needs of the book. The actual cost of an index can vary, based upon any of the following:
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many names, especially foreign names with diacritics - each name needs to be spell-checked and verified with the bibliography by hand and each author name may need to be connected with the full title of a work
the number of columns per page, the size of the print, and the size of the page
multiple indexes for one book - scripture, author, subject, Latin names / familiar names, legal cases, tables, bibliographical index, etc.
book density - the average book has 6-8 indexable entries from each page
specialization and difficulty of subject - medical, legal, philosophy
restrictions on the length of the index
amount of time allotted or changed for the indexing process
delivery of manuscript by chapter (rather than all at one time)
unique coding or tagging requirements
re-indexing due to pagination changes after the indexing process has begun
embedding requirements
non-book indexing (journal, web, newspaper, CD, genealogy)
multi-part locators - page references including volume and page numbers, or page and section numbers
specificity - the extent to which a concept or topic is identified by a precise term on the hierarchy of genus-species relations
exhaustivity - the extent to which concepts and topics are made retrievable by means of a quantity of index entries and synonyms
depth - the degree to which a topic is represented in detail in an index (#s of precise terms, levels, cross-references)
mixed sorting orders - biographies may need hand-sorted entries in chronological rather than alphabetical or page number order
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For journal indexing I would ask to index a sample journal to determine the amount of time the indexing will take. If you wish to use a per entry rate, I can figure that for you as well.
Specifications. As we begin, I will have specific questions to ask you, including questions about the topic of your book, the number of indexable pages you anticipate, your deadline, your preferred style sheet (Chicago, Sheffield, AP, other). Depending upon the subject matter, I may ask for a sample chapter or two from the middle of the book to index (at no charge) in order to get a feel for the density and difficulty of the book before I offer a firm quote. My "small print paragraph" is also included on the Contract.
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Back Words Indexing Fee Schedule
I may request to see the book or representative portions of the book before making my quote firm. My usual charges range from $4.00 to $6.00 per text page, although most books that I have indexed have come in at $4.50/text page unless conditions above change that figure.
My estimate is based on an indexable page count. An indexable page is any page in the body of the book. Front and back matter, which I request for background, are not considered "indexable" unless you request that they be indexed.
Re-indexing charges are $45/hr if the book's pagination changes after indexing has begun. (Note: if pagination changes by whole pages and all of page 55 becomes all of page 58 or all of Chapter 6 exchanges places with all of Chapter 13, there is no problem. If parts of some pages become parts of other pages, the re-indexing charge will apply.) I cannot emphasize enough that indexing depends upon the content of each page remaining stable from the beginning of the indexing process to the final publication.
More information is available in the "small print paragraph" on the specifications and contract page.
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