FAQ
Scheduling
How far out do you book?
Although I can sometimes take on new projects immediately or within a week, it is more likely that I will book you at least 2-6 weeks out. I can also book you much later if you're the planning-ahead type!
What does your schedule look like?
I usually only work on one or two projects at a time in order to give them very individualized attention. That means that I tend to turn projects around quickly because they are often the only thing I'm working on.
What if I need to move my editing or beta reading start date?
I can usually be at least somewhat flexible about start dates. If you need an extra few days to finish up your own edits, I can most likely accommodate that. If you want to push it out more than that, I will work with you to schedule a new date that makes sense for us both.
Payment and Billing
What payment methods do you accept?
My default is to bill with PayPal invoices. PayPal invoices provide safety and security for the transaction and ensure that there is recourse in the event of a disagreement. I can also accommodate other online payment methods such as Venmo and Apple Pay. I do not accept cash or checks.
What does your billing structure look like?
If a project will amount to more than $150 USD, I take a 20% nonrefundable deposit upon booking. The full invoice amount is due before I return files or editorial reports to the client. When I'm almost done with a project, I'll update the invoice and send a reminder for payment. I am usually able to produce final files within a day or two after sending the final invoice.
How do you come up with your quotes?
My editing and beta reading rates are listed on their respective pages. All prices will be rounded up based on word count. In the case of flexible rate services like line editing/copy editing, I will preform a sample edit or review an author's manuscript to determine the rate, and the quoted rate might be higher than the base rate if I feel that more work will need to be done on the project.
If you want any changes made to the style of editing or the scheduling of the project (such as expediting the process), I would be happy to discuss that, although it may result in additional cost.
Process
Do you work on unfinished manuscripts?
I do not perform normal editing services (critiques, dev edits, line editing) on unfinished manuscripts. I don't think I'm effective at structural editing without seeing the full and complete story written out, and I don't think a novel is ready for line editing if it is unfinished.
If you would like me to look at an unfinished work, feel free to email me. I'm willing to do outline evaluations or beta reads of the beginning of novels. I'd be happy to discuss what you're looking to gain from my services and what my rates are for unfinished work.
Do you edit short stories?
I only do line editing or copy editing for short stories. Short stories have the same pricing structure as long-form work, although I have a minimum charge of $50 USD. I do not perform structural editing (critiques or dev edits) or beta reads on short stories.
What's your editing process like?
It varies from book to book and service to service. You can read more about my different processes here on my blog, or check out a day in my editing life.
What are your terms of service?
You can find my terms of service here. They detail my general process, payment structure, scope of services, confidentiality clause, and communication preferences.
How do you handle confideniality?
I will never publicly release your manuscript, in part or as a whole, edited or unedited, without your permission. I will also use reasonable measures of security to ensure that your work is never compromised. You can find my full confidentiality clause in my terms of service.
Do you edit AI-generated books or content?
I do not edit books, stories, or articles solely generated by AI programs. If you've used AI or software like Grammarly to help edit your text, or you've used it to restructure small portions of your text, that's fine, and I will edit that type of work. But if your manuscript is primarily text written by an AI, I'm not a good fit as your editor.
About Me
Are you part of any established editing organizations?
I am a current member of both the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and the ACES Society for Editing, and I frequently utilize their resources and training to improve my own craft.
Are you willing to accept work from other editors?
I do frequent subcontracting work for other fiction editors. If you would like to subcontract me for a project, definitely get in touch!
How many cats do you have?
I have three, and all of them are black! Heian is a huge, fluffy Maine Coon Cat who lives up to the Maine Coon nickname of "gentle giant." Loki is a cuddly domestic shorthair. Penny is a tiny, fiery little longhair.