FAQs
What should I expect when I start working with you?
Test Edit. Before you hire me (or any freelance editor), I recommend a test edit. Here's how I do it: I’ll edit 2 pages at no charge or 10 pages at 50% off the normal rate. If you opt for the first 2 pages route, I’ll edit those pages, send them back to you, and you can decide from there whether you’d like to hire me. If you opt for the 10 pages route, I’ll edit them and tell you what type of editing services I recommend. Then you can decide if you want to hire me.
Format. Please format the manuscript as follows: MS Word doc, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
# of Pages. To calculate the # of pages for pricing purposes, I divide the total word count of the manuscript by 250.
Fact-checking. Fact-checking is not included in my services, unless we agree to it ahead of time. What is fact-checking? Here's an example: say your character is walking down Cambridge Street in Harvard Square and manages to spill her double espresso all over the Jensen Ackles look-alike leaving Robinson Hall. I may point out that you should double-check whether said building actually abuts said street, but I'm not going to Google Map it for you (unless we've agreed to include this service ahead of time).
What are Your Credentials? I'm a senior editor of Month9Books, LLC and Swoon Romance. I strive to keep my freelance editorial services and my work for Month9Books and Swoon Romance completely separate. This means that if you submit a manuscript I’ve edited to either Month9Books or Swoon Romance (which I encourage you to do), I will make sure another editor reads and assesses your submission, simply because by virtue of editing the manuscript, I lose my impartiality. Just so you know. I'm also more than happy to provide references from past clients.
What is your Preferred Method of Payment? PayPal. I'll email you an invoice before we begin.
When Is Payment Due? Payment is typically made half up front and half on delivery of the edit, with a few exceptions. If this is a problem for you, let me know and we can discuss other options.
Partial vs. Full Manuscript. You may choose to have edited as many pages/chapters of your manuscript as you like.
Proofreading Perfection. If you're wondering whether my proofread will catch every single one of those dastardly grammatical errors, the answer is, most likely, no. I'm human. Most editors are. I've yet to read a published book with zero errors. But I will get it as close to grammatical perfection as humanly possible.
Delivery Date. This depends entirely on the project, your needs, and my schedule. Before you hire me, I’ll give you a date I expect to have the manuscript back to you. If you need it back faster than that, let me know. There may be an additional fee for rush jobs. I can also refer you to another editor, of course.
After the Edit. I am available to talk through any comments I’ve given you or to answer any questions you may have. If you’d like me to review your revisions, that’s a second pass, and consequently an extra fee. If you think you want to do that, ask me about pricing.
Pricing. In May 2015, I increased my rates. I had avoided increasing them for a long time, simply because I love what I do and it's very important to me that my rates are as cost-effective for my clients as possible. Alas, due to time constraints, I've finally decided to bring my rates more in line with the industry standard.
How do your rates compare to other editing services? According to The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), the standard fee for an edit is $30-$60 per hour, depending on the type of edit. When I edit, I average 6-8 pages per hour for a substantive edit, 8-12 pages per hour for a line edit, and 10 pages per hour for a proofread. So the good news is the new rates are still well below the industry standard as set forth by the EFA (which you can read about here).
Test Edit. Before you hire me (or any freelance editor), I recommend a test edit. Here's how I do it: I’ll edit 2 pages at no charge or 10 pages at 50% off the normal rate. If you opt for the first 2 pages route, I’ll edit those pages, send them back to you, and you can decide from there whether you’d like to hire me. If you opt for the 10 pages route, I’ll edit them and tell you what type of editing services I recommend. Then you can decide if you want to hire me.
Format. Please format the manuscript as follows: MS Word doc, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
# of Pages. To calculate the # of pages for pricing purposes, I divide the total word count of the manuscript by 250.
Fact-checking. Fact-checking is not included in my services, unless we agree to it ahead of time. What is fact-checking? Here's an example: say your character is walking down Cambridge Street in Harvard Square and manages to spill her double espresso all over the Jensen Ackles look-alike leaving Robinson Hall. I may point out that you should double-check whether said building actually abuts said street, but I'm not going to Google Map it for you (unless we've agreed to include this service ahead of time).
What are Your Credentials? I'm a senior editor of Month9Books, LLC and Swoon Romance. I strive to keep my freelance editorial services and my work for Month9Books and Swoon Romance completely separate. This means that if you submit a manuscript I’ve edited to either Month9Books or Swoon Romance (which I encourage you to do), I will make sure another editor reads and assesses your submission, simply because by virtue of editing the manuscript, I lose my impartiality. Just so you know. I'm also more than happy to provide references from past clients.
What is your Preferred Method of Payment? PayPal. I'll email you an invoice before we begin.
When Is Payment Due? Payment is typically made half up front and half on delivery of the edit, with a few exceptions. If this is a problem for you, let me know and we can discuss other options.
Partial vs. Full Manuscript. You may choose to have edited as many pages/chapters of your manuscript as you like.
Proofreading Perfection. If you're wondering whether my proofread will catch every single one of those dastardly grammatical errors, the answer is, most likely, no. I'm human. Most editors are. I've yet to read a published book with zero errors. But I will get it as close to grammatical perfection as humanly possible.
Delivery Date. This depends entirely on the project, your needs, and my schedule. Before you hire me, I’ll give you a date I expect to have the manuscript back to you. If you need it back faster than that, let me know. There may be an additional fee for rush jobs. I can also refer you to another editor, of course.
After the Edit. I am available to talk through any comments I’ve given you or to answer any questions you may have. If you’d like me to review your revisions, that’s a second pass, and consequently an extra fee. If you think you want to do that, ask me about pricing.
Pricing. In May 2015, I increased my rates. I had avoided increasing them for a long time, simply because I love what I do and it's very important to me that my rates are as cost-effective for my clients as possible. Alas, due to time constraints, I've finally decided to bring my rates more in line with the industry standard.
How do your rates compare to other editing services? According to The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), the standard fee for an edit is $30-$60 per hour, depending on the type of edit. When I edit, I average 6-8 pages per hour for a substantive edit, 8-12 pages per hour for a line edit, and 10 pages per hour for a proofread. So the good news is the new rates are still well below the industry standard as set forth by the EFA (which you can read about here).
