So how do we do this?
You have started to think that engaging a professional editor might be worth it, as you continue to step forward along the path of making your project into the best version of itself. So what should you expect?
The Process
- Initial Contact
- Contact me with questions and queries.
- Tell me a little about your project, what you are looking for, and when you need it completed.
- Discussion
- After your initial email, we will discuss your project in more detail.
- If you have not done so already, please send me the document in its current form, even if it will change before I work on it.
- Please send me any pertinent information on formatting, including general requirements (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian) and what has been established by your school, institution, or publisher (which often invokes an established style but makes certain changes or determinations for your particular organization).
- We will narrow down the editorial service that would be most helpful, including any unique requirements.
- We will discuss time frames: when you could send me the version of your project for editing (if it is not the one already sent) and when you would like it done.
- I am happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement if you require it.
- I generally work in Word, using track changes so that you can see exactly what I have done. If you would like the work done in another format, we can discuss how that would work.
- Quote
- I will send you a quote, which will include the particular service(s) requested and a completion date based on when you plan to submit it to me.
- The length of time it will take depends on the number of jobs already in the queue, how much time I expect to have, and my best estimate on how long it will take to complete your project.
- I take the completion date very seriously. Though I do not expect I will be late, if for some reason I am, I will deduct 10% from the total price.
- Submit Signed Quote & Initial Payment
- I ask that you sign the quote and send it back to me as our official agreement.
- If we expect the project to take less than a week, payment is due afterwards.
- If more than a week, we will determine a schedule for payment that works best for both of us.
- Updates & Discussion
- As I am working, I may have questions for you. I will email these unless you prefer a different means of communication.
- Depending on the length of the project, I can provide regular updates on the work being done and, if you are paying hourly, the total hours spent so far.
- Delivery of Final Version
- I will email you the completed document.
- It is up to you to decide how many of the changes to keep. Some people keep all of them; some people work through them, one by one, and unless they are obvious spelling, grammar, or formatting mistakes, they decide which ones to keep. This is your work, and you always have the final say.
- Final Payment
- I ask that payment be submitted within 7 calendar days of me delivering the edited document.
- Lingering Questions
- I make myself available for any lingering questions as you work through the document I sent back to you.
- For most normal projects, this will be limited to 2 hours of work time. If you need more interaction, we can discuss adding a consultation.
Rates & Payment
I offer two approaches:
- Per Project Rate: after looking over your document, I will quote a rate for the project based on my best guess for how long it will take.
- Hourly Rate: we agree upon an hourly rate, and I bill you at the end of the project for the number of hours it has taken.
I take personal checks, Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo.