FAQ

Booking My Services

  • What genres do you accept?
  • I accept all genres as well as literary fiction, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, essays, theses and dissertations.

  • What size documents do you accept?
  • I accept manuscripts of all sizes. There is no minimum or maximum limit to the word count.

  • Do you provide sample edits?
  • I absolutely recommend it. For new clients seeking editing or proofreading on manuscripts over 10,000 words, I will provide a sample edit of 1,000 words free of charge. This is to ensure we have a creative and professional fit and you feel comfortable before committing to a larger order.

  • Do you accept last-minute orders?
  • It depends on the size. Usually I am booked a month or so in advance but if your work is more urgent, an express service is available on a limited basis. Please contact me for my current availability.

  • I think my manuscript will be ready in a few weeks. Can I pre-book an edit now?
  • You may request a tentative date for me to begin your editing, if you pre-book with a 50% deposit.

    The Editing Process

  • What document formats can I send my manuscript in?
  • I usually work in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx format. I also accept manuscripts in Google Drive and Open Office .odt formats. I can annotate a PDF but not edit the content.

  • How can I send my manuscript to you?
  • I send and receive documents by email, Dropbox or FTP.

  • How long does it take?
  • I edit at least one book per week, so from our scheduled start date I can usually return all proofreading, copy editing and line editing work within seven days. If you have a tighter deadline, an express service is available on a limited basis. Please contact me for my current availability.

  • What will I get back?
  • I will return an edited version of your document. For proofreading, I use MS Word’s Track Changes to record every edit I make so you can review and manage each change individually. For other editing I add comments along the side of your text, which you can also review individually.

  • What if I disagree with your suggested changes?
  • That is fine! Editing is subjective to an extent, so do feel free to agree or disagree with any edits I make. Where choices are necessary I will always opt for simplicity and consistency. I am very happy to discuss any changes further.

    Making a Payment

  • How will you bill me?
  • For larger jobs, I will send you an invoice for a non-refundable 50% deposit, which is required for me to schedule you in. Upon completion of the work I will send you a final invoice. Please note that the final manuscript cannot be returned until full payment has been received. For smaller jobs I will invoice you for one payment which must be paid before the work is done.

  • What payment methods do you accept?
  • I accept payments by direct electronic transfer or Paypal. For British customers I also accept Bacs transfers.

    Other Questions

  • Can you work for overseas clients?
  • I can and I do. I am based in London, UK but a lot of my work is for clients across the globe. Typically email communication is sufficient but I can speak with clients by phone or Skype.

  • Can you help with checking my website?
  • Yes. I have a lot of experience in testing and proofreading websites for HTML issues, typos, use of fluent English, broken links or errors in layout and formatting across browsers and devices. I’ve been hand-coding for fifteen years so if you have a Content Management System, I am very comfortable at reading and editing your HTML and CSS. Alternatively, I will navigate through your site thoroughly and document any issues in a separate Word file.

  • I’m not a native English speaker. Can you help me with my written English?
  • Absolutely. I am very experienced in helping people for whom English is not their first language. I can help you with official documents, letters, essays or work, to ensure you have expressed yourself in clear, accurate and elegant English.

  • I’m a student. Can you help with the drafting and editing of a thesis, dissertation or essay?
  • Definitely. I can’t fact-check or write your work for you but I can help you draft it and guide it into a coherent, structured essay, whatever field you’re in, and at any academic level.