WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DO YOU WANT?

Mechanics: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, clarity, continuity (if the hero’s eyes are blue on page 1, they’d better be blue on pg. 300 – if you capitalize a theory or academic discipline on page 1, it will be capitalized on page 300, etc.

Formatting: Putting the manuscript into standard submission format for publishers – margins, indents, footnotes, spacing.

Substantive: I’ll ask you questions to clarify the points you’re making, make suggestions to expand an idea or a scene, point out logic holes, ask for missing information, etc.

Scanning a typed manuscript into an electronic document, formatting it, and editing for continuity.

Critiques and suggestions for works-in-progress.

Transcribing hand-written/bad-quality typed manuscripts. Will format, and edit if requested.

NOTE: I reserve the right to refuse an editing job where the subject matter, the vocabulary or the author’s attitude/dogma/theology conflict so drastically with my comfort level that I feel it would interfere with the quality of service. I have turned down several projects already and will not hesitate to do so again.

Another Note: If I feel your book is too many steps away from being ready for submission to a publisher or agent (i.e., we have to send it back and forth, racking up a LOT of hours on the bill), I will tell you and suggest you revise and find a critique group who can help you with the massive job of editing and revising without my charging you for book coaching you. When the book is revised, we can work together again.

TYPES OF EDITING

** I can make the edits on the manuscript and only contact you with questions or problems.

** I can edit using Track Changes – which will mark through the items I want to delete, leaving them visible on the stage, and insert the changes or new material. I will insert questions and comments and suggestions in brackets [ ] . You need to go through it using Track Changes and accept or reject each change, and respond to my comments/questions/suggestions. If you are unfamiliar with Track Changes, I don’t recommend using this process.

** I can mark the manuscript with a highlighter – RED for deletions, BLUE for new material, and putting comments/questions/suggestions in YELLOW, inside brackets [ ] . You would have to go through, deleting or accepting each change I made, responding to the questions/comments/suggestions, and then un-highlighting what is still colored when you’re done. This type of editing adds extra time to the process.

PLEASE let me know which type of editing you want done when you send the manuscript to me.

If you do not tell me what type of editing you want, the default process is for me to simply make the changes I fell necessary, and then mark questions and suggestions in brackets [ ] and yellow highlighter, send you the manuscript to look over and answer, and then send back to me.

FORMAT

I use Word 2000 – please send your documents to me in either .doc or .rtf formats. My computer cannot open .docx files, and sometimes has trouble with Vista platform documents.

If I transcribe your document, I will send it to you via email in .doc format or .rtf, and/or send you a CD with your document. Printed/hard copies are negotiable, and will include postage and cost of paper/ink.

PRICE

I charge $20 per hour.

I feel this is the most fair way to price my services, as you pay for the actual work done. Charging by word count can end up being unfair to someone – either to you, if the manuscript is very clean and doesn’t require much work, or to me if I have to devote half an hour to each page. Charging by the page can lead to quibbling – double-spaced or single? Font size? Margins?

I will also charge you for printing and mailing costs if I have to send you proofs, and the bill is below $100.

EDITING QUEUE

I usually handle projects in the order that they arrive in my email or post office box. If you have a deadline, please inform me before sending your manuscript, along with the specific date that you need the manuscript finished. (ASAP does not qualify as a deadline.) I will make every effort to accommodate your deadline, without inconveniencing people who are already waiting.

INVOICING

I keep a detailed invoice, indicating start and stop times and what was done in each time period. I will send you an invoice at the end of the job – unless this is a long-term project, with several drafts. In that case, we will negotiate a “retainer fee” to cover some of the work done before the end.

You can pay me via check or PayPal. I prefer check, as PayPal takes a bite out of every payment it processes. If you are out of the country, then PayPal is preferable, because the bank takes an even bigger bite of foreign bank drafts!

CONTACT

My preferred contact method is via email. I only check my email two or three times during the day. If you email me and don’t hear from me within an hour or two, please be patient. I most likely haven’t answered because I am busy editing someone’s book and haven’t gotten online to check my email yet. Y