Frequently Asked Questions

Working with Me

What kinds of content do you work on?

I focus mainly on longer content like books, but I'm also happy to help you polish shorter content, such as blog posts, business articles, cover letters, or short stories. I specialize in young adult fantasy novels, but I'm comfortable working with most other genres of fiction as well.

What document formats do you accept?

I work primarily in Microsoft Word because its features are best suited to editorial work. While Google Docs isn't preferable due to its limited features, I occasionally take on documents in this format. If your document is in a different format (like PDF), please contact me.

​​What will the final product look like when you're done line editing, copyediting, or proofreading my manuscript?

When I am finished line editing, copyediting, or proofreading your manuscript, I will send you two copies of the final product: one version showing all changes and one clean copy with all changes accepted.

​What will the final product look like when you're done with a developmental edit or manuscript evaluation for my manuscript?

​When I'm finished with the developmental edit, I will send you two documents: your original manuscript with all my marginal comments and an editorial letter detailing the story's strengths and suggested areas for improvement. For a manuscript evaluation, you'll receive only an editorial letter.

What style guide and dictionary do you use to inform your editing decisions?

Unless you direct me otherwise, I will default to The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, which are considered the standard for book manuscripts. While I specialize in CMOS, I can adhere to other style guides upon request.

​​I'm not a native English speaker. Can you help make my writing sound more natural?

Absolutely! I'm a native English speaker, and I've studied a few foreign languages, so I know what the most common slipups are for people whose first language isn't English. I speak and write American English, but I also have experience proofreading British English and Canadian English.

​Can you post a review of my book on Amazon or Goodreads once it's published?

​No. While I love to post reviews of books I read on my personal time, I find it unethical to provide a review of a book I have been hired to help improve. I may, however, choose to promote your book on my website or social media pages as part of my editorial portfolio.

General Editing

What is the difference between developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading? How do I know which service I need?

You may hear the word editor and think it always means the same thing, but there are many different types of editing. To learn more about the different levels of editing and which one may be best for this stage of your manuscript, check out my article that teaches just that.

​If I plan to traditionally publish, should I still hire a freelance editor?

If you're self-publishing, you definitely want to hire a freelance editor. ​But if you plan to query agents to publish traditionally, then any publisher will likely want to do their own editing regardless of any editing the manuscript has already been through. However, many authors choose to hire a freelance editor even when going the traditional route because having their manuscript in a more polished state increases the chances that it will be accepted by an agent or publisher in the first place.