Is there a charge for you to evaluate my project and provide an estimate?

Project estimates are free of charge. (Review of sample pages only. Does not

include reading an entire manuscript, content evaluations, or document critiques.)

 

Do you provide a nondisclosure agreement? How do I know my material is safe?

Yes. A nondisclosure agreement/client service agreement is provided for all projects.

I handle all projects personally; I do not have employees or subcontract out my work.

All material is confidential without exception!

 

When do I submit my files?

You should submit your material when you are com­pletely done writing and making revisions. These should be your final files, as I might begin work sooner than the estimated start date if my schedule allows.

 

In what format should my text files be?

Word documents are preferred with as little formatting as possible.

 

How soon after submission do you start my project?

Projects are scheduled after all materials have been submitted and your deposit has been received, and in the order in which they are received (this applies to new material and material returning from revisions). There may be a short waiting period before work begins depending on what is on the schedule ahead of you at the time of your submission. I will give you an estimated start date once your files are submitted.

 

How long will it take to complete my project? 

Turnaround time depends on what service or bun­dle of services you have requested, the level of de­velopment of your material, the time it takes to address its nuances, and the number of projects on the schedule ahead of you. If you have a deadline, please let me know before we start working to­gether to ensure that I can accommodate your time requirements.

 

Do you offer a “rush” option?

I do not. Rushing results in a compromised product and undermines the multiple checks and balances required for the editing and/or design and formatting processes to be done correctly and thoroughly.

 

Toward that end, I recommend that you not com­mit to any promotional or release dates until you have your final material or printed book in your hands. You must consider not only the time it takes for me to complete my work, but time for you to review and approve edits and/or design, make revisions, view proofs (both from me and the press), and the time required by your press to produce your book and ship it to you.

 

If I take longer than anticipated to get my material to you or add to my project, can you still honor the origi­nal deadline, or put me ahead on the sche­dule to do so?

I understand that it is difficult to predict how long writing, revisions, or material collection will take. Delayed submissions will result in delayed production time. Project additions are always welcome but do require additional project time. In either case, authors will have to adjust their plans accordingly.

 

Why should I have my book edited?

No matter how diligent you are, it is impossible to tho­roughly and objectively edit/proofread your own ma­terial be­cause you are too familiar with it. Having an objective party review your work (an editor, a writing partner, critique group, etc.) is an important step to ensure that your material is as error-free and polished as possible.

 

Will editing make my book perfect?

No editor can promise to make your story “perfect,” turn your material into a bestseller, or guarantee a better shot at procuring an agent or publishing deal. An editor works with the material the author provides and makes basic corrections and suggestions for improvement.

 

Will you rewrite material for me if need be?

While I will make suggestions and provide examples for revision options, I do not ghostwrite material for you. If you are looking for this type of editing, you need to retain the services of a developmental/substantive editor.

 

Will I be able to see what edits you have done in my digital file?

Yes. I use Word’s tracking feature, which will show my line edits and document comments.

 

Do I have to put your edits into my Word document myself?

No. My edits will be in place for you in the edited, updated Word file I will provide for you. You can then revise as you wish from there.

 

Can I continue to revise my book while you get started with editing or formatting?

No, because your changes will not reflect in my document, and vice versa. We want only one working version of your project at this stage of the process in order to avoid confusion. If a new document is submitted mid­way through the process, work already implemented by me will have to be redone in the author’s new version, which will result in additional expense and delays for the author.

 

I’m sick of reading my book. Will I have to review it again after it is formatted/edited?

Yes, and likely more than once as we go through the incremental stages of the process. Because we are dealing with technology, material originating from different sources, and embedded document coding, sometimes issues can manifest in a file on one end while work is being done in another area. Reviews help ensure that anomalies are caught and that adjustments remain saved as intended each time the document is manipulated.

 

Do you do eBooks?

Yes, through the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform (for Amazon). 

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Is there a charge for PDF files?

There is no charge for PDF files during our format­ting or reviewing process (which is often incremental as we fine-tune the details). After final formatting, if an author requests changes, there is a fee for each PDF created. This is because each time a PDF of your document is created, the entire document has to undergo formatting checks, page by page, with atten­tion to the document’s text, images, and overall de­sign, as minute formatting shifts can occur each time the file is opened and manipulated.

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Should I convert my PDF book file to a Word document to make revisions?

No. Converting PDF to Word can cause file corruptions, loss of formatting and design elements, and text errors. If you decide to make revisions after the formatting process, I can make them for you (if minor), or send you the formatted Word file to use for your revisions, then recheck the formatting elements when you are finished.

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Will I be able to access my files in the future myself? What programs do you use?

Absolutely! I work primarily with Word, which is accessible to the average person. This ensures that authors have access to their editable book files and won’t be locked out of them by pro­gram restrictions from expensive industry design programs.