Frequently Asked Questions
What is an editor?
An editor is a person who helps prepare an author’s manuscript (or business document) for publication. Editors usually have prior writing or editing experience, come equipped with multiple reference materials and style guides, and can work from anywhere.
How do I collaborate with you?
Collaboration is the cornerstone of my working relationship with clients. Accordingly, I have accounts with the following online software tools:
- Project Management: Asana, Trello, Wrike, Todoist, Chanty, Monday, and Google Tasks
- File-Sharing: Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and Zoho Docs
- Video Conferencing: Google Meet, Zoho Meeting, Flock, Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Chanty, and Slack
I also have a client portal on the website for loading and downloading business documents and manuscript materials.
If there are other tools a client prefers to use, I am happy to accommodate them.
What are the types of editing your company offers?
For business clients, I offer Content Writing Services, with editing included in the final price. I also provide Business Editing Services for clients who have drafted materials but are unsure of the editing process (or do not have time to complete it independently).
Authors receiving Manuscript Editing Services must choose between (or may decide to include each) of the following services:
Pricing varies for each type of editing project. See the Manuscript Editing Services Pricing page for more details.
Do you check for plagiarism in a project (business document or manuscript)?
No. There are resources available on the internet that will do so for you. However, if I discover something questionable, I will add a comment on the edited file and send a courtesy note via Author Query.
How do I calculate my word count? Are footnotes included in the word count?
There are two ways to find your word count:
- Open the Review tab and click on Word Count under the Proofing category for Microsoft Word. (In Google Docs, click on Tools and select Word Count.)
- Look at the bottom left of your screen. If the word count is not visible, right-click on the bottom bar and click on Word Count. (I have not seen a second location for Google Docs, but if you know of one, I will gladly include that information here.)
Microsoft Word allows you to select whether to include end notes, footnotes, or text boxes.
How does Microsoft's Track Changes work?
Track Changes shows every decision made by an editor throughout the process. Click on the Review tab to find Track Changes under the Tracking category.
The arrow in the corner of the Tracking category opens an Options box where an editor makes specific decisions on how their editing will appear in a document. The Advanced Options button further allows an editor to make the editing process unique by specifying colors for diverse editing marks (insertions, deletions, formatting, etc.).
What file formats do you accept for editing?
Microsoft Word (DOC and DOCX) formats.
PDFs using a sticky note format used for tracking changes and adding comments.
What types of manuscripts do you prefer to edit?
I enjoy all types of novels; for example (please see the Manuscript Editing Services page for a complete list of nonfiction categories and fiction genres):
Academic textbooks
Autobiographies
Biographies
Company eBooks
History
How-to books
Journalism books
Memoirs
Novellas
Novels
Short story collections
Technical manuals
Does my editor need to be an expert in my topic or genre?
No. Expert knowledge may be beneficial in specific cases (but not always). An editor must remember that the author always has the final word about the manuscript. An editor may make suggested edits or comments based on prior knowledge, but the author may disregard that suggestion for any reason.
May I send supplementary files as a reference?
Absolutely. Clients may send any files they believe are beneficial to the editing process as a reference (with said files returned after the final cleanup). Please see the editing pages for more details.
I have a large manuscript (50,000+ words). Do you prefer I send the manuscript in smaller sections?
Clients may send their manuscripts as one large file or as individual sections. Make sure to label each section clearly.
Do you offer translation services?
No. I have not spoken a foreign language since high school, so translation services are impossible.
Can you guarantee my business document (or manuscript) follows a specific style guide?
Yes. We will discuss which style manual you prefer during the consultation. We will also touch on any in-house style sheets I should reference.
For more details on style guides, please see the Manuscript Editing Services page.
Can you create a reference list for me?
No. I can check the references you already have to ensure they follow a specific style guide (or style sheet). However, editors assume the author has included all relevant information before sending the document.
What happens if I ask for light editing and you believe my work needs more intensive editing?
During the edit sampling, I pull choice paragraphs from each area of the manuscript and edit them. If my final determination does not coincide with your request, take or discard my recommendation at your discretion. The author always has the deciding vote during the editing process.
