What forms of payment do you accept?
From private clients, I accept payment in US dollars via PayPal and Upwork Direct Contracts. I can also work within the payment systems of institutional clients.
Is a deposit required? When is payment due?
All projects require a nonrefundable deposit of 35 percent of the total job cost before work can begin. The remainder of the payment is due in full within thirty calendar days of my return of the completed work. (The developmental editing package has its own payment schedule that is a little different from that of other projects.)
Do you have a minimum charge?
Yes. There is a minimum fee of US$75 on all projects.
Will I have to sign a contract?
Yes. All projects require a signed contract. You will be able to review the contract and negotiate terms before committing to the project, and you are welcome to discuss the contract with an attorney before signing.
I work with mystery, science fiction, fantasy, thriller/suspense/action, and some historical fiction. I can also work with YA books in those genres.
Which fiction genres do you work with?
I don't take children's books or middle-grade books, romance/erotica, or works that contain BDSM, body horror, sexual violence, pedophilia or incest, or excessive gore. I also don't take religious fiction, nor do I edit student work.
Which nonfiction subjects do you work with?
I work with music/music history, ethnomusicology, anthropology, general history, film and television, and visual and performing arts. I can take texts on religion written from an anthropological or ethnographic standpoint.
I don't work with books in economics, law, or STEM subjects, or books in the humanities or social sciences that explore pornography, erotica, BDSM, abuse, sexual violence, pedophilia, or incest. I also don't work with religious devotional texts or apologetics, nor do I edit student work or parenting texts.
My manuscript is in a subject or genre that isn't in either of your lists. Will you still take my project?
I may be able to take projects in other subjects or genres. Please contact me to discuss your manuscript, and I'll let you know if it's something I can work with.
Do you work with AI-generated text?
I do not take projects that are AI-generated. I only work with texts written by actual living human beings.​
Why won't you edit Google Docs?
Unfortunately Google Docs is not set up to deal with a lot of tracked changes. After a certain number of changes, the file begins to lag, and eventually it will refuse to open and it becomes unrecoverable. This can cause lost work that I have to recreate, which in turn causes delays in the project.
I'm not sure what service I need. What should I do?
If you're not sure what service would be the best for your document, please send me an email or book a free, thirty-minute consultation.
Do you format books for Kindle or other self-publishing services?
I don't do formatting at this time, but I hope to add that service in the near future.
Do you create book covers?
I don't create book covers at this time, but I hope to add that service in the near future.
Do you accept rush jobs?
I do not take work on a rush basis.
Can you help me get a literary agent or get my book published?
I can't help you find a literary agent or get your book published.
Do you provide coaching services?
I do not provide coaching services.
My child/teenager wrote a book. Will you edit or index it?
I only work with adults who can legally enter into contracts on their own behalf.
What's a quaternion?
In a medieval manuscript, a quaternion is four sheets of parchment or vellum sewn down the middle and then folded in half along the seam to create a gathering that has eight leaves or sixteen sides.