Do you offer free samples?

Yes!

Not only do I offer free samples, I actually require them for first-time clients interested in developmental editing or copy/line editing. For either service, I like to see the first two or three chapters or scenes plus one section from somewhere in the middle of the story. I’ll look through all of this and pick a section of around 1,000 words to edit for you.

Once I edit your sample, I’ll send it back to you with a quote for the full project.

Samples are fairly straightforward when it comes to copy/line editing, but please note that it’s impossible to give an accurate sample regarding the full scope of the work for developmental editing, wherein most of what I’ll do will depend on the context of the full story. Developmental editing samples are only meant to give each of us a better idea of what it would be like to work together.

What is your turnaround time?

This depends on how full my schedule is and whether or not you book in advance. My schedule is often filled one to two months out, so while I can’t guarantee quick turnaround times for rush work, I do sometimes have cancellations and gaps in my schedule. Just ask if you need something done quickly; I may or may not be able to accommodate your request.

Otherwise, I encourage you to book a spot on my schedule in advance. With projects booked in advance, my turnaround time is usually one week for shorter novels or novellas, and two to three weeks for longer novels. The exact amount of time will depend on the exact length of the novel and the level of editing required.

How do I book a spot on your schedule?

Once you’ve contacted me with a sample and we’ve agreed on a price and a date, I’ll send you a contract and an invoice for a deposit of 50% of the total estimated cost of the edit. The paid deposit will hold the spot on my schedule. You’ll be able to cancel and receive a full refund of your deposit up to two weeks before our agreed-upon start date.

What is your policy on payment?

To start work, I require a payment of 50% of the total estimated cost of the edit. The remainder of the cost will be due 15 days after I deliver the completed edit. I only accept payment through PayPal at this time.

What genre do you specialize in?

I’ve always been an eclectic reader, and for the most part the same is true for me when I edit. Fantasy, science fiction, romance, horror, young adult, even children’s—I’ve done it all, and I love it all. While this means I’m not an expert in any one genre, I am aware that different genres have different requirements and am well versed in many different iterations of what makes a good story. I recognize the importance of genre style and tropes when it comes to reader expectations and marketability, and I’ll never push you to tell your romance novel like a thriller, or the other way around.

While I don’t have many hard rules about what genres I work with, if I really don’t connect with the sample a potential client sends me, I’ll turn down that project.

Are there any genres you won’t work with?

Memoir and Christian fiction. This is simply because I haven’t read enough in either genre to have a confident sense of what readers expect. I’m happy to edit your novel if it belongs to another main genre and has Christian themes, as long as you are aware and okay with the fact that I don’t know much about Christianity.

I have no triggers and am happy to work with all types of explicit content.