The editing process
want to work with me?
how to get on my calendar
contact me about your project
Fill out my editing contact form with all the details about your project or what you need help with. I’ll usually respond within a day or two. We’ll discuss your editorial needs, and I may ask to see a sample of your work, if you haven’t already sent one to me.
If I don’t think I’m a good fit, I’ll give you some guidance on where to go next so you don’t feel lost! I can recommend other editors who might be better suited for you.
timelines and pricing
I’ll provide you with a quote and my availability. If you aren’t sure what to expect, the CIEP’s suggested minimum rates and the EFA rate chart are good places to start.
I quote in British pounds, but can accept payments from anywhere in the world. Fun fact: I work with lots of Americans from my home over here in England! (And I always find it funny when authors can figure out where in England I’m from based on my accent.)
Please note that I book 2–4 months in advance for full manuscripts. I may have room for partial manuscript services at shorter notice, depending on my schedule.
Fill out my new client form
If you’re happy with everything, I’ll send you a form to fill out to make sure I have all the details I need from you before we start working together.
On the form, there will also be a link to my terms and conditions. These may seem daunting, but they protect us both and outline how I keep your work safe and confidential. They’ll also tell you all the nitty-gritty details on what to do if you need to cancel or reschedule.
secure your spot
For full manuscript projects, I take a 25% booking fee to secure a spot on my calendar. This is non-refundable, but we’ll make sure you’re happy with everything before we proceed. The remaining amount is payable when I finish the work.
For smaller jobs and submission packages, payment will be taken up-front.
And now you’re officially on my calendar – woop!
Frequently Asked Questions
what are your rates?
Every editing project is unique and requires a different amount of work, especially when it comes to editing full manuscripts. It’s difficult to put a fixed price on editing a manuscript without knowing more about the project, your writing experience, and what you need. Prices vary for full books, depending on length and complexity, and how long the edit will take. That’s why I ask to see a sample. Submission material services are charged at a fixed rate, unless you want add-ons or to customise them a bit more.
To get an idea of what to expect, visit the CIEP’s suggested minimum rates and the Editorial Freelancers Association’s rate chart.
we live in different countries. does this matter?
Not at all! Even though I’m in the UK, I work with writers from all around the world regularly – which is such a fun part of my job! If there is a phone call included in the service, I’ll just work with your time zone in mind.
how long does editing take?
For full manuscripts, my usual time frame is 4 weeks, although this does depend on the length of the book and the type of service. Some projects may take 5–8 weeks, depending on the word count or genre. We’ll set dates for the project that work for us both when you book in.
can you fit me in next week/month?
These days, as my business has grown – and because of my own writing commitments – I’m usually booking 3–6 months in advance for full manuscripts. I may be able to take partial manuscripts at shorter notice, depending on my schedule.
If you’d like to get on my calendar, please contact me as soon as possible to secure your spot!
do you do free sample edits?
I charge a small admin fee for a 1,000 word sample copy or line edit, which is deducted from your price if we end up working together. Sadly, a small number of authors have been known to trick editors by sending chapters out to lots of different people in order to get a free edit. This is why I charge for samples. I go into this in more depth in a blog post here.
If you don’t feel ready for something like a manuscript assessment but want a taster of the type of feedback involved, I recommend my opening chapters service.
can you rate and review my book after you edit it?
No, sorry! It’s a conflict of interest, and it’s also against the terms and conditions of most retailers to have an editor who was involved with the book review it.
what type of editing do i need?
I recommend reading the pages for each of my different services carefully, as well as the following posts on my blog:
- Line editing vs copyediting: What’s the difference?
- The types of editing: Which one is for you?
- What is developmental editing?
If you still aren’t sure, don’t worry. When you get in touch with me, we can talk about your goals with your writing, where you are in your writing journey, and what type of editorial help you might need.
i’m a teenage author – can you work with me?
No, sorry! I only work with authors over the age of eighteen.
i have writing/publishing questions, can you help?
Please visit my resource library and blog to see if your question is answered there. You can also join my writing advice newsletter. Due to time constraints, I can only answer writing/publishing questions if you are an existing editing client. Thanks for understanding!