Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what my manuscript needs?

Sure, everyone has blind spots, but your instincts are probably better than you think. If you have a sense of where you are struggling or what type of feedback you want, don't be shy to let me know. If you're still not certain, the best place to start is with a Readthrough and Feedback.

What format do you work with?

I work with either MS Word documents or PDFs. Word documents give me as the editor the ability to directly edit, and you as the client the ability to accept or reject changes through the Track Changes feature. PDFs aren't editable like Word documents, so my input is given through comments and highlights. PDFs offer the main benefit of smaller file size for larger manuscripts.

Will you edit my college or technical paper?

Yes—within limits. On advanced papers, I am more comfortable editing for grammar and punctuation (line editing and proofreading) than for structure and content clarity.

Can you help me publish my book, or recommend me to an agent?

I do not currently offer this service.

Editing is expensive! Is there a way to bring down the cost?

Absolutely. If cost is a significant consideration, I recommend investing in an early stage of developmental editing in order to get the fundamental parts of your manuscript in working order. After you have finalized your draft, ask a number of fellow writers, friends, or family—beta readers—to read and evaluate your manuscript for problem areas. When you have resolved those, either on your own or with some focused coaching, give your manuscript a hard pass for errors and typos before the final step: asking a grammar-savvy friend to check for slipups—or investing in a professional proofread.

Are there genres you prefer, or won't work with?

My favorite genre is Middle School and YA fiction, especially science fiction and adventure.

I am not a good fit for horror, paranormal, thrillers—or anything that contains graphic sex or violence, or gratuitous foul language.

I give honest feedback regarding the themes and messages in your manuscript, whether you are conveying them intentionally or unintentionally. This feedback is naturally filtered through my beliefs, which are largely described here.

Do you offer website and marketing feedback?

Yes! I leverage my 2+ years experience marketing to give feedback on grammar/proofreading, graphics/design, and storytelling with my Quick Check and Readthrough and Feedback services.