Frequently Asked Questions
I work with both fiction and nonfiction, including memoirs, instructional guides, medical and health-related writing, academic theses, and clean romance, with a growing focus on Regency-era fiction. I also have experience editing professional and creative blogs.
Proofreading is the final step before publication. It catches errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Editing goes deeper—refining flow, tone, clarity, and style. Many manuscripts benefit from multiple stages of editing before they’re fully polished.
Editing requires sustained, hyper-focused attention for concentrated periods of time. To give your manuscript the detail-oriented care it deserves, I work in shorter, intensive sessions rather than an uninterrupted 8-hour schedule. This ensures my attention remains fresh and sharp throughout the process.
Editing is highly focused work that doesn’t fit neatly into a standard 9–5 schedule. By charging per word rather than per hour, you get complete transparency: you’ll know the exact cost of your project upfront, without worrying about how long each editing session takes.
This approach also ensures fairness — every word of your manuscript receives the same level of care and attention, regardless of whether a section is quick to edit or requires deeper focus. It keeps the process predictable for you and allows me to deliver the most consistent, detail-oriented work possible.
If English is not your primary language and your manuscript hasn’t yet been professionally edited, I recommend beginning with line editing. This ensures your ideas are expressed clearly and naturally before moving on to later stages such as copyediting and proofreading.
Do I still need proofreading?
Yes. Proofreading is always recommended as a final step, even after a deeper edit. A separate proofreading pass (either by me or another fresh set of eyes) ensures any lingering errors are caught before publication.
The best place to start is with a discovery call. This gives us a chance to discuss your goals, your manuscript’s needs, and which package will serve you best. In some cases, I may suggest beginning with The Wordsmith’s Glimpse—my one-chapter package—to help determine the right editing path.
Editing is an investment in your work. Rates are typically calculated based on:
• Word count
• Condition of the manuscript
• Level of editing required
Every project is unique. Reviewing a sample of your writing will let me know which package will suit your manuscript best. If none of the packages quite fit your work, I will provide a personalized quote. This ensures you only pay for the level of care your project truly needs.
Still have questions? Let’s talk about your project.