Editor. Author. Blogger.
What to Expect Hiring Me as Your Editor
If you have any questions not answered below, please send me an email at DarkPumpkinEditorial@outlook.com and I will get back to you promptly.
EDITING TIMELINE: FROM INITIAL QUERY EMAIL TO FINISHED EDITS
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After you fill out my contact form, I'll confirm receipt within 1 business day and ask you to send me your full writing project so that I can assess the project scope. If you have requested a sample edit, I will provide this at the same time as the confirmation receipt.
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Within four business days, I will send you a 1,000-word sample edit with a project proposal and cost estimate. I will also send you a link to my calendar to book a 30min call to ask any questions you might have and to make sure it's a good fit for both of us.
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If you decide you would like to move forward, I will send you an editing contract to sign, which puts us on the same page in terms of expectations, timeline, payment deadlines, and an invoice for a 20% booking deposit to secure your spot in my schedule.
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Right before I start editing, I will send an invoice for the remaining 80% (usually the Thursday of the week preceding your project start date).
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Depending on the length of your project, it will take me 1-4 weeks to finish editing. To give you an idea, the turnaround for a manuscript of around 50k words would be 1-2 weeks. A manuscript of 100k words would be closer to 4-5 weeks.
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Communication: I will follow up with you via email every Friday with an update on my progress. You can feel free to email me with any questions and I will reply in 1-2 business days.
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You will receive the following files: the edited document in Microsoft Word with Track Changes and comments in the margin. I also provide a clean copy with all changes accepted for easier reading.
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Depending on the service, I will also provide you with a style sheet (Proofreading, Copy/Line, and Proofreading & Copy packages) and/or an editorial report (Copy/Line, Proofreading & Copy, and Structural/Developmental packages).
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You then go through the manuscript and accept/reject my suggestions, then make any minor additions. Send the document back to me and I will check those additions and send you back a cleaned-up version ready for formatting.
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After the edit, we can schedule a 30-minute call for you to ask any questions about my edits.
FAQ
How Much Does Editing Cost?
I quote per project as every writing project is different. Normally the rate falls between $0.02-$0.04 per word based on the EFA rates chart.
When is Payment Due?
Payment is due upfront after the initial consultation and before I start a project.
Will You Edit a Sample for Me?
Yes! If I feel your project is a good fit I will edit up to 1000 words for my Proofreading or Copy/Line services. I do not provide samples for Structural/Developmental services as I will look at the whole of the project, and depending on your word count 1000 words may not be enough to get a sense of the project.
How Often Will You Communicate With Me About The Status of My Project?
First, we will have a 30min consultation about the project. Then, once I know the timeline for your project, I will send email updates every Friday with a status report. Once I have finished editing and sent over the documents, we will schedule a 30min follow up for any questions you may have.
Do I Have to Sign a Contract to Work With You?
Yes, to ensure we are both receiving what we have agreed to. For you, an edited project delivered on time. For me, payment on time for my services.
What Style Guidelines Do You Follow?
I edit in American English using the rules set out in The Chicago Manual of Style.
I'm a Student, How Quickly Can You Proofread My Assignment?
In your initial contact email please provide the date your assignment is due. I will then be able to give an accurate idea of if I can Proofread and give you enough time to go over the edits before your deadline. To set expectations, for a paper of less than 20,000 words I can usually finish Proofreading within 1-5 business days.