Terms of service

Please read the following information carefully before submitting a request to work with me. As my goal is to become a trusted editorial partner to you, these terms of service are in place for both your and my protection so that we may feel as comfortable as possible when working together.

My conflict of interest policy

As I work on both the editorial and agenting side of the publishing industry, I have personal policies in place to avoid a conflict of interest and potential strife or injured feelings. Since I provide editorial services to authors I represent as a core part of the work I do as a literary agent, I will not offer representation to authors who have previously paid me to edit their work in a freelance capacity, and conversely, I reserve the right to decline to edit an author’s manuscript if the author intends to query me in an agenting capacity.

Further, if an author is choosing to pursue traditional publishing, I can offer advice and consulting on how best to approach agents and editors, but I cannot guarantee representation or publication or contact agents or editors on the author’s behalf. As you might assume, the publishing industry is full of factors outside of both my and the author’s control. My goal in our work together is for the author to walk away feeling that not only is their manuscript stronger and more refined, but that they also have the tools to continue growing as a writer.

Payment policy

For all services, a 20% deposit is required upon signature of our agreement, and if a project costs less than $1200 USD total, the remaining balance will be due in full within seven days of the delivered edit. If a project costs between $1201 to $3000 USD total, the remaining balance can be split into two installments, and if a project costs more than $3000 USD total, the remaining balance can be split into three installments. In all instances, payment installments are due within seven days of the day the invoice is issued. In the event that an invoice is not paid on time, I reserve the right to charge a late payment fee of 1.50% per month on any overdue and unpaid balance in dispute.

Please note that if you submit a final word count that exceeds more than 100 words of what we originally discussed upon signature of the agreement, I reserve the right to adjust the balance owed accordingly. If you submit a final word count that is less than what we originally discussed, I will issue you a refund. I accept credit card and bank transfer payments through an online portal outlined in the contract.

Referrals, returning client, and build-your-own bundle discounts

In the event that you refer another author to me and they sign an agreement to work together, both you and the author will receive a $100 credit. Further, as of August 1, 2021, I offer all returning clients a 15% discount on future editorial services. For authors who would like to bundle more than one full editorial service at a time (e.g., booking a developmental edit and copyedit under the same agreement), I offer a 15% discount on the price of the second/last service. I prioritize flexibility when meeting authors’ needs, so please feel free to ask about your options.

Follow-ups and revisions

Aside from brainstorming calls, all editorial services I offer involve written feedback only. One round of follow-up questions via email is included for free with each written edit. However, in the event that you’d like to have a follow-up phone, Zoom, or Skype call to discuss edits and any remaining questions you may have, my regular brainstorming call fee of $149 per thirty minutes / $199 per hour will apply.

I always love seeing how projects evolve post-revision, though it’s entirely up to you if you’d like to continue working together. In the case that you’d like me to take a look at how you’ve addressed edits to a manuscript after receiving a manuscript assessment or developmental edit, I will treat the revision as a separate editorial project, developing a fresh set of notes while keeping in mind the edits we’ve worked on together in the past. Given the amount of time and effort it takes to do another round of edits, I will charge 75% of the original cost of the first edit. If you’d like me to take a look at your revised query letter, I will charge $99 for a second pass and $49 for a third pass. Phone consultation fees remain the same.

Scheduling

When we agree to work together, I will do my absolute best to meet your scheduling needs, but in an effort to maintain a healthy work-life balance, please understand that appointments and editorial deadlines may be set weeks or months in advance, as my books tend to fill quickly. I have many authors who book me months or even years in advance, and I am happy to schedule you in advance once we have an agreement in place. Please note that without an agreement in place, I cannot guarantee that your preferred deadline will be met. However, once we’ve agreed on a deadline, I will make sure to meet that deadline in a timely and considerate fashion, and in the rare instance in which an unforeseen circumstance may prevent that from happening, I will let you know beforehand so that you know when to expect the edit.

To make sure that I have enough time to meticulously read and edit your manuscript with an eye for detail, I ask the authors deliver their manuscript drafts to me in Microsoft Word format, size 12 Times New Roman, one-inch margins, no later than three weeks prior to the deadline of the edit. If an author delivers their draft beyond the three-week margin, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to meet the original deadline and may ask for a short extension.

Refunds and termination

Either one of us may terminate the agreement at any time with seven days’ written notice. In the rare and unforeseen instance that you or I terminate our agreement without having started on your edit yet, I will refund you all money paid thus far. However, given how time-intensive and detail-oriented editorial work is, I cannot offer refunds once I begin working on your project. Rest assured that I will always do my very best to address and resolve any potential issues that may arise, including being flexible with payment deadlines if absolutely necessary—I always want you to be satisfied with our work together!

Privacy policy

Please know that your creative work, personal information, and any freely given testimonials are always safe with me and will not be shared under any circumstances without your written permission.

Conversely, in the event that I provide you with a sensitivity read, I require that my name be kept confidential under all circumstances unless I give you written permission to do otherwise, given the sensitive and often-fraught nature of this service.

Right to refuse service

I reserve the right to graciously decline to work with you on a manuscript if I don’t feel that I’m the right fit to do your work justice. This is, of course, a decision I would make prior to signing an agreement with you. Further, you are in no way binding yourself to me by submitting an editorial request on the website, and you have the right to decline to work with me prior to signing an agreement if you don’t feel like I’m the right fit for you.