Frequently Asked Questions
New and established authors have access to a variety of editing services, including:
- Copyediting
- Developmental Editing
- Line Editing
- Manuscript Critique
- Manuscript Formatting
- Proofreading
While not all services are essential for every manuscript, they are highly recommended, particularly if you aspire to publish your work traditionally with a publishing house.Â
No. There are resources available on the internet for that. However, if I discover something questionable, I will add a comment to the edited file and send a courtesy note via Author Query.
There are two ways to find your word count:
- Open the Review tab and click on Word Count under the Proofing category for Microsoft Word. In Google Docs, click on Tools and select Word Count.
- Look at the bottom left of your screen. If the word count is not visible, right-click on the bottom bar and click on Word Count. I have not seen a second location for Google Docs, but if you know of one, I will gladly include that information here.
Microsoft Word allows you to select whether to include end notes, footnotes, or text boxes.
Track Changes shows every decision made by an editor throughout the process.
- Click on the Review tab to find Track Changes under the Tracking category. The arrow in the corner of the Tracking category opens the Options box, where an editor makes specific decisions on how their editing will appear in the document.
- The Advanced Options further allows an editor to make the editing process unique by assigning specific colors for diverse editing marks (insertions, deletions, formatting, etc.).
Microsoft Word (.DOC and .DOCX) formats and PDFs.
Action/Adventure
Biographies
Business
Crime/Mystery
Educational
Fantasy/Science Fiction
History
Horror/Thriller
Memoirs
Mythology
Narratives
Romance
Sagas
Suspense
Young Adult
No. Expert knowledge may be beneficial in specific cases (but not always). An editor must remember that the author always has the final word about the manuscript. An editor may make suggested edits or comments based on prior knowledge, but the author may disregard that suggestion for any reason.
Absolutely. Clients may send any files they believe are beneficial to the editing process as a reference (with said files returned after the final cleanup).
For the best results, clients may want to send their manuscripts in designated sections. Remember to label each section clearly.
No. I have not spoken a foreign language since high school, so translation services are impossible.
Yes. We will discuss which style manual you prefer during the initial consultation. We will also touch on any in-house style sheets I should reference throughout the duration of the project.
No. I can double check the references you already have to ensure they follow a specific style guide (or style sheet). However, editors assume the author has all relevant information (and permissions, if necessary) before sending the document.
During the edit sampling, I pull choice paragraphs from each area of the manuscript and edit them. If my final determination does not coincide with your request, take or discard my recommendation at your discretion. The author always has the deciding vote during the editing process.
