Here are answers to some common questions.
Is this page hard to read? Try the PDF version or EPUB version (on Google Drive). (The PDF isn’t fully accessible; I’ve been learning how to fix the issues but will need more study time!)
How do I know if you are professional? Am I in safe hands?
As a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), I’m bound by its Code of Practice, which ensures its members act professionally and abide by certain industry standards.
For example, I will
- give a true and fair representation of my qualifications, experience and skills (3.1.4)
- not accept any job that I believe I cannot carry out to an acceptable standard (3.1.5)
- work with you to clearly define the terms of the work at the outset and agree on it in writing (e.g., in an email) (3.2.3)
- make the best use of my time for a job and make an effort to complete it to the required standard and schedule (3.1.6)
- keep you informed of my progress and respond to your emails in a timely manner (3.1.10, 3.1.11)
- take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the files you entrust to me are safe (3.1.9)
- respect confidentiality at all times (3.4)
How do I work with you? What’s the workflow?
Here’s my usual process with my clients.
1. You contact me with your requirements.
Please tell me:
- Type of document (such as journal article, research report, web article) and topic
- Approximate word count (not the number of pages)
- Type of work (line editing/copyediting/proofreading/presentation)
- Style, if any (Chicago, United Nations, EU, house style, other)
- Deadline for me
- How many rounds of editing (usually one or two)
- Other details (useful information that you can provide beforehand)
2. I give you a quotation and we discuss whether we are a good match.
Please send me your document so I can give you a quotation. If it’s a long document, you can send a section that will give me a good idea about the state of your document. (Don’t worry, no judgments 😉 It will only help me to give you a more accurate idea of how long the edit will take.)
You can also request a sample edit. If you decide to hire me, the time I spent on the sample edit will be added to the cost of the whole project.
3. We agree on clear terms. For larger projects, you make an upfront deposit.
The terms will include the deliverables, timeline, rate, payment schedule, number of editing rounds, and other details.
For larger projects, you may need to make a deposit (up to 50% of the quote).
4. If we agreed on two rounds of editing, I submit a draft for you to check.
You review my suggestions and answer any queries I have for you.
5. I finalize the document and return it to you with the invoice.
If we agreed on a single round, you will get all my suggested edits and comments at this stage. I’ll give detailed feedback and, in spots where I wasn’t sure what you wanted to say, offer concrete suggestions to help you finalize your document.
You can review and finalize the document at your leisure. It’s your work, so the final decision is always yours 🙂
6. You make the final payment (and submit a testimonial too please!). Project complete 🙂
Please see below for payment options.
Testimonials are really important for me as an independent editor. Your taking the time to submit one is very appreciated!
What is your rate? How much will this cost?
My clients have told me that I exceeded their expectations and many have come back as repeat clients.
- My base rate is EUR40 per hour.
- I can quote a rate per 1,000 words, but I need to first see your draft.
- The minimum charge for a project is EUR40.
- Reviewing references will be charged by the hour.
My speed depends on your document and what you want me to do. So the quotation and final price will depend on your project.
My rate is based on industry standards suggested by the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and the Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading (UK).
How do I make payment?
You can pay in USD, EUR, JPY, and SGD via bank transfer. (Please ask about THB payments.)
I recommend you use Wise (formerly Transferwise)—it’s often the cheapest transfer option (if you sign up via this link, you’ll get a free transfer).
If you need to use PayPal, you will be asked to pay any transfer fees.
How do I know which editing service I should request?
It depends on what stage your work is at. Here’s a guide—but if you’re still not sure, you’re welcome to ask 🙂
| Status | You want… | Recommended services |
|---|---|---|
| You finished writing your manuscript and cleaned it up the best you can. You’ve completed:
Text can still be freely edited. | You want the manuscript checked for
| Line editing (“structural” copyediting) File format: Word* (working document) |
| Everything above, plus your supervisor or colleague has reviewed the text for content and clarity. You may have had an editor help you. The manuscript needs to have a style consistently applied so it can submitted, sent to design, posted on the web, etc. Light edits can still be made. | You want the styles applied consistently to
| Copyediting (“technical” copyediting) File format: Word* (working document) |
| You have a designed/laid-out document (proofs), ready to print. Only glaring errors can be changed. | You want the proofs checked for any glaring errors and typos, and seen that everything appears as it should. | Proofreading File formats: PDF, sometimes Word (“proofs”) |
** Checking and cleaning up references is a big, time-consuming task. Make sure to agree with your editor whether they will take it on as part of the job. If it is, realize that the cost is going to be significantly higher.
If you’re a multi-language author (“English as a foreign language” or EFL writer), you may want to opt for line editing (it’s more intensive than copyediting) to make sure that you are also following the logical structure required by English writing.
Read more: What do you need? Copyediting vs. proofreading to understand the differences between those two services. The CIEP also has a very helpful free guide you can download.
What file formats do you work with?
| Type of work | File formats |
|---|---|
| Copyediting & line editing | Word with tracked changes, or Google Docs* |
| Proofreading | Word, Google Docs, or PDF* |
| Presentations | PowerPoint (other formats to be discussed) |
| Website text | Word with tracked changes or Google Docs; RTF or plain text if you prefer. Working directly in WordPress post/page is also an option. |
Other questions?
Feel free to contact me with other questions.