FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I have loved to edit for a long time. When I first considered making a career of it, I naturally had lots of questions. Below are the answers to some of those questions, as well as others you may have about working with me; if I don't answer your question here, contact me!

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WHAT IS A COPY EDITOR?

A copy editor reads and edits a document for correctness and consistency in grammar, punctuation, spelling, style, and voice. She is focused on creating clarity for readers while maintaining the author's voice and message.

WHY DO I NEED A COPY EDITOR?

Your time is important! I will help you craft a clear, concise message for your audience, so that they (and you) can focus on what you do best!

HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?

That depends on the project! I will view a sample of your piece, talk with you about what needs to be done (from both of our perspectives), and present a quote based on all of the information that I have gathered. There is no obligation to work with me, even after that process is complete.

SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?

:: Initial Conversation: Contact me! Send a sample of your work if you have one, but no worries if you don’t. We will discuss the details of your project—length, scope, level of editing, and what you want out of the editing experience. I will tell you more about how I work, the pricing structure, and answer your questions.

:: Sample Edit and Summary: I will send you a summary of our conversation, a written version of my pricing information, and my recommendations for the project. If you have given me a sample of your work, I will edit it and send it back to you.

:: Agree on Terms: If you decide that a professional copy editor is not what you need, I’ll wish you well and you’ll owe me nothing. If you’d like to work with me, we will decide on the project parameters and I will draw up a contract stating the terms. You will sign and return the contract to me, and send me the full project, if you have not already.

:: The Editing Process: I will edit your piece within the allotted amount of time and email it back to you. You will review what the changes I have made, answer any questions, and make decisions about the edits, then send the piece back to me. I will make sure the final version is clean of any errors that can occur in the back-and-forth process, and address any further issues I see (if any). We can repeat this process until you’re happy with the final product, though most projects only require one round of revisions.

:: All Done: Once we’re both satisfied, you will publish, send, or otherwise use your clean, concise piece of edited text!

:: Payment: I will send you an invoice, which you can pay online. Hopefully we will work together again!

You can find more information about working with me here.

DO I NEED A SPECIAL PROGRAM? CAN YOU EDIT ON PAPER?

I typically edit in Word, using the Track Changes function. You can click a button to accept or reject each change that I make, and you can see comments and questions in balloons to the side of the document. I will help you understand this method if you're not familiar with it. However, if you don't have Word or prefer a different method, I'm happy to work with you.

HOW IS COPY EDITING DIFFERENT FROM PROOFREADING?

Good question! There is a long answer to this, but the short answer is that a proofreader traditionally works once a copy editor has finished a piece and their edits have been accepted. The proofreader checks to make sure that all changes were correctly entered and focuses on actual errors, not necessarily on style, voice, and other important issues.

WHAT IF I NEED SOMETHING EDITED QUICKLY?

There are a number of factors that go into answering this question. Email me your entire piece and tell me what you think you need and how quickly you need it back. I will respond as quickly as I can, based on my workload and the piece, whether or not I can complete the work and how much it will cost.

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE A COPY EDITOR?

I have loved to edit for years. When I realized that I could choose it as a career, I carefully researched my education options and read everything that I could find on the subject. I have studied with several long-time copy editors to learn the trade, slowly and methodically; I now hold a certificate from the UCSD Extension School. I did not rush through the process; I have worked steadily toward my goal for more than three years.

WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?

Copy editing is my official trade. However, I'm also very good at organizing, reviewing websites for usability, creating usable systems, managing time and tasks, and other such things that require a detailed eye. I would be happy to talk to you about whatever is making you feel stuck!

Please contact me if you have more questions or if you would like to work with me!