A: I begin with a thorough evaluation to identify your specific needs, whether developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, or something else. Once we’ve agreed on that, you’ll submit your Word document to me by the “submission date” in our contract.An example of my process: The most common service I provide is my Included Services package, which is one round of copyediting. One round actually consists of two to three passes through your manuscript: an initial read through to learn your voice and familiarize myself with your story, then a copyediting pass for grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice, typos, consistency, and clarity. If you’ve selected the heavy copyediting option, I’ll also do a pass for fact-checking and to mark confusing passages, plot holes, and gaps in logic. If you’ve requested standard formatting, I will complete that at the end.I’ll return your manuscript to you with edits marked in Track Changes and comments applied to the text; I’ll also provide you with the style sheet that I’ve created while editing your manuscript and a cover letter with written notes about your manuscript.You will read through the edited manuscript, accept or reject my changes (my changes are only suggestions—you maintain full control over your manuscript at all times), and make any revisions or rewrite passages as you wish. You’ll also contact me to schedule our thirty-minute consultation via phone, Zoom, or email so that I can answer any questions you have about the edited manuscript. (Some writers find the consultation unnecessary because my comments in the manuscript answer their questions; it’s up to you.)For some writers, that’s the last step. Others want more support. If you make substantial revisions to the edited manuscript, you may wish to add another round of copyediting. If you mostly just accept or reject my changes, you may wish to add a final cleanup round so that I can correct any small errors that can be introduced when changes are made.This structured approach helps ensure that your manuscript is polished to industry standards and ready for submission or publication.My services are all designed to enhance the readability and professionalism of your work. To get started or learn more about each editing service, visit my Editorial Services page.

A: No.I do not use AI tools, not even to rewrite or brainstorm language. I will never share any part of the manuscript with any AI tools unless you explicitly request that I do.I occasionally use the offline, local features of Microsoft Word365 Editor and PerfectIt. These offline features do not and cannot transmit any text to “the cloud,” nor can they make any changes to a document; they can only make suggestions. I maintain full control of the manuscript at all times. I use them mainly for spell-checking and consistency (to catch duplicate terms formatted differently, like “spell check” and “spell-check”). I usually catch these issues myself, but it’s helpful to have a backup.Keep in mind, an author using AI to help create and/or modify any creative work can affect your ability to copyright it.

A: My absolute favorite fiction genre is horror, and I edit all genres except fantasy. I also edit nonfiction for the web and print, academic papers, marketing collateral, etc. Feel free to contact me using the form below to discuss your project!

A: It depends on several factors: the length of your manuscript, the level of editing required, and my schedule. I know you’re eager to move forward, so I will work as quickly as I can . . . but I will not sacrifice quality for faster results. When I give you a proposal, I include my estimated hours to complete a service. I base my estimate on your sample pages and my experience, but sometimes I find a deeper issue that takes more time to resolve or requires some back and forth communication with you. I will always keep you informed if I think I’m going to take longer than my estimate.

A: Your sample pages give me an opportunity to see your writing style and note the types of issues that need to be addressed. For example, in some manuscripts the primary concerns are spelling or punctuation errors, so I would estimate my hours based on a light copyedit. Other manuscripts may require fact-checking or sentence restructuring, so I would estimate my hours based on a heavy copyedit, which takes more time to complete than a light copyedit.It’s important to provide me with sample pages from the middle of your manuscript because they show your natural writing style best. The first chapter or two and the final chapter tend to be the ones you’ve revised and polished the most, so they won’t give me a good idea of how the majority of the manuscript looks.

A: I edit using Microsoft Word; I use Track Changes and Comments to suggest edits. I can edit hard copy (printed pages) or PDF as well, but it does take longer to markup by hand.I will accept manuscripts via Google Docs, but I will download and edit the manuscript using Microsoft Word. You can reopen the manuscript in Google Docs to review changes and comments.

A: The Chicago Manual of Style is one of the most widely used style guides in American publishing. It provides standards for things like grammar, punctuation, capitalization, formatting, and citations. Many fiction editors use Chicago style for manuscript editing. If you’re looking to publish your manuscript, I can ensure your manuscript follows Chicago style format during a proofread.I default to using The Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition) as my style guide and Merriam-Webster.com as my dictionary unless you request different resources and/or provide a house style guide.Directly from the source, "The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. ¶ It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice."

A: Absolutely! It’s important for both of us to make sure we’re a good match for each other. When you complete the Request a Quote form, I’ll ask you to submit a two to three page sample to help me assess your editing needs. I will actually complete a light copyedit of those sample pages as part of my assessment, and I’ll return those edited sample pages to you with my proposal. Requesting a quote doesn’t commit either of us to anything, so you’ll get a free sample edit just by requesting a quote!

A: Check out my Support page for links to helpful articles and blogs for authors.

A: Check the Paige requests a deposit to hold slots on my calendar. All deposits go toward your balance. Full payment must be made before the final manuscript is returned. If you need a payment plan, let's discuss it. If you want more than one service but can only pay for one right now, let me know; depending on my schedule, I will work with your budget and offer discounts when I can.I accept all major credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. All payments are processed through my secure website.