Frequently Asked Questions

I do not.

I recognize AI can reduce workload and simplify processes in some industries. In my profession, however, I find AI to be a tool that can stifle our imagination. The more we rely on AI to help us come up with ideas, say things in a different way, or to simply “spice things up,” the less we exercise our innovation muscles. Eventually, this can lead to creative atrophy.

I offer a free consult to learn more about your project and see if we’re a good fit.

Once we agree to work together, I conduct an intake to find out more about your project, the type of feedback and support you are looking for, and how to best utilize our time. To prepare, I’ll email you a series of questions. Once I receive your answers, we’ll schedule a brief 20-30 minute virtual meeting to ensure we’re on the same page.

Yes.

I devote myself full time to this work and have flexibility to work on projects requiring an urgent turnaround time.

I can, but that depends on your needs.

How quickly can you send me pages? How urgent is your deadline? If you already have a contract with a publisher and a deadline for the final draft, we can backwards plan and create a schedule that allows you time to write and edit, while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities.

On average, my meetings with clients range from biweekly to monthly.

Generally, I prefer to initially avoid reading this type of feedback. This is to ensure I am not influenced the first time I review your writing. I like to dive into material with a blank slate and an open mind.

Once I’ve reviewed your pages, it’s fine to share with me any prior feedback you’ve received.

I’ve worked with a variety of academic writers, including historians as well as novelists (fiction/non-fiction). Within academic writing, I’ve taken on partial/full-length manuscripts, and helped clients with journal articles and book proposals.

I’ve also edited both autobiographical and semi-autobiographical novels, and fiction writing. Other projects I’ve reviewed include personal statements for college, scholarship essays and keynote speeches.

Absolutely!

No project is too small. I am happy to take on assignments of any scope.

Yes!

I’ve worked with writing teams engaging in co-authoring and/or collaborative writing as well as writers working individually on journal articles.

Peer review sessions vary in tone, objective and structure depending on your role. Are you a professor seeking feedback from colleagues? Or a novelist gathering with a group of writer friends?

In any case, I can prepare you for these sessions with specific, guided questions and prompts to ensure you receive the feedback you need. In some cases, I can also facilitate the session. This way, you can give your undivided attention to the feedback being shared, while you leave the rest to me.

Feedback sessions are conducted virtually via zoom. They range between 60-120 minutes.

Occasionally, clients and I have phone calls when there is an urgent feedback request and there isn’t an opportunity to meet virtually.

• Copy Editing: While I certainly catch and flag most typos, misspellings, and formatting and/or grammatical errors as I review your work, I am not a formal copy editor. 

• Formatting Citation Styles from Scratch: I do review your existing citations. Sometimes the content is more effective incorporated into the main text (and vice versa).

• Ghostwriting: All projects must be written by you. I provide feedback and guidance on your work rather than writing content on your behalf.

• Indexing: I do not create back-of-the-book indexes or detailed keyword concordances for completed manuscripts.

• Rewriting Manuscripts: During the review process I may suggest different ways of starting a chapter using tangible examples. I often rewrite unclear sentences to illustrate an alternative way of communicating an idea. This is all part of the coaching process. However, I don’t incorporate revisions back into your text or rewrite your chapters for you.

Life has been hectic for writers as far back as the middle ages, when Shakespeare famously wrote about the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” Part of my role is to help move your project along. This looks different for every person. Sometimes I send reminders about upcoming deadlines, other times I’ll gently talk you out of rescheduling a meeting with me. I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out when someone is overwhelmed and needs a break, and when someone is simply avoiding a meeting because they didn’t complete draft pages “on time.”

I strive to take shame out of the equation. Life is hard and on top of that we are juggling personal and professional responsibilities: family, health, jobs, kids, relationships, etc. My goal isn’t to add another item to your “to do” list, but to be the partner who helps you carry it. We will shift gears together so you never feel like you’re falling behind.

My pricing varies based on the project and type of service you need (I offer per-project flat rates as well as an hourly rate).

Someone seeking to shave off 1,000 words from a mostly finished chapter while retaining structural integrity will receive a different price than someone looking for support writing a chapter from scratch.

I will provide a transparent, customized proposal after an initial virtual alignment meeting.

Factors taken into consideration include:

• Length of manuscript/chapter/text

• Complexity of the ideas in the writing

• Level of depth needed in revisions (Are you starting from scratch? Do you just need a polish? Are you incorporating peer review edits?)

You, the client, maintain 100% ownership of your intellectual property. All drafts, notes and discussions are treated with strict, professional confidentiality.

Occasionally, I may request permission from you in advance to use a great excerpt from your writing at one of my writing workshops. I like to use real examples of fantastic writing when showcasing best practices.