Some of the questions clients ask the most:
What’s the best way to get my project going?
Let’s start by showing me your draft and (for larger projects) your outline or summary. If I see a representative sample of the overall piece, I can usually tell how big the job is. It won’t take long–juts minutes for shorter projects and maybe a half-hour for bigger projects.
Then let’s get on the phone or Zoom. We need to talk about the project, your goals, the work you’ve done, what you think is missing or off, your timeline, and more. By the end of the conversation, we should know whether it’s a go or a no-go.
How do I know what I’m going to get?
To start, I am happy to edit one page (500 words) as a sample of my approach, for free. That should give you a good idea.
I can also show you, confidentially, some before-and-after pieces.
And I can refer you to past clients who have been satisfied with my work.
When does editing become rewriting–and when does rewriting become research and writing?
Good point. It gets slippery. We need to be clear about the scope of work. That’s why we need to go over the document before starting any work, so we can come to a meeting of the minds. And it’s why you need to respond to the early phase of work. Quick feedback is key.
If it’s an editing job, it’s straightforward. My job is to improve organization, sharpen sentences and paragraphs, make the prose sing a little. I can do it all.
Restructuring a piece is a much bigger job. I will have to cut some chunks and merge other chunks. I might even need to restructuire the whole piece. Often, when moving big pieces around, I will need to do some research to fill holes.
But when it becomes a writing project, it’s a much bigger deal. So we need to be clear about that.
What happens when you find big gaps in the draft? Do you do research to fill those gaps?
Depends. That’s something we need to decide together. For minor gaps, on subjects that I know well, I can usually fill them without much trouble.
I can also plunge in to do research on topics I don’t know well, if the manuscript provides enough information for me to know what other information to seek.
But when I shift from editing/rewriting to research/writing, we probably need to talk. Does the extra work fit your budget? Does it make more sense for you to fill the gaps and resubmit the draft? That’s something we need to work out together.
What about “voice”?
The ultimate goal is to make your piece sound like you. After talking with you and reading your drafts, I get a sense of your likable mannerisms. I know how to make a document sound like you. I can share a brief sample early in the process so you can see for yourself.
Can you give a complete rundown of the jobs you will take?
Sure. Here it is:
- Books
- Theses or dissertations*
- Academic paper assignments*
- Articles, web copy, and blogs
- Case studies
- Reports
- Proposals
- RFPs
- Evaluations
- Newsletters, brochures, and flyers
- Cover letters and personal statements
- Speeches and presentations
- Guides, explainers, and manuals
*Note, below, that I will not write academic assignments for you. But I will read them and offer specific ideas for you to apply in your own way
I see your hourly rates, which look fair. But how do I know how much a whole project will cost?
When I see a representative sample of your piece and an outline of the project, I can get a good idea how much time it will take.
Do you follow a particular style guide?
I started my career in journalism, using the ASP and New York Times style guides. Then, as an academic, I followed the University of Chicago and MLA guides. I have used other style guides over the years.
I am happy to use whatever style standards you like. The point is to create consistent, clear, crisp documents.
I have even worked with clients to develop their own style guides, which meet their specific needs. After I edit a handful of documents, we could write your own style guide. (Pssst: Into this guide we can incorporate writing techniques that improve the writing and technique of everyone in your organization.)
Ghostwriting is more than editing, right? So doesn’t that require a longer process?
Ghostwriting is usually a complete writing job. You’re using other people’s words, but you have to gather all the raw materials and compose every sentence. So that’s a writing job, not a rewriting or editing job.
Still, sometimes you start with a lot of material. I once ghosted a book for a retired U.S. ambassador. I did a ton of original research. I also interviewed the subject for six or seven days. But I also had a bunch of material handed to me, including hundreds of pages of oral history.
Are there any jobs you won’t take?
I won’t do anything that I consider unethical.
I won’t write students’ papers or admissions essays. I will read and critique these pieces but I won’t do a hands-on edit. The whole point of such assignments is to show what you can do–not what your editor can do. But I can offer detailed comments to guide your own rewriting and editing.
I also won’t edit any pieces that I consider hateful for any reason. Everyone is free to express hatred or prejudice, but I don’t have to help. I am happy to help people express honest, legitimate arguments, with evidence and good faith. But if the purpose is to malign someone or make dishonest arguments, count me out.
What about plagiarism issues?
Two quick points: On everything you write, you’re responsible for providing the evidence and credit for everything you say. That said, I can help if you’re falling behind.
In the editing process, I sometimes fill holes by doing some quick online research. I will provide whatever attribution is necessary.