FAQ

I offer copyediting, proofreading, sensitivity reading, and consulting services. I do not provide substantive or developmental editing services but know some great people who do! I would be happy to refer you to someone if this is what you need.

I am a nonfiction specialist who is particularly interested in topics related to business communication, human interest, health care, education, and scholarly communication (humanities and social sciences). I am open to working with individuals, publishers, public sector, and private and not-for-profit businesses.

Sensitivity reading (sometimes referred to as “authenticity reading”) is an assessment of a whole or part of a piece of writing for accurate and respectful representation of a particular group. It’s not about being politically correct or “woke” but rather aims to make sure people, places, and ideas are written about in ways that are fair and current with the evolution of language. While I certainly perform all my work with these goals in mind, I also offer this as a standalone service where the primary focus is making sure the text’s language meets these needs.

In theory, a sensitivity read can be performed at any stage of the editorial process, but it is highly recommended to complete this step prior to editing to ensure any changes that may need to be made to the text can be reviewed and caught at copyediting stage.

Sensitivity readers will offer assessments for subjects they have shared-life experience or are well-versed in. (For example, one area I offer sensitivity reading in is for the experience of Black women in Canada as a second-generation Canadian — I am a Black woman, born in Canada to immigrant parents.) My assessments include providing comments on the use of conscious language (e.g., using gender-neutral terms such as “crewed” instead of “manned” ship), flagging stereotypes (e.g., general assertions that all Asian children do well in school), and noting areas, including images, that readers may find inaccurate or offensive.

That depends on a few factors:

• The length of your project (e.g., how many words or pages does it have?)
• The complexity of your project (e.g., is your manuscript text only, are there photo captions or any special features like references, back matter, etc. that you’d like me to review?)
• How many editing passes does your manuscript need?
• How quickly do you need your work returned to you?

My rates are based on the suggested hourly rates published by the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Contact me for a quote!

I primarily work with Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), but can also edit to Canadian Press and American Psychological Association (APA) standards. Depending on your project’s needs, I use either the Canadian Oxford Dictionary or Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. I am always open to using other resources to guide my editing upon request!

In general, I copyedit and sensitivity read in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat (PDF) using track changes and comments. For proofreading, I use Adobe Acrobat (PDF) or hard copy prints using standard proofreading marks, stamps, or comments.

No, but I am happy to provide you with a quote before you decide whether I’m a good fit for your project; to do that, I ask potential clients to send me their manuscripts ahead of time. That way, I can assess its needs and provide you with the best cost and time estimate possible. Any documents or information I receive are held in strict confidence. If either of us decide I’m not the best editor for the project, I may be able to refer you to someone who could be a better fit.

After you contact me, here is what you can expect:

• I will respond to your inquiry and ask a few initial questions about your project.
• Based on your answers, I will ask for your full manuscript and provide you with a project questionnaire.
• If we both decide we’re a good fit to work together, I will prepare a project estimate and proposal for you.
• Once the estimate/proposal is agreed to, I will send an editorial agreement for you to sign.
• Work will commence on the project based on the terms of the agreement.
• After the project is completed, a final invoice will be sent. The project is considered complete once I receive payment in full, as laid out in the editorial agreement.