Resources
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of projects do you edit?
I work primarily in the arts and humanities. I have experience across SSHRC and arts council grants, dissertations, practice-based theses, artist statements, catalogue essays, and interdisciplinary articles. See my Services page for more details.
What’s the difference between developmental, stylistic, copyediting, and proofreading?
- Developmental editing is also called structural editing. It addresses overall structure, arguments, and the organization of ideas.
- Stylistic editing achieves clarity and adjusts the tone and flow of your writing while preserving or enhancing your individual style.
- Copyediting looks at grammar, syntax, and consistency at the sentence level.
- Proofreading is a final review of grammar, spelling, and formatting to catch any overlooked errors before submission or publication.
How do I know what level of editing I need?
If you’re not sure what level of editing you need, you may send me a sample of your work and I will assess what it needs and then recommend the most suitable strategy. You may reach me through my Contact form.
How do you charge for editing?
Editing is billed by the word, with rates ranging from $0.04–$0.09 per word + tax, depending on the level of editing and the scope of the project.
To learn more about what editors charge and why, visit Editors of Canada Pricing Guidelines.
Do you edit outside the arts and humanities?
Do you edit student applications for graduate school?
What’s your turnaround time?
Turnaround depends on the scope and depth of editing, the length of your project, and my current availability. Shorter pieces (up to 5,000 words) are often completed within a week. Longer projects such as theses or dissertations may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the level of editing required and how quickly you need the work returned. I’ll always provide a clear timeline once I’ve reviewed your project. I can occasionally take on fast-track editing if your deadline is urgent.
Do you work with international clients?
Do you work with writers for whom English is an additional language?
Yes. I edit work by writers using English as an additional language, paying attention to grammar and style. EAL/ESL writers often benefit most from stylistic editing. Learn more about stylistic editing on my Services page.
Can editorial services be included in arts council or research-creation grants?
In many cases, yes. Editorial services can often be budgeted as an eligible project expense when they are directly tied to specific deliverables, such as a manuscript, catalogue, publication, final report, or other written outputs. Depending on the program, these costs may be categorized as professional fees, contracted services, or knowledge-mobilization expenses.
Eligibility varies by funding body and by program. Applicants should always consult the current program guidelines or confirm with a program officer. Editorial work is typically most justifiable when it supports the clarity, accessibility, or dissemination of funded research or artistic projects.
How do we get started?
Send me a message through the contact form with a brief description of your project, your timeline, and a sample if it is available. I’ll respond with a recommendation, a quote, and a suggestion for next steps.
What’s your editing process like?
My process begins with an initial review of your project and a conversation or email exchange to clarify what you would like to achieve. Once we agree on the scope of your project, I provide a quote and a timeline. I edit using Track Changes in Word or Suggestions in Google Docs, so you can see every edit and choose what to accept. I also include margin comments where necessary.
For longer projects, I may check in with you partway through to make sure we are still on the right track. After delivery, you’re welcome to follow up with questions or clarifications.
My process is flexible, and for projects more complex than copyediting I take a collaborative approach: offering suggestions, feedback, and options instead of imposing drastic changes or rewriting your work.