Frequently Asked Questions
01. Can you see samples?
Of course! You can find some here.
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02. Am I just going to slice through your work with track changes?
As an editor and reviewer, my job is to help you improve your work; but it’s also to encourage you and acknowledge the strengths you definitely have. I want to fuel, not destroy, your journey towards securing an agent or lessening potential harm to readers. That said, if receiving feedback, professional or otherwise, is new to you—or if you’d prefer for your feedback to be extra gentle—let me know. Honesty from both parties is very important to get the most out of this experience.
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03. What type of editing or reading service would be best for your work?
Both the writer and the editor need to be clear about the work that will be involved in the chosen service. If you are unsure of which type of editing, reading, or consulting service would be best for your manuscript, no worries. I can give you a recommendation. Feel more than welcome to email your first five pages (about 1250 words) to IsabelleFelixEdits@gmail.com. Or you can contact me about the feedback you previously received from rejections or concerned critique partners. Through this, we can both get a sense of how we will interact with each other. If my proposed editing, reading, or consulting service is not what you want, we can proceed in a different direction until we find the best fit for our collaboration.
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04. Can I guarantee you’ll get published if I edit your book?
No editor or reader can guarantee that. But we can give you our word that we will shape up your manuscript so it can take on the good fight.
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05. What genres do I enjoy, edit, and critique?
I can edit and review almost any work that comes across my path, whether it be fiction or nonfiction... Adult, YA, MG, or Picture Book… sci-fi fantasy or contemporary… university textbook or memoir... script for film, TV, or YouTube. As long as you are open to feedback, let’s start a dialogue.
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06. What is my privacy and confidentiality policy?
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Confidentiality Agreement
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Only I will see and have access to your work on my end, unless determined otherwise.
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Once you have confirmed receiving your edited or critiqued work, I can delete your files if you request as such.
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I will sign the contract that includes a confidentiality agreement.
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Upon request, I can also sign an additional confidentiality agreement provided by you.
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The samples included in my website have been written and submitted by clients who have agreed to have their work embedded in my website. I will never give access to samples without a client’s consent.
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Ownership of Work
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Clients who engage my services retain full ownership, copyright, and intellectual property over their work. As mentioned above, I can also delete your files upon request once you have confirmed receiving the edited or critiqued work.
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Privacy Policy
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I will never share your personal details or email address with anyone.
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No one will know you have used my services unless you inform them or request for me to inform a third party.
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I will only disclose confidential information if I am legally required to do so by a court of law or in connection with legal action by a client against my business.
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Information Usage
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I may use collected information for the following purposes: to provide editing, reading, and critiquing services; for identification; for invoices; and to contact you regarding any inquiries. Your information is not shared with any other party.
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Website Security
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My website uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption—the best online security that allows any site visitor to view my services over an HTTPS connection. This ensures that all your personal information and submitted pages are secure. Please be aware that some older browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer versions older than 7) will not support the high security standards required by Our DSL certificates. For further details on security and encryption, please visit the Wix website.
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Payments
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PayPal, Zelle, and Wise.
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Payments made by PayPal or credit card are made through PayPal’s secure payment gateway. I have chosen this online payments system because of their superior privacy and security measures for clients in the States. For more information, see PayPal’s privacy and security information.
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For international clients outside of the United States, I have chosen Wise. For more information, see Wise's privacy and security information.
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07. What if your full manuscript (fiction or nonfiction) isn’t ready?
I have no issue editing or reviewing partial manuscripts. Just be aware that for partial Developmental edits, Substantive edits, and Sensitivity reads, it could be beneficial to provide a brief synopsis, outline of your manuscript, or chapter summaries so that my feedback can be most useful to you and your next revision round.
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08. Do you only accept works from writers living in the United States?
Not at all. I have clients from all over the globe. However, I only work with writers who can at least write at an intermediate level of English—this is usually American or British, but there is also Canadian, Australian, and many more variants (Caribbean, South African, Philippine, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Indian, Singaporean, and a plethora of other styles).
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09. Can I help you "Americanize" the diction and spelling in your manuscript?
Absolutely. Please let know if you’d like this service as it could be included in a line edit.
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10. What editing style do I use?
I generally adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, but I'm also familiar and comfortable with AP and Oxford. The key with any style guide is consistency.
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11. What tools will I use to edit or review?
Short answer: Word, Google Docs, PDF readers, and other interfaces.
Longer answer: In general, I use the commenting and reviewing features in Microsoft Word (docx or doc), so most clients will need to know how to navigate track changes. If you don't or can’t, then we can figure out alternative methods for in-text feedback (e.g., color codings, all-CAP suggestions, and more). For clients who would prefer Google Docs, PDF readers, or other interfaces, those are welcomed too. We can work out the details up front.
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12. How long will it take to edit or review your work?
I do my best to provide quick turnarounds. However, please keep in mind that this completion time will depend on which service you have chosen, your deadline (or preferred completion date), the size and complexity of your work, and the works I have from other clients. We will discuss all of this up front in order to avoid any disappointments. Once we both have an understanding, I will give you a firm quote and timeline—all before I get started on your work.
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13. How much will the service cost? And how do I take payments?
I usually charge by word count (per word) or hour (per hour). These rates vary, depending on the type of editing or reviewing you choose and the length of your work: Click here for more specific prices. I typically accept payment through PayPal, Zelle, or Wise.
If you do not have a PayPal account, you can still use a Visa or MasterCard credit card in order to pay. I will send you an invoice that makes the process easier. Please be aware that PayPal generally charges an approximate fee of 3% within the United States. As for international money transfers, the fee is based on your country of origin and the amount you’re sending. That said, for international clients, I typically use Wise, formerly known as TransferWise.
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Furthermore, I will either take…
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Full payments up front
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Split payments (examples below)
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50/50: A first-half deposit up front, and the second half sent upon the completion of the service
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Four (or more) installments
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If you are interested in a split plan, let me know when we are discussing payment.
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Note: I generally require at least a 50% deposit up front for most works, but it depends on the client and project. The remaining balance is due upon the completion of the service.
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14. Do I take on all projects?
Unfortunately, no. I wish my schedule could accommodate every deadline, but that isn’t the case. Another factor that can affect this answer is a person’s attitude while they are interacting with me (e.g., ordering me to take on their work or harassing me in any way).
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15. Do I offer re-reads after a client has edited their work based on my initial feedback?
It depends on the type of work since some of my services include one free pass. For other services, I am open to discussing a re-read discount, so I would encourage you to contact me.
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16. How do I meet up with clients?
Clients and I generally communicate via email, video chat, phone, and/or Google Docs. These meetings are efficient for both parties, as my business expands beyond my city, state, and country. So, not only do I have diversity when it comes to the types of works I receive, but I also have diverse clients. I am very grateful for that.
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17. Do my clients have to sign a contract?
In general, yes. It is beneficial for both parties. We will discuss the scope of your work—the deadline, price, confidentiality agreement, and more—before I summarize those details in a contract. I believe this is a good way to ensure that everyone has the same expectations and information.
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18. How do clients send me their work?
Generally, clients will email me their work as an attached Microsoft Word document (docx or doc). However, I’m also open to shared Google Docs, mailed hard copies, and access to uploaded documents.
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19. So, you think I’d be a great fit for your work. What’s the next step, then?
Let’s get right into it. You can either email me about your work (IsabelleFelixEdits@gmail.com) or contact me through this site. Either way, you won’t be alone as we figure out the best approach to further your writing journey. Keep in mind that you don’t need to commit to work with me until you’ve signed the contract. I'm looking forward to meeting you and your story.
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