FAQs

Writing/Editing Resources

What is the difference between developmental editing and line/copy editing?

  • Developmental editing provides critical feedback on what can improve the story to better illustrate the desired themes and plot points. Editing the STORY.

  • Line/copy editing provides grammar and sentence revisions. Ex: Parallel sentences, punctuation, varying line lengths, filler words, vocabulary, etc. Editing the WRITING.

How do I self-edit in adherence to English/Western writing rules?

The Editorial Process

When should I expect to receive my sample edit back?

  • My standard for a returned sample is between four to six business days after date of digital delivery.

What is your 2026 availability?

  • JANUARY - 1 slot left.

  • FEBURARY - 1 slot left.

  • MARCH - 1 slot left.

  • APRIL - 1 slot left.

  • MAY - 2 slots left.

  • JUNE - 2 slots left.

  • JULY - 2 slots left.

  • AUGUST - 2 slots left.

  • SEPTEMBER - 1 slot left.

  • OCTOBER - 1 slot left.

  • NOVEMBER - 1 slot left.

  • DECEMBER - 1 slot left.

How do I approach you if I want to hire you?

Shoot me an email, sharing the following things:

  • Your timeline for edits (make sure you’ve checked my availability first).

  • Your name and penname, if applicable.

  • The word count, genre, and intended audience/age rating for your manuscript.

  • What kind of editing you’re looking for? What your desired areas of focus are?

  • Any trigger warnings I should be aware of?

  • How you found me/my services?

What can I expect after I approach you?

Before we begin anything, I will send you an response email with an attached NDA, my signature already encrypted. When you have a moment, I would ask that you please read through the document and sign it, save a copy of it within your files, and then send it back to me so I could do the same. This will protect any and all work you share with me to be entirely yours intellectually, during and after any edits have been made. 

I offer all prospective clients a free sample edit for ten pages of their manuscript, before contracted work progresses. This process is to ensure you're happy with my editing style before any payments are made, and that I'm the best editor for both your story and you. Once you've signed the NDA and shared a copy to me, feel free to send over any ten pages of prose you like, in pdf form, at your earliest convenience. I typically ask for pages within the middle of a manuscript, but it's not strictly necessary. Please review the format standards below before submitting.

Once your sample edit was been reviewed and returned to you, and if you've decided I'm the fit for you, I'll then prepare an agreement/contract that entails my duties and responsibilities, deadlines, and payment agreements. As I am a freelance editor, a similar template to what I use for such contracts can be found here at the Editors Association of Canada. The preparation of this contract will take a few days for me to draft, as its purpose is to ensure clear and detailed communication between the two of us. I would ask you the following questions:

1. What is the timeline you seek for my editing services? What's your desired start date and deadline date (with the sample edit in mind)?

2. What is the title of the project? You do not need to give me the actual book title, I just need some kind of alias to write within a possible contract. Project "Blank", etc.

3. What's your story's synopsis?

4. How many words and pages are within your manuscript?

5. What is the purpose of the finished project: traditional or self-publication?

6. What will be the format of the finished project? Print: magazine, hardcover book, newsletter, and/or electronic: pdf, e-book, HTML?

7. What is the genre and age rating/intended audience for your manuscript?

8. How many drafts are specified within this agreement? Would I be responsible for further edits at another stage? If so, further payment may be required.

9. I work electronically through PDF, are you comfortable sending and receiving back your manuscript through such delivery?

10. My services include free virtual meetings after edits have been made, to answer any clarifications and questions you may have about them. Dates can be determined when the time comes, but I want to ensure that you are comfortable with such a service?

11. A non-refundable deposit of half the decided fees ($0.012 USD per word) are required before work will begin on a project. This amount will be credited toward the total amount owing, in which the rest of payment would be invoiced after edits were made. Would you be comfortable with such a deposit?

Once we’ve deemed the contract sufficient, and everything is signed, I’ll offer you a free video consultation meeting. This is a low-effort meeting, designed to answer any and all questions and ease any and all anxieties you have about the upcoming editing process.

Once everyone is happy and excited about the work ahead, we can get started! I’ll ask you send me your full manuscript over email in pdf form (on the agreed upon date in our contract). I’ll keep in contact throughout the edits, and you are free to contact me with questions at any time in the process.

How should I format my manuscript/sample edit before I send it to you?

Ensure you’ve done a proofread and copy edit of your own before submitting to me, and send it in pdf form. Your manuscript should have:

  • A title page

    • Consisting of a title and the date upon sending

    • Your name, word count, and contact information (email) should be in the header.

  • Page numbers (placed in the top right header)

  • A table of contents (for manuscripts only, not samples)

  • Writing itself should be/have:

    • Double spaced

    • Times New Roman font

    • First-line indents

    • Size 12

How do I approach you if I have a question post-contract?

Like a person, my loves. I’m just a person. Email me, or dm me on Tik Tok, Instagram, or Discord. I prefer email, but I really don’t mind communicating in other ways. I’m here to help, always! I welcome questions! I’m human, I make mistakes sometimes. Please, always reach out to me and voice your concerns.

What should I expect for the post-contract consultation meeting?

This is a low-effort meeting, designed to answer any and all questions and ease any and all anxieties you have about the upcoming editing process. This service is optional, so it’s completely fine if you’re video call-shy, we can communicate through email instead. I like to ensure my clients feel at ease with me. I want your trust, and I want you to be comfortable with my process. I’ll be asking questions like:

  • What are you worried/scared of most going forward with editing? Any anxieties or concerns?

  • What are key stylistic choices within your story that you do NOT want me changing? At Cyrus Edits, stylistic choices are always a priority. Your voice matters most.

  • What are things I should know about the story before I edit it? Any symbolism or metaphorical themes I should factor in?

  • What has your editing process been like? What draft is the version you have sent me?

  • What has your editor selection looked like? Why did you choose me, and what are you hoping to get out of our relationship most?

  • How can I be the best editor for you?

Pricing

Why are fees in $US when you’re a Canadian business?

  • In our current economic state, Canadian dollars are worth less than American dollars. As a unilateral company, every penny counts to supporting our business’ growth and the Editor’s literary ambitions. In full transparency, we acknowledge we make use of $US to $CAD conversion.

  • As all transactions are processed through PayPal, a 4% Transfer Fee, outside the service fee itself, is required by the client.

How are your fees different than other editors?

  • The industry standard is $0.02 USD to $0.08 USD per word.

  • I charge $0.012 USD per word for a complete package of masterful line/copy, structural, and developmental editing. I work for and with indie authors, my prices reflect that.

How do I pay for services?

  • All transactions are processed through PayPal.

  • However, as PayPal only allows users 18+, minors are encouraged to find an adult that wouldn’t mind your using of their account for the occasion. If this is not accessible, wire transfers are also accepted.

Why are fees per word count, rather than per hour?

  • “Unfortunately, I have an intellectual disability that slows my brain processing. The industry standard for an abled editor is 4-6 or 6-8 pages/hour (depending on your region). Mine is three pages/hour. As such, it’s only fair to charge by word, and hence ensuring quality in quantity, rather than charging per hour, risking my own morality and mental limits. In simple terms, I’m not producing less in a day, I’m just working it longer.”

  • Cyrus Literary Productions would like to state that developmental editor, Harley Galarneau, is just as capable of meeting deadlines and providing masterful critiques as any other editor. The limitations of their intellectual disability do not affect client expectations, timelines, or schedules.