Author FAQs

  • Hey indie author! You’ve come to the right place. Self-publishing is hard work, but it’s so worth it to get your story out there. Traditional publishing is not often entirely representative of the diverse reader community that exists (especially in romance!), and self-published authors are instrumental in creating unique stories that readers can see themselves in. Remember, your story matters!

    As an independent author, you’re handling a lot. Hiring an editor is going to take some of the weight off your shoulders, with the added benefit of polishing your manuscript to help it shine.

  • Technically, you don’t need either of these services. However, it’s possible that your manuscript will contain typos, formatting issues, timeline or character description mistakes, or a hundred other types of completely human errors that editing would have caught. Copyediting and proofreading are valuable investments toward polishing your writing. In the end, it’s up to you to decide if these are worthwhile, but if you’re unsure about what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to me. You don’t need to have all the answers yourself!

  • Every editor’s style sheet will look a little different, but mine will include notes on your characters, settings, and story timeline, along with any style or word choices you’ve made. Handy!

    One important reminder is that an editor who does not create or maintain a style sheet for you isn’t doing their job correctly. This may be a sign that they have not received proper training, and they are probably not who you want to pay to work on your book.

  • No. I do not support the use of generative AI to produce stories, and I will not edit such material.

  • No. I do not use any generative AI products or tools to edit manuscripts. In fact, no generative AI was used to create my website, branding, social media content, or any other aspect of Matter Editing.

  • Absolutely! I offer 1,000-word sample edits at no cost to you so that you can get a good idea of how I work. A sample edit is a crucial component of this process for you as an author, and I encourage you to reach out to a few editors to compare editing styles to see what works best for you.

    Don’t forget that it’s best to send a sample of writing that isn’t your first chapter, which you’ve probably revised more than any other section. If you’re not sure what to send, feel free to reach out to me!

  • Amazing! I can’t wait to hear from you. Head to the Contact section of my site and fill out the form, or email me at matter.editing@gmail.com. We’ll set up a free Discovery Call to get to know each other, chat about your story, and figure out what editing it might need. We can talk about the sample edit if you’ve sent one, and then I’ll prepare a proposal package for you with all the contract details included.

  • Sure! While fantasy and romance novels have a special place in my heart, I have a diverse background and a wide range of interests. If you think we’d work well together on a different kind of project, feel free to connect with me!

Any other questions?