Below I’ve answered the most commonly-asked questions I’ve been asked. If you have a question not answered here, please contact me.
What, exactly, is Swansong Editing?
Swansong Editing is a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), specializing in editing services to its clientelle.
What is Swansong Editing’s address?
Swansong Editing
P.O. Box 76971
Colorado Springs, CO 80970
What is Swansong Editing’s phone number?
(719) 209-8704. Please note that my phone hours are 10AM-2PM Mountain Standard Time. This schedule allows me uninterrupted editing time to better serve my customers. Response, review and brainstorming calls are made by appointment and do not usually fall within the 10-2 time frame.
Will you help promote my book?
No. Swansong Editing is an editing service, not a book agent. On occasion, I may suggest a particular press where I feel the manuscript might be a good fit, but we do not actively promote manuscripts.
I read you’re also the Executive Editor for Hidden Thoughts Press. If I use your service do I have a better chance of getting accepted to HTP?
No. If you have a mental-wellness nonfiction manuscript, I suggest sending it to Hidden Thoughts Press first. If the manuscript is accepted, you’ll receive the editing services through Hidden Thoughts Press by one of the editors. If I receive a mental-wellness manuscript, and I feel it’s a strong fit for HTP, then I’ll let the author know. If the author has a mental-wellness manuscript and has no intention of presenting it to Hidden Thoughts Press, then I’ll happily edit it for them.
Can you tell me the process to working with Swansong Editing?
I’d be happy to. Here’s a basic breakdown:
1 – You send a query e-mail (“Query” menu button at the top of the page) containing the project title, exact word count and genre.
2 – I send a reply with projected start / finish date and a quote.
3 - You accept the quote.
4 - I send you a e-contract.
5 - You return the e-contract, and your complete manuscript in RTF format as an attachment.
6 - I edit your manuscript.
7 – When the editing is complete I send an e-mail and an invoice for the quoted amount.
8 – Once payment is made I e-mail you a link the edited manuscript ( shorter works are sent as an attachment ).
Why do you e-mail links to the PDFs for some and attach “shorter works.”
Because a fully-edited PDF manuscript of 250-300 pages can be 60-75 meg. Most e-mail addresses will not accept attachments over 25meg. For novels I send a link to their work along with a username and password for access.
Do I have to pay your $10 printing fee?
Yes. A customer would have to format their book to my guidelines, print the book, package and ship the book here. By the time they complete that, the $10 is usually met or exceeded in time/effort/cost by the customer.
Why is your $10 fee the same for both short works and novels?
If I broke the fee down to a cost-per-page, it becomes a bookkeeping nightmare. I chose a fee that’s affordable to the customer and still covers my costs and time.
Why do you supply the edited work in PDF format? Why not RTF or Word? Word has editing programming built in.
I hand-edit all manuscripts. After over sixteen years with an award-winning writing group, I’ve found that electronically-edited manuscripts don’t receive the same level of attention as those hand-edited. All edited manuscripts are scanned in full-color, allowing the customer to see highlighting points and colored ink with ease.
What do you do with the hard copy of manuscripts once your editing services are completed?
I archive them for a short time (typically under two years), then shred the original.
Will you send me the edited hard-copy of my manuscript?
Yes, for a $15 fee, within the United States (query for foreign rates). This covers packaging costs, shipping costs and time at the post office.
I’m in the Colorado Springs, Colorado area. I see you’re active in the Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group. If I attend/join the group will I receive the same quality of editing that you offer here?
No. The level of edit provided to the CSFWG is lower. There are other time/content volume limitations to having your novel edited through the CSFWG (please see “Membership Requirements“ on the CSFWG website for further information).
I saw that you have examples on your Editing Services page. Will you use my work as an example?
No, never without written permission. I consider the Author/Editor relationship private and do not share examples without written permission.
You say you “hand-edit” every manuscript. Will you electronically-edit a manuscript if asked, such as using “Word’s Track Changes?”
No. While I agree electronically-editing does save paper, it degrades the quality of the edit as a whole – taking more time to provide less information. Programs like “Word’s Track Changes” are great for manuals and documents where multiple people are working on the same project. For fiction, the time/quality ratio just isn’t worth it.
Will using your service ensure me of publication?
No. It will, however, help you along that journey. Just as using a driving school helps prepare an individual for a driving test, using an editing service helps an author prepare to submit for publication.
I see some of your testimonials and recommendations are older than Swansong Editing. How is this possible?
Swansong Editing is a one-woman operation. Some of these testimonials and recommendations are mine as an individual, others as Swansong Editing. In either case, they acknowledge the editing services of Hollie Snider.
Some of the recommendations refer to donating your time to school and teen prison programs. Do you donate your time often?
I donate my time when and where I can – focusing mainly on literary events and outreach programs. As to specifically how often I donate my time, I average one to three times per year.
What types of payments do you accept?
I accept cash (if you are local to Colorado Springs, Colorado), personal checks, cashier’s checks, bank transfers, credit cards (through PayPal) and PayPal. I do not recommend sending cash through the mail.
Do you have a payment schedule?
Yes. The full balance is due once the editing services are completed.
Will you lower/negotiate your rates?
Doubtful. My rates are very resonable and I offer the following discounts:
10% discount to CSFWG members (Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group)
10% discount to active military
15% discount to returning customers
Note – discounts cannot be combined.
Are you willing to stretch my payments out?
Doubtful, but feel free to ask.
What if I can’t pay the balance when it’s due?
I will shelve the manuscript until the balance is paid, then send the edited manuscript at that time.
So, if I can’t pay the balance, you won’t just “write it off” and send me the PDF?
I’m afraid not.
Can I pay you from my future book sales?
No.
Do you barter (accept items other than money)?
Again, this is doubtful, but you are welcome to ask. Please note, I do not consider “I’ll pay you _____ percentage/amount from my future book sales” as bartering.
You charge more to edit a story than I’ll get selling it. Why would I pay for story editing?
Good question. Stories rarely pay well, but are a good way to show editors and publishers an author’s literary ability through smaller work. Think of short stories as a resumé that gives an example of what the author is capable of. These stories, just as with novels, should be the best they can be. That usually means needing an editor.
Will you add me to your Author Links page?
If requested, I’m happy to add clients and former clients to my Author Links page.
So all your Author Links are clients or former clients?
No. Some are personal friends who are in the writing / editing field.
Will you add my writing-related organization / event / publishing house / press / conference to your links page?
It’s possible. Feel free to ask.
