FAQ
Clear Answers for Your Publishing Journey
Fiction, nonfiction, and memoir—across traditional, hybrid, small-press, and indie/self-publishing paths. On the fiction side, that includes literary fiction, historical fiction, mystery, YA, thriller, sci-fi, romance, fantasy, and women’s fiction. On the nonfiction side: memoir, business, self-help, health and wellness, and inspirational nonfiction. If you’re not sure your project fits, reach out—that’s exactly the kind of question an Author Breakthrough Call is for.
It’s a free 20-minute Zoom call—a conversation, not a sales pitch. I’ll ask you questions to understand your book, where you are in the process, and what you need next. You’ll leave the call with three clear next moves and feedback on your pages, whether or not we end up working together.
Sample questions I might ask:
- What’s the working title, and what’s the one-sentence pitch?
- Where are you in the process—drafting, revising, or manuscript-complete?
- What’s your genre, and who’s the ideal reader?
- Has the manuscript had any professional editing yet?
- Is there a timeline or deadline driving this—a launch date, a conference, an agent deadline?
- What’s your publishing goal—traditional, hybrid, indie, or still deciding?
- What’s your budget range for editing and/or publishing strategy?
- What feedback have you already gotten, and from whom?
- What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing with this book right now?
- What would success look like for you with this book?
These are illustrative—the actual questions adapt to each author and project.
That’s exactly what an Author Breakthrough Call is for. Most authors aren’t sure, and that’s completely normal—you don’t have to self-diagnose. Book a free call, and we’ll figure out together where your book stands and what it needs next.
Word documents (.docx) are preferred—they make tracked changes and margin comments seamless. Before submitting, make sure your manuscript is double-spaced, in a standard 12-point font, with numbered pages, and saved as one clean file rather than scattered chapters. If you’re not sure it’s ready to submit, that’s a perfectly normal thing to ask about on an Author Breakthrough Call.
This varies by service and is always spelled out in your contract before we begin. Manuscript assessments and First 50 Pages Reviews are single-pass services with a follow-up call included. Editing services typically include one full pass plus a clarifying round for questions. If you’d like additional rounds beyond what’s scoped, that’s absolutely possible—just reflected in a revised agreement and additional cost.
It depends on manuscript length and service—as well as our current client queue. As a general guide (from your scheduled start date), plan on a minimum of 4 to 7 weeks for a manuscript around 80,000 words receiving full editing services; assessments and First 50 Pages Reviews move faster. Rush turnaround is available for an additional fee, calendar permitting.
Yes, always. Every project—whether it’s a single manuscript assessment or an ongoing publishing strategy engagement—starts with a clear, written agreement outlining scope, timeline, and payment terms. No handshake deals, no ambiguity.
Yes, always. Every manuscript shared with Midnight Editors is treated as confidential, and an NDA is available on request.
Yes to both. Our editing rates closely follow those set by the Editorial Freelancers Association, of which we’re a proud member. Rates vary based on a manuscript’s genre, content, and condition—a heavily revised manuscript costs less to edit than a rough first draft, for example.
We encourage you to get multiple quotes. It’s a smart way to evaluate any editor, and good practice for any major investment in your book. One thing worth knowing: EFA rates as published tend to skew slightly low industry-wide. Our rates land at the average to slightly above-average range within that framework—which reflects experience level, not padding. You’re paying for two decades in this industry, not just a line edit.
Yes—and we consider this one of the most important parts of the job. If you ask for a copyedit but your manuscript actually needs a developmental edit first, we’ll tell you, even if it means a smaller invoice up front. Our reputation matters more to us than any single project, and an honest recommendation is part of what you’re paying for.
No editor or consultant can honestly promise that, and we won’t pretend otherwise. What we can promise is a manuscript that’s as strong as it can be, a publishing strategy built around your actual goals, and the industry knowledge to give your book its best possible shot—whichever path you choose.
We don’t personally design covers or format interiors—but we do have a vetted network of book publishing professionals, printers, indie publishers, and assisted-publishing services that we trust. If you need a designer, formatter, or production partner, we can make the right introduction.
No—Midnight Editors doesn’t publish books directly. What we offer is publishing strategy: helping you understand and choose the right path, whether that’s querying agents, going hybrid, or self-publishing, and then connecting you with the right professionals to execute it.
Both. We work with authors at every stage—debut writers querying for the first time, people returning to writing later in life, and multi-book authors. What matters more than experience level is that you’re serious about the work and open to honest feedback.
At Midnight Editors, the work is always human-led and human-finished. We use some AI software for operational tasks—things like onboarding workflows and assistance with metadata—but never for actual editing. The editorial judgment, the line-by-line work, the creative decisions: that is human.
If an author wants it, we can also run a manuscript through a private AI-assisted system as an additional layer to catch egregious errors before the final proofread—purely as a safety net, not a substitute for human editing.
One thing we won’t do: take on a manuscript that’s had significant chunks written by AI. Most experienced editors can tell, and it goes against everything Midnight Editors stands for. Your voice, written by you, is the whole point.
This is all subject to client volume, but will be disclosed up front if I think there is an editor who may be a better fit for you on our team.
Book a free Author Breakthrough Call. It’s the fastest way to figure out exactly where your book is and what it needs next.
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