It's always nice to know what to expect.
​Below are the policies, expectations, and terms my contracts typically require.

---

Success of the Project

1. The Editor shall use their background and experience in editing the manuscript. The Editor's sole function is to aid and assist the Client in editing the manuscript. In this light the Editor will make their best efforts to advise and suggest changes to improve the manuscript. The decision to accept or reject the Editor's suggestions is solely the Client's. 
   
2. Service(s) are considered a success, completed in full, when the Editor offers countable or measurable improvements in the services provided.
   
3. The Editor is sincerely dedicated to completing the book’s evaluation to the best of their knowledge and expertise, not withholding critique suitable under the description of the service. 
   
4. The manuscript’s Service is considered completed when the required expectations are met, not when the project is considered “perfect.”

Project Boundaries

1. This Contract may be terminated by either party for any reason, at any time, upon written notice to the other party.
   • All work already completed at the time of termination must be paid for in full immediately.
     
   • The retainer paid contributes toward the balance due at termination.
2. It is understood by the parties that Editor is an independent contractor with respect to Client, and not an employee of Client. Client will not provide fringe benefits, including health insurance benefits, paid vacation, or any other employee benefit, for the benefit of Editor.
   
3. Any copyrightable works, ideas, or other information (collectively, the “Work Product”) developed in whole or in part by Editor in connection with the Services shall be the exclusive property of Client. Upon request, Editor shall sign all documents necessary to confirm or perfect the exclusive ownership of Client to the Work Product.
   
4. The information and content of this project are confidential. Editor will not at any time or in any manner, either directly or indirectly, use for the personal benefit of Editor, or divulge, disclose, or communicate in any manner any information that is proprietary to Client. Editor will protect such information and treat it as strictly confidential. This provision shall continue to be effective after the termination of this Contract.
   
5. Editing is intrinsically a subjective process of offering advice and suggestions to the Client. While the Editor will make every effort to bring questionable material to the attention of the Client, the Client agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Editor from any and all claims or demands, including legal fees, arising out of any alleged libel or copyright infringement committed by the Client in creating the work.
   
6. The Editor, while working to aid the Client in preparing the best manuscript possible given the submitted material, has no way of judging the market or the whims and caprices of the publishing industry.
   
7. The Editor is responsible for communicating valuable feedback and recommendations, but it is the responsibility of the Client to accept or reject changes according to their judgement.

Payment

1. The Client shall reimburse the Editor for any direct expenses incurred in fulfilling this Contract, including: reading material, specialized software, photocopying, printouts, long-distance calls, travel, couriers, and postage.
   
2. The payment schedule dates coordinate with milestones of the contract. If the Editor requires more time on a service, the payment scheduled shall be adjusted to the new date the milestone service is returned to the Client.
   
3. Delays incurred by the Client do not affect the payment schedule, and all payments due on these dates shall withstand adjustments to the timeline.
   
4. Invoices are sent via email and are due upon the date listed in the invoice.
   
5. If an invoice becomes seven days past due, a $50.00 late fee shall be added to the balance. Each subsequent week late shall incur $50.00 as well.
   
6. Non-U.S. currency and/or international transactions shall incur a $30.00 transaction fee.

Communication

1. The Editor shall host all meetings by phone or video call.
2. The Editor shall respond to emails within seventy-two hours, not including weekends, holidays, or communicated times out of office.
3. The Editor reserves the right to record all meetings.
4. A meeting is effectively canceled if the Client is not present within fifteen minutes of the start time.
5. If a Client does not appear for a meeting within fifteen minutes without prior notification at least one hour before the meeting, a $25.00 cancellation fee shall be charged. This fee is due forty-eight hours from when the invoice is submitted to Client.
6. All meetings must be scheduled at least twenty-four hours in advance via written communication.
7. The Editor shall not accept any unscheduled phone calls nor respond to voicemails.
8. The Editor reserves the right to limit and/or prohibit the use of phone texting or instant messaging services.
9. All communication apart from scheduled meetings must be sent via email.
10. If the Editor does not receive communication from the Client within sixty days, the contract is effectively canceled and all services completed must be paid.
11. The Editor is not bound to the Client’s working hours or time zone.

Deadlines

1. The Editor is entitled to modify or cancel the contract, rate, and/or timeline due to a Client request for significant changes to terms or service.
2. Abigail McLaughlin, the Editor, suffers from chronic migraines and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) that can interfere with her working hours and timeline. The timelines set forth in this contract require reasonable flexibility to accommodate temporary delays due to these illnesses. If the timeline of a project cannot be flexible, please notify the Editor before signing.
3. All work for all Service(s) shall be delivered via email.

Content

1. The Service Provider does not edit any works that include, promote, or validate hate speech, libel, bullying, profiling, disrespect, and/or objectively (provable) false or misleading information. This includes positive rhetoric in support of misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or ethnic cleansing.
   1. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “hate speech” as “speech expressing hatred of a particular group of people.”
      
2. ​The Service Provider does not edit any works that include, promote, or validate Christian nationalism or Donald Trump.
3. The Service Provider reserves the right to cancel the contract should any section of the project material and/or manuscript meet the description of these non-negotiable moral standards.
4. No content to be edited may be created directly via Artificial Intelligence. 

Credit

1. The Editor must give express permission for an author to credit them in the body of work and must be credited according to service(s) provided, credited as “Abbey McLaughlin.”
2. For use within their portfolio, the Editor is permitted to share this project via URL to the published work unless otherwise expressed by the Client.
3. The Editor is not required to interact with the Client via social media, nor are they required to post promotional material for the Client’s project.