TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(UPDATED March 2026)

Please read this information thoroughly before contacting me.

CLIENT-EDITOR RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT

After submitting your inquiry, we will discuss your:

Project needs
My fees
Potential turnaround times

Once that is discussed, I will send my standard editing contract. Customization of the agreement will only include your project’s scope. All other sections will remain the same.

If you use my contact form, you agree to the editing contract’s standard language.

EDITORIAL SERVICES

As your editor, I will provide feedback to strengthen your manuscript using my best effort.

After our agreed-upon turnaround time, I will send a document with comments, questions, and other suggestions to improve your content.

All forms of editing will require your revisions.

SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT

After we have agreed to work together, please submit your manuscript using Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

I will begin the editing process as soon as I receive your manuscript.

Revised materials are not allowed after editing begins.

Most developmental and line editing notes will be placed into comments. Other edits (copyediting) will use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes.

REVISIONS

After applying my feedback, please feel free to submit revisions on the same project.

Each revision is a separate project, and I will charge the same rate(s) per word.

I will redo the process to strengthen the revised material.

If we have agreed on a bulk rate for the initial document, I will charge this same rate for the revision (as long as it’s a similar word count).

Revisions are an optional service. After our initial project, you do not have to rehire me.

SCHEDULING

Travel or other activities may affect my schedule.

Please feel free to hire me months in advance.

After submitting a $210 reservation fee, or prorated fee if your content is short, I will place your project in my calendar. This fee is added to the project’s total cost.

GUARANTEE

There is no guarantee your work will be traditionally published or receive critical acclaim.

However, my services will strengthen your manuscript, improve your writing, and boost your self-editing skills.

PAYMENT POLICY

Payment is due upon completion of the installment or short project—and must be paid before completed work is sent.

All prices quoted are in US dollars. I primarily accept PayPal, Zelle, or ACH payments through your bank.

This policy is non-negotiable.

DISCOUNTS, REFERRALS, AND BUNDLES

Returning Client

1. Come back.

Get 10% off each project. Refer three long-form writers, and enjoy 15% off

Discounts

2. Book during my Black Friday month. Get 30% off + 5,000 words free.

30,000 words or more. Valid from Nov 1st – Dec 31st.

Use the code “DEONBF” in the contact form to get your deal.

3. Rocked Nanowrimo? Ready to spruce up those words?

Get 10% off from Jan 1st – March 1st.

Use the code “DEONNANO” in the contact form to get your deal.

4. It’s the holidays! Enjoy 10% off most editing services.

Use the code “HOLIDAYEDIT” in the contact form to get your deal.

Referrals

3. Refer three (3) long-form writers, and you will receive 10% off your next three (3) projects.

Use the code “REFERTHREE” in the contact form to get your deal.

Bundles

4. Bundle pricing for multiple projects of a specific genre is available.

- - Science Fiction
  - Speculative Fiction
  - African-American Fiction
  - LGBTQ+
  - YA (coming-of-age)

Use the code “GETABUNDLE” in the contact form to get your deal.

REFUNDS

Due to the time-intensive nature of editing, I do not offer refunds after starting your project.

This policy is non-negotiable.

TESTIMONIALS

After our work concludes, I may ask for a testimonial. You do not have to provide a testimonial, but if you do, it will be edited to improve readability. These edits will preserve the meaning.

Your first name and last initial will be added to the testimonial on my website and other marketing materials.

CONFIDENTIALITY

I will not share, sell, or trade your identifying information with any person or entity.

Your content and its development will be kept confidential.

CONTENT REFUSAL

I will decline a manuscript if it does not feel like a good fit. Upon making this decision, I will notify you before we establish a client-editor relationship.

REPRINT OF EDITING CONTRACT

EDITOR AND AUTHOR AGREEMENT

CITY OF Chattanooga, Tennessee

_________________ (hereinafter, “Author”) and ________________________ (hereinafter, “Editor”) do hereby agree to the following:

1. DESCRIPTION OF MANUSCRIPT. The Author has prepared an approximately _______-word manuscript called ____________. Pursuant to the terms and conditions herein, the Editor will provide _______ as mutually agreed, confirmed in writing by the Author.

2. PAYMENT FOR SERVICES. The Editor agrees to accept, and the Author agrees to pay, a minimum of $_______ US Dollars, which will be invoiced via PayPal, Zelle, or ACH bank transfers. The Author has chosen _______ as their payment method. This fee only applies to the current manuscript (up to _______ words). Additional words will increase the project’s cost.

Payments must be made before completed work is sent.

a. RESERVATION FEE. Reservation fees are paid before the project starts. Starting January 1^st, 2022, the usual $210 reservation fee or a prorated reservation fee is due whenever booking the Editor.

The Author does not have to rehire the Editor.

In the event of one (1) missed submission deadline, the Editor will reschedule the start of the project as their calendar allows.

b. WORD COUNT. All editing services are based on the manuscript’s word count. Using Microsoft Word’s Word Count function, the Editor will use the total words shown to calculate the total cost of weekly installments.

c. LATE PAYMENTS. Payment is due upon completion of the weekly installment or short project—and must be paid before completeneid work is sent.

The Editor will submit an invoice to the author.

3. AUTHOR SURCHARGE. The Author’s price above excludes a surcharge to cover transaction fees accrued through PayPal, Zelle, or ACH bank transfers. Fees must be paid by the Editor.

4. COMMENCEMENT OF WORK. Pending manuscript submission on or before _______, and initial payment, work will commence on _______, and be completed on _______, when the final invoice will be sent. The Editor will communicate any unexpected delays within a reasonable timeframe.

5. SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPT. Please submit a Word (.doc or .docx) document.

It is the responsibility of the Author to follow the Submission process. The Editor is not responsible for any delays or missed deadlines resulting from incorrect submissions. Delayed deadlines due to incorrectly submitted content do not constitute a breach of this Contract.

6. DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS. The Editor shall use Word’s commenting and tracking features to make edits in accordance with usage guidelines set forth by The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, as well as adhering to spellings as specified by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary for American English and the Cambridge English Dictionary for British English.

When the Editor completes a line edit or copyedit, the manuscript will be returned as two versions: a marked-up version with the edits visible for acceptance or rejection and a clean copy with all changes accepted and comments removed.

SCOPE OF WORK.

7. In a developmental edit, whole pages, scenes, or chapters may need reworking. However, the overall story is sound and has already undergone some revision. The Editor shall use Word’s commenting and tracking feature to note strengths and weaknesses with:

characterization
conflict/tension
description
inconsistencies
pacing
passive writing
plot
point of view
scene development
showing vs. telling

Consistent grammatical errors will be pointed out as a common courtesy, but not corrected repeatedly. An editorial report is also included.

a. When performing a developmental edit, the Editor shall prepare a single-spaced editorial report that addresses big-picture strengths and weaknesses present in the story regarding basic elements of successful storytelling. Some suggestions for revision are included as well. The editorial report will supplement the marked-up manuscript.

b. A developmental edit, if needed, is the first step in the editing process. To reduce rework, it cannot occur at the same time as other editing services. When the elements addressed in the developmental editing are finalized, other editing services will commence.

8. Line editing and copyediting are separate services that are billed at different rates.

In a line edit, sentences and paragraphs may require reworking rather than whole pages or scenes. The Editor will leave suggestions to improve the Author’s content. Revisions are needed from the Author. The areas addressed include:

awkward phrasing
syntax issues (sentence variety and structure)
repetition
showing vs. telling
best word choices
passive verb elimination
suitable dialogue
clichés
anachronisms
chapter breaks
timeline consistency

Minor fact-checking, as well as potential copyright issues, are also noted.

9. Copyediting and line editing are separate services that are billed at different rates. In a copyedit, proper sentence mechanics, including basic errors in spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation, are eliminated.

Each page receives multiple passes.

Consistency in formatting is lightly addressed. Hiring a professional formatter is advised to finalize the layout.

10. DELIVERY TO THE AUTHOR. The Editor and Author will work through email. The Editor may invite the Author to their project management system. Both parties will correspond and keep all documents within either system.

11. RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS OF THE AUTHOR. The Author shall have the right to unlimited reproduction of the work.

12. EDITOR MARKETING. It is up to the Author whether to mention the Editor’s role in the finished product. If so, the Editor shall receive credit by name in conjunction with the website address deonashleigh.com in any distributed version of the work. These distributions may occur in such places as are customary and usual within the trade for the type of work. The Author agrees to not tag the Editor on Amazon or Goodreads. This is because the Editor does not want editing projects to be displayed on their author profile.

13. AUTHOR COMMUNICATION. The Author shall provide reasonable cooperation and assistance to the Editor in preparing all materials. This includes being available for email communication regularly. At the Author’s request, short follow-up emails can be sent in lieu of in-person conferences.

14. WORK PRODUCT OWNERSHIP. The Author warrants that the materials delivered herein are the Author’s original work and that the same does not violate any copyright, trademark, or other protection of intellectual property by the Author.

In addition, the Author warrants that no part of the content was generated using artificial intelligence (A.I.).

15. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Editor will not, either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose, or communicate any information that is proprietary to the Author. The Editor will protect such information and treat it as confidential. This provision shall continue to be effective after the termination of this Contract.

Upon termination of this Contract, the Editor will return to the Author all records, notes, documentation, and other items that were used, created, or controlled by the Editor during the term of this Contract.

During or after editorial services, the Editor may ask the Author’s permission to add the Author’s first name and last initial, testimonial, and book title to the Editor’s portfolio, website, and other marketing materials. The Author agrees that these details will be used by the Editor to promote their editorial services.

16. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES. Both parties understand that the Editor is an independent contractor with respect to the Author and is not an employee of the Author. The Author will not provide fringe benefits, including health insurance benefits, paid vacation, or any other employee benefits, for the Editor’s benefit.

The Editor is not an agent, publisher, joint venturer, co-author, or partner.

17. NON-EXCLUSIVITY. Neither party is held to an exclusive contract with the other. An Editor can provide the same services for other Authors. An Author can obtain editorial services from other Editors.

18. INDEMNIFICATION. The Author acknowledges the contracting of professional editing or writing services does not guarantee book sales or representation by a literary agent.

a. Editing is intrinsically a subjective process of offering advice and suggestions to the Author. In addition to offering such advice and suggestions, the Editor’s responsibility is limited to notifying the Author of any unresolved differences with the Author before the work proceeds to the next production stage.

b. While the Editor will make every effort to bring questionable material to the Author’s attention, the Author agrees to indemnify the Editor from any claims or demands. This includes legal fees arising out of any alleged libel or copyright infringement committed by the Author in creating the work.

c. The Author is responsible for avoiding any possible instances of copyright infringement, plagiarism, or violation of intellectual properties.

19. TERMINATION. This Contract will terminate upon written notice from either the Editor or the Author. Either party may terminate this Contract for any reason and at any time.

a. Upon termination, the Editor will return all the Author’s documents and notes. Though Services may not be complete at the termination time, the Author must pay for all edited words.

b. Delays occurring because of incorrect submissions or difficulties accessing edited documents shall not be considered a breach of this Contract or grounds for Termination.

c. In the event of an unforeseen circumstance, such as war, acts of terrorism, acts of God, severe illness, invasion, fire, natural disaster, labor dispute, explosion, floods, and acts of government or governmental agencies or instrumentalities, etc., neither party will be considered to have breached this Contract.

d. The reservation fee of $____ is non-refundable, even in the event of a termination of editorial services.

20. APPLICABLE LAW. This Contract is governed by the laws of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

21. ARBITRATION. All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this Contract are to be settled by binding arbitration in the state of Tennessee. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. In its entirety, this agreement contains the parties’ full understanding; a writing executed by the parties hereto may only modify it.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this agreement to be executed and delivered on this ___ day of _______, 20__.

IMPROVE YOUR MANUSCRIPT WITH DEON ASHLEIGH

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