I don't expect you to know whether I am the right editor for you, just by reading my site. Finding the right editor is more than just acquiring skilled talent; it's about meshing on a vibe. For this reason, I always like to set up a consultation call, at absolutely no cost to you, where we'll have an opportunity to meet (usually via Zoom, but if we're in the same city, I'm always down for an in-person chat!). During this initial meeting, we will:

• Get to know one another in a relaxed and judgment-free space

• Formulate your goals and discuss any challenges you’ve encountered

• Capture what stage your manuscript is at and the level of support that best suits your project

• Explore the overarching theme of your book and its target audience 

If we mesh well in the consultation, and you feel that my book coaching services might be right for you, I will draft a quote and proposed outline of services uniquely tailored to your communicated needs. If we don't, no hard feelings. Not everyone can be a perfect match, and you deserve nothing less.

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology and Creative Writing from The New School (New York, NY)

• Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical & Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Personality & Psychopathology from Columbia University (New York, NY)

• 20+ years experience as a freelance writer and editor

• 13+ years experience as an Editor-in-Chief of a major print publication and editorial mentor

• 3+ years experience in spearheading editorial operations and content strategy

• Ongoing training and development, including but not limited to: managing high performers, prioritization methods, prompt engineering, best innovation practices, and more.

  
  

I'm not here to bash AI; I find it to be an incredibly helpful tool, and heck, I use it for everything from stain removal advice to asking my most random pop-up wonderings. That said, AI is a bit like a big fancy boat; sure, it has an engine and can move without you pushing it, but it still needs a knowledgable captain that recognizes its limitations and can steer it safely to the destination. With AI, one needs to take special care and be an experienced prompt engineer in order to avoid its notorious 'hallucinations', because at the end of the day, the output is only as good as the input.

But here’s the thing you really have to look out for – there’s a core set of truths that evidence why AI is best used as a supplemental aide, rather than a replacement for human intervention:

1. Readers can sniff out an AI constructed paragraph from a mile away. The way AI speaks (or writes) may not be technically incorrect, but it does have certain tendencies that are dead giveaways to many readers (and all those who work in publishing). You need just one negative review of your book that calls it out, and the integrity of your work comes into question. You (and your book) deserve better.

2. It’s easy to overlook its flaws in the creation process, but they emerge with sirens after publication. I've worked on projects that leaned into AI for their initial draft, prior to my involvement. The one thing they all had in common: multiple pages with repetitive sections in slightly different phrasing. They read like a CD that keeps skipping on a scratch. When you’re compiling and organizing hundreds of pages in a draft, it can be hard to see the details because you’re almost too close to it. Without a second set of eagle eyes on them, it is very likely that several chapters in each of those projects would have printed with a nonsensical narrative loop.

3. At the end of the day, AI isn’t human, and it’s simply lacking heart. Ask yourself this: are you ready to replace your best friend with AI? Would you feel as connected in your casual chats (both do engage in texting, after all)? The same applies here; No matter how advanced ChatGPT may become, it will never match the level of engagement that your book requires. Between nuanced feedback, creative partnership, and emotional support, a worthy and compatible editor plays a role that a tab on your screen could never replicate. As an editor, my job is to help you expand your creative boundaries, foster accountability for your goals, celebrate your wins, and navigate the inevitable rollercoaster of the creative process. Empathy is an invaluable asset in the book journey, and AI is no contender for the human market.

My editing services are available for both American and British English conventions, as I have consulted on projects for both markets. I am also proficient in a wide spectrum of writing styles and manuals, and have also worked on translation projects to help previously published works in non-English languages convert seamlessly to English speaking markets.

No two projects are alike, and as such, the quote and proposed outline of services is entirely curated to your unique set of needs. Investment ranges take many factors into consideration, including but not limited to:

• Book length

• Project duration

• Llevel of hands-on editing

• Manuscript stage

• Frequency and nature of consultations

• Timeline and organizational management

• Integrated support needs

Furnished quotes aim to be as specific and detailed as possible for full transparency and alignment, however, being a dynamic process, adaptations may be required as new needs surface. Any adjustments to my services will be discussed, defined, and priced accordingly prior to implementing those changes, with mutual agreement.

Now, I do recognize the need for a ballpark range of what to expect when you're first getting started. While it's impossible for me to pinpoint the exact cost without knowing all of the particulars in your project's situation, this should give you a very general idea of the investment ranges on a book of between 80,000-100,000 words:

• Manuscript Evaluation: $1,200-$2,000

• Developmental Editing: $3,000-$6,000

• Book Doctoring: $4,500-$8,000

• Book Coaching: $5,000+

But again, this is just a basic ballpark figure, and the actual investment is heavily dependent on your project's unique attributes. The quote furnished to you can be either higher or lower than the figures stated above, and every element of the work you can expect and its fee structure will be thoroughly mapped out with transparency, so you're never caught by surprised or overextended in budget.

I do offer the option to structure my fee scale by the hour against a $1,000 minimum retainer rather than as a package. My hourly fee for longer lead times is $100 per hour, or $150 per hour for high priority/rush editing (in cases where tight deadlines must be met).

Certainly! I have plenty more I can share with you, but for now I'll leave you with quotes from one of my recent projects:

"To my wonderful editor, Samantha Sendor–thank you for coming in at the eleventh hour and editing this book with such care and professionalism. Your work has made a real difference and the readers will feel it." –Daniela Tilbrook, author of "Not My Shame", as printed in her book's Acknowledgements

And of course, it was my greatest pride to be there for the book signing event, where my copy was given the following inscription:

"Dear Sam, Thank you so much for you help with this project. Many self-published books get comments like, 'could have done with a good edit' – this won't be the case with this book. Thank you so much for making this work much more professional. I would love to work with you again, perhaps from the beginning, on my next book. Thanks for stepping in at the eleventh hour. With love and gratitude, Daniela xxx P.S. I really liked the editor/writer relationship – it made this solo project feel much less lonely."

Additionally, I've had the pleasure of working on content teams, where my priority has always been to create a nurturing and motivational environment. Here are some LinkedIn recommendations I've received from my colleagues: