No two editing relationships are exactly alike. At Literary Lift, we assess every book and writer on a case-by-case basis, honoring natural strengths and caring for individual needs. At the end of the day, great editing is about helping you become the best version of yourself. That's why we start every writer-editor relationship with a free sample edit of approx. 1,000 words. It gives you a better idea of your editor's style, ensuring a fit that is both comfortable and electrifying. It also allows us to quickly familiarize ourselves with your style and provide you with a much more accurate estimate for project turnaround, editorial needs, overall cost, and helpful discounts. Your editor will suggest a compatible service package with the completed sample edit. Once we design the perfect plan for your book, Literary Lift will supply a draft of our editing contract, including a description of the agreed-upon editing services, the payment plan, and a schedule. You'll have plenty of time to read and revise it before we sign. And then the real fun begins: the edit. We'll do everything in our power to thrill and delight you—and also make sure your writing always sounds like you.

Every writer-editor relationship at Literary Lift begins with a free sample edit of approx. 1,000 words. It's the perfect way for you to get a behind-the-scenes look at your editor's style, and it allows us to begin drawing up a custom editing package tailored to your book. Your editor will return the completed sample edit with a cost estimate, a likely timeline, and a few suggested service options. All our editing packages are designed to be lithe and extremely tweakable, so we really do encourage you to view these service suggestions as the starting point to a hearty conversation about your writing wants, wishes, and needs—not a take-it-or-leave-it offer. We're always open to ideas if you'd like to try something new! As a courtesy to current clients, our editors are only able to schedule one free sample edit per person.

We'd love to talk your ear off about it. You're always welcome to email us at literarylift@gmail.com. Or you can make use of our website chatbox—we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Of course. No two books are identical in style or need, which is why our packages are designed to be flexible! Just let us know your editing goals when you book your sample edit, and we'll do our utmost to accommodate you. If none of our prebuilt packages fit your needs, drop us a line. We'd love to build you a custom package—shiny, new, and fully tailored to your project.

Our editors typically accept payment through secure third-party payment processing services, like PayPal or Venmo. A deposit is required at the outset of the editing project, which will be determined with your editor on a case-by-case basis. Most writers opt to pay in multiple installments. While you can settle your bill upfront if you like, we'd never ask or expect it. Your editor will work with you to create a payment plan that makes sense for your timeline, budget, and individual needs before editing begins.

Novels are tricky beasts. Sometimes they take a little longer or go a little faster than even the best editor can guess from the starting line. That said, most projects are complete within four weeks. Your editor will provide a more detailed timeline estimate after discussing the manuscript with you and/or completing the sample edit. Adding optional extra editing rounds to your package will, of course, extend turnaround time depending on the author's review speed and the nature of the additional edits. RUSH SERVICE Need it faster? Maybe much faster? Ask us about our guaranteed deadline rush service. "NO RUSH" DISCOUNT For writers who aren't on a hard deadline and don't mind waiting a little longer than the projected turnaround, we're delighted to offer a 30% discount on all editing packages.

Quality editing can be pricey, especially if your book is on the longer side—but we don't like shaking writers down. Our most popular discount is the "No Rush" Discount. If your project isn't on a deadline and you don't mind waiting a little longer than the projected turnaround, Literary Lift is pleased to offer a 30% cost reduction on all editing packages. We also offer a variety of loyalty discounts to current clients. If your manuscript has enjoyed a Literary Lift editing package, you're automatically invited to take advantage of our One Stop Agent Shop and/or proofreading service at a special discounted rate. (Please note that loyalty discounts exclusively apply to the manuscript in question and cannot be transferred to another manuscript.) Extra discounts and cost-controlled service options may be available for writers on a tight budget, so please don't be shy about asking. You can always make use of our website chatbox or email us at literarylift@gmail.com.

One of our favorite resources on all things publishing is the inimitable Jane Friedman, former President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, who graciously offers her "Key Book Publishing Paths" chart for free. You can download this chart via her website. Of course, if you have any further questions, you are always welcome to ask us by emailing literarylift@gmail.com.

You bet. Many of our Literary Lift authors prefer the artistic and economic freedom of self-publishing. But like any publication method, it comes with its own considerations and challenges. We always recommend that our self-pubbers add a dedicated proofreading pass to their service package. While Literary Lift editors will never deliberately leave an error in a manuscript, no matter how minor, an extra proofreading pass will bust the sneakiest of typos, eliminate extra spaces, and generally serve as a final safety net against the scourge of missed keystrokes. There's a good reason traditional publishing houses do the same!

While Literary Lift does not provide literary agents at this time, we'd be honored to help you prepare your manuscript for submission to agents. In addition to a great book, you'll typically need: standard submission formatting a superb query letter to entice agents and stand out from the crowd a gripping (but concise) synopsis that identifies the major plot points, motifs, and narrative arcs of your book Feeling overwhelmed? Our One Stop Agent Shop exists to make your agent search as painless as possible. We'll format your manuscript, write and/or edit your submission materials, and do everything in our power to make sure your baby is ready for liftoff.