FAQs

Will my style still come through in my edited piece?

Absolutely.  The job of a wordsmith is to enhance your voice, not obscure it—in fact, resolving technical issues (grammar and punctuation) and polishing your message will allow your signature style to shine even more brightly.

Will I receive personalized feedback?

Yes.  Whether you require assistance in structuring your ideas or you need a final draft critiqued, back-and-forth communication between the client and the wordsmith is paramount.  Depending on the nature of your individual project, for example, you may receive suggestions on the overall tone and slant of your piece; if you are an ESL speaker and want to know why your grammar is being corrected, you can opt to receive brief explanations on your edited piece so that you can learn from your mistakes.

Will you write my piece for me?

No.  Your words are your words—your unique voice will deliver your unique message.  Think of a wordsmith as a trusted adviser who will work with you to make your project be the best it can be.  If you are looking for someone to write your work for you, you may wish to contact a ghostwriter.

Will having my writing edited by a wordsmith guarantee publication/awards?

No.  While engaging the services of a professional wordsmith will certainly increase the quality of your project, ultimate success can depend more on other factors (timing, persistence, ambition) than the actual writing itself.

How can I assess the level of wordsmithing I need?

Poignant Pen offers three levels of wordsmithing (descriptions of these can be found under "Levels & Rates"):  basic, intermediate, and developmental/intensive.  A basic level of copyediting is required when the client already has a project in its latter stages—i.e., the client has a nearly-final draft and a clear idea of the effect/message of the project.  Developmental/intensive wordsmithing is required when a client has a project in its infancy, which is to say that the client is in the raw/conceptual stages of the project and does not have a concrete structure/message.  (This applies to more in-depth projects such as developing book manuscripts and business websites.  See Book Coaching Services for more information.)  A project requiring intermediate copyediting falls somewhere in between—the client has an overall working structure/concept and a first or second draft but has not yet settled on what the final message or tone should be.

If I want to work with the wordsmith on a project from conception to finish, how do I transition between the three stages?

When you submit projects that are in their conceptual or intermediate stage, both the wordsmith and the client agree to reassess the project when it reaches the next level.  This gives the client the option to regain total control over the project before re-contracting the services of the wordsmith.

How does Poignant Pen determine its per-hour rates?

Poignant Pen bases its rates on the editorial rates published by Writer's Market, a leading annual publication for freelance writers and editors.  Rates in Writer's Market are derived from editorial organizations such as the Editorial Freelancers Association (www.the-efa.org) and Society of Professional Journalists (www.spj.org).

How do I get a quote?

"Calculate Your Costs" can provide you with an approximate quote for your project.  Quotes depend on four factors:  the level of wordsmithing you require, how many hours the project will entail, how quickly you need the project completed, and whether your project will involve a discount or express fee.  (See "Turnaround Times" for more information on discounts and express fees.)  Since the accuracy of the wordsmithing level depends on the objectivity of the client and the amount of time required depends on input from both the client and the wordsmith, please be aware that this quote may not be the final rate.  The next step is to submit a page of your project (or an sketch of your idea, if your project is in its very early stages) to the wordsmith using the "Contact" form.  You'll be contacted within 48 business hours to further discuss your project.

How do I submit a project?

After you've contacted the wordsmith and provided a sample/sketch of your project, both parties (client and wordsmith) will sign an agreement to proceed.  Drafts should be submitted in a commonly used word processing format, preferably MS Word.  (MS Word makes it easy to track changes, a useful feature for you and the wordsmith.)

How do I make my payment?

For security reasons, you will be invoiced through PayPal—by using this third-party system, your personal credit card information will only be recorded by PayPal.