Frequently Asked Questions

What is your education and experience level? Can I trust you to do a good job?

I have a Master's degree in English and have worked for more than ten years as a copy editor, proofreader, technical writer and editor, and translator. If you're curious about the details of my résumé, you can find that information here.

Words and editing are my passion, and when it comes to the text in question, I really throw myself into it. I am certain that you'll like my work and how it can add to yours.

What is your editing process?

I think an important first step is to get to know my client and what his or her needs are when it comes to the text that requires editing. Once initial contact has taken place, I will draw up a simple document outlining the work we have discussed and include a free, short, sample edit and an estimate of the fees for a complete edit. If you decide to work with me, we can proceed from there.

I primarily edit documents in Microsoft Word, but can accommodate other formats as well, such as PDFs, Open Office documents, etc. Feel free to contact me and ask.

I will edit your document with the "Track Changes" feature, and when I return your edit, I will give you two copies: one with the changes and comments showing, and a completed copy implementing those changes.

Do you really know Swedish well enough to translate my document?

Jag har bott i Sverige i många år. Jag har studerat i Sverige, jag är gift med en svensk man och har stor erfarenhet av översättning från svenska till engelska.*

*I have lived in Sweden for many years. I've studied in Sweden, am married to a Swedish man, and have a great deal of experience in translating documents from Swedish to English.

You are located in London and Sweden, but I'm nowhere near there. Can we still work together?

Absolutely. I have clients in several countries. The internet has made the world much smaller, and has made it very simple for me to work with geographically distant people nearly as easily as if we were next door.

What are your fees?

Fees are typically determined based on the project. However, I usually charge per thousand words, rather than per hour, so as to be more fair to the client. Depending on how light or heavy the edit is, I may charge from $15-55 USD (₤8-30 GBP, 100-400 SEK) per thousand words. But I will first supply you with a free sample edit or translation along with an estimate.

I ask for a 50% deposit via PayPal before starting work on a project. The balance on all freelance editing fees is due within a ten day grace period of the completion of the project.

If you are located in Sweden, I have an F-skattsedel and will provide you with an invoice for the project.

What's the quickest way for me to get in touch with you?

Email is the best and fastest way to get in touch with me. It is checked regularly, and answered daily.

"I was extremely pleased with Jessica's work on my first novel. I have and will continue to recommend her services to all of my writing groups and friends. She was professional and friendly to work with. She not only corrected grammar errors but gave excellent suggestions for improvements with descriptions and content."
- James Todd Cochrane, Author, Juneau, AK.
darkmoonpublishing.com/News.html

"We have the privilege of having Jessica as a contributing editor for our online Swedish-English dictionary, Tyda.se, and we cannot express enough our gr atitude for her help. We feel that Jessica possesses a strong sense of the nua nces of the Swedish and English languages, something which you don't find in a lexicon. She has contributed a great deal to how our dictionary looks today, a nd her helpful attitude towards our users is invaluable."
- Hasse Svensson, Associate Editor in Chief
Tyda.se

"I have used Jessica now on literally dozens of pieces of work and can recommend her unreservedly. She is adept at spotting even the most obscure errors and grammatical ambiguities, and has consistently delivered high quality work, often at short notice. I have to use a rival professional proof-reader at a well-known company that I work for from time to time, and Jessica's work is far more insightful."
- Andy Hayler, CEO
The Information Difference.

"Jessica is one of the most meticulous and prompt copy editors that I have ever worked with. She is fast, fun, and reliable. I enjoyed working with her as she gave genuine feedback in a very timely fashion and I would strongly recommend her to anyone."
- Kevin Hanegan, Software Course Developer and Trainer, Somerville, MA.

"As a friend and client of Jessica, I know she is thorough and conscientious about her work, and she is truly a language person. I would recommend her services to anyone."
- Magnus Carlsson, PhD, Portland, OR.