Terms and conditions: Contract of editing services
The following terms and conditions are provided so that you and I both have an upfront and honest understanding of what is involved in the process of working together. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me so that I can provide clarity and reassurance.
The Terms and Conditions policy was updated on 24/10/24.
The Terms and Conditions policy was updated on 24/10/24.
1.General overview
1.1 These terms and conditions apply to any work done on behalf of the Client (you) by me (Maria Georgiou Fiction Editor).
1.2 I will provide editing services agreed upon (in writing) by myself and the Client.
1.3 The Client is under no obligation to offer me work; neither am I under any obligation to accept work offered by the Client.
1.4 The work will be carried out unsupervised at such times and places as determined by me, using my own equipment.
1.5 The work will be carried out by me. I will not subcontract editing projects, or parts of projects, to third parties.
1.6 I confirm that I am self-employed, and am responsible for my own social insurance and healthcare insurance contributions.
1.7 I am not VAT registered.
1.8 The contract of service requires that the Client acknowledges, in writing (including email via the booking-confirmation form), that they have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions.
1.2 I will provide editing services agreed upon (in writing) by myself and the Client.
1.3 The Client is under no obligation to offer me work; neither am I under any obligation to accept work offered by the Client.
1.4 The work will be carried out unsupervised at such times and places as determined by me, using my own equipment.
1.5 The work will be carried out by me. I will not subcontract editing projects, or parts of projects, to third parties.
1.6 I confirm that I am self-employed, and am responsible for my own social insurance and healthcare insurance contributions.
1.7 I am not VAT registered.
1.8 The contract of service requires that the Client acknowledges, in writing (including email via the booking-confirmation form), that they have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions.
2.Project terms
2.1 Prior to the commencement of the editing work, the Client and I will agree, in writing (including email and/or the Client Brief), the terms of the project including:
2.2 Please note that if, on receipt of the project to be worked on (or at an early stage), it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than had been anticipated in the preliminary discussion/brief or from the sample supplied, I may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline, or decline to carry out the work.
- the medium in which the editing service will be carried out (e.g. in Word)
- how the material will be annotated (e.g Track Changes in Word)
- the length of time required to complete the project, as advised by me
- a fee for the project, based on a quotation supplied by me, in writing (including email), following my evaluation of the material to be edited and the time frame required to complete the job
- any expenses (e.g. postage) that the Client will bear in addition to the costs of the editing
- the date by which the material will be delivered by the Client to me
- the latest date by which the completed project will be returned
2.2 Please note that if, on receipt of the project to be worked on (or at an early stage), it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than had been anticipated in the preliminary discussion/brief or from the sample supplied, I may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline, or decline to carry out the work.
3.Quotations and fees
3.1 A quotation for the work will be provided by me to the Client following my evaluation of a representative sample of the materials to be worked on, and a discussion with the Client as to what is required.
3.2 Once the Client and I have agreed on the full fee, it is non-negotiable unless the Client extends the word count of the job or requests additional services. In this case, a revised quotation and job-completion date will be negotiated.
3.3 The Client will pay me a fee per 1,000 words in the original document OR per hour OR an agreed flat fee for the project, as agreed in writing.
3.4 Unless otherwise agreed, for a project with a total fee of €600 or less, the Client will pay the full fee up front. This is non-refundable.
3.5 Unless otherwise agreed, for a project with a total fee over €600, the total fee of the project will be divided into 3 instalments as follows: The booking fee (20% of the total fee), which should be paid within 3 days of the Client sending the booking-confirmation form to me; the second instalment (30% of the total fee), which should be paid within the first 15 days of the project’s start date; and the final instalment (50% of the total fee), which should be paid within 15 days of the editing project's completion date.
3.6 Unless otherwise agreed, I will supply the Client with a separate invoice for each instalment.
3.7 Processing and conversion fees are not included in the full fee agreed by me and the Client. I use Stripe for processing payments. Stripe's processing fees differ based on the client's location and payment method. You can check Stripe's pricing page for more information about processing and conversion fees.
3.8 Unless otherwise agreed, the fee is for one round of manuscript editing. Additional rounds are new projects, the terms of which will be agreed separately.
3.2 Once the Client and I have agreed on the full fee, it is non-negotiable unless the Client extends the word count of the job or requests additional services. In this case, a revised quotation and job-completion date will be negotiated.
3.3 The Client will pay me a fee per 1,000 words in the original document OR per hour OR an agreed flat fee for the project, as agreed in writing.
3.4 Unless otherwise agreed, for a project with a total fee of €600 or less, the Client will pay the full fee up front. This is non-refundable.
3.5 Unless otherwise agreed, for a project with a total fee over €600, the total fee of the project will be divided into 3 instalments as follows: The booking fee (20% of the total fee), which should be paid within 3 days of the Client sending the booking-confirmation form to me; the second instalment (30% of the total fee), which should be paid within the first 15 days of the project’s start date; and the final instalment (50% of the total fee), which should be paid within 15 days of the editing project's completion date.
3.6 Unless otherwise agreed, I will supply the Client with a separate invoice for each instalment.
3.7 Processing and conversion fees are not included in the full fee agreed by me and the Client. I use Stripe for processing payments. Stripe's processing fees differ based on the client's location and payment method. You can check Stripe's pricing page for more information about processing and conversion fees.
3.8 Unless otherwise agreed, the fee is for one round of manuscript editing. Additional rounds are new projects, the terms of which will be agreed separately.
4.Booking-confirmation form
4.1 The booking-confirmation form is an agreement to the contract of services between me and the Client.
5.Booking fee
5.1 When the Client has sent the booking-confirmation form at the bottom of this page, I will issue the invoice for the booking fee.
5.2 Booking fees are non-refundable.
5.3 By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client agrees to secure my editing services for a specific and mutually agreed-upon project, at a specific and mutually agreed time.
5.4 By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client confirms that they have read and agreed to the terms and conditions herein. From thereon, the terms of the cancellation policy (see below) apply.
5.5 The booking is considered confirmed once the booking fee has been paid by the Client and received by me.
5.2 Booking fees are non-refundable.
5.3 By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client agrees to secure my editing services for a specific and mutually agreed-upon project, at a specific and mutually agreed time.
5.4 By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client confirms that they have read and agreed to the terms and conditions herein. From thereon, the terms of the cancellation policy (see below) apply.
5.5 The booking is considered confirmed once the booking fee has been paid by the Client and received by me.
6.Cancellation policy: Terms, fees and project-commencement reminders
TERMS
6.1 Both the Client and I have the right to terminate a contract for services at any time if there is a serious breach of its terms.
6.2 The Client is free to cancel a service for any reason by providing me with written notice (including email); I must acknowledge this cancellation in writing (including email) for this to be valid.
6.3 I may cancel a service at any time for any reason by providing written notice (including email) to the Client. In the unlikely event that I cancel a service, I will provide a prorated refund of any overages of fees paid (including the booking fee).
6.4 If, in the unlikely event that the Client is touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation or delay (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), the Client should contact me to discuss the terms of the cancellation policy. I aim to be always fair and helpful.
6.5 If I am touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation or delay (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), I will contact the Client in writing at the earliest opportunity and do my best to renegotiate the time frame of the project or suggest an alternative supplier of editing services. The booking fee will be refunded.
FEES:
6.6 Cancellation during the project: If the Client cancels the work during the editing project, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).
6.7 Cancellation prior to project commencement: If the Client wishes to cancel with less than one month's notice, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).
If the Client wishes to cancel with more than one month's notice, the booking fee will not be refunded but no other charge will apply.
PROJECT-COMMENCEMENT REMINDERS:
6.8 I will contact the Client two weeks before the mutually agreed start date with a reminder that the file is due 48 hours before said start date.
If in the unlikely event that the Client does not confirm in writing (including email) within one week prior to the mutually agreed start date that they will be supplying the file for editing, the project is deemed to have been cancelled by the Client and the slot in my schedule will be released.
If, as is likely, the Client confirms the project, I will ask for the file to be sent to me 48 hours before the start date.
6.1 Both the Client and I have the right to terminate a contract for services at any time if there is a serious breach of its terms.
6.2 The Client is free to cancel a service for any reason by providing me with written notice (including email); I must acknowledge this cancellation in writing (including email) for this to be valid.
6.3 I may cancel a service at any time for any reason by providing written notice (including email) to the Client. In the unlikely event that I cancel a service, I will provide a prorated refund of any overages of fees paid (including the booking fee).
6.4 If, in the unlikely event that the Client is touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation or delay (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), the Client should contact me to discuss the terms of the cancellation policy. I aim to be always fair and helpful.
6.5 If I am touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation or delay (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), I will contact the Client in writing at the earliest opportunity and do my best to renegotiate the time frame of the project or suggest an alternative supplier of editing services. The booking fee will be refunded.
FEES:
6.6 Cancellation during the project: If the Client cancels the work during the editing project, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).
6.7 Cancellation prior to project commencement: If the Client wishes to cancel with less than one month's notice, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).
If the Client wishes to cancel with more than one month's notice, the booking fee will not be refunded but no other charge will apply.
PROJECT-COMMENCEMENT REMINDERS:
6.8 I will contact the Client two weeks before the mutually agreed start date with a reminder that the file is due 48 hours before said start date.
If in the unlikely event that the Client does not confirm in writing (including email) within one week prior to the mutually agreed start date that they will be supplying the file for editing, the project is deemed to have been cancelled by the Client and the slot in my schedule will be released.
If, as is likely, the Client confirms the project, I will ask for the file to be sent to me 48 hours before the start date.
7.Confidentiality
7.1 The nature and content of the work will be kept confidential and not made known to anyone other than the Client and its contractors without prior written permission.
7.2 I will not, under any circumstances, upload the Client’s files to external websites or distribute them to third parties unless specifically authorized to do so, in writing, by the Client. I do, however, use Google Drive as a cloud storage system.
7.2 I will not, under any circumstances, upload the Client’s files to external websites or distribute them to third parties unless specifically authorized to do so, in writing, by the Client. I do, however, use Google Drive as a cloud storage system.
8.AI and copyright
8.1 The Client hereby represents and warrants that no part of the project was created by the use of Generative AI or other Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
8.2 I hereby represent and warrant that no part of the project will be edited by the use of AI or any automated system aside from the basic, non-enhanced spelling and grammar checks, and Find & Replace functions of Microsoft Word.
8.3 All content delivered to me by the Client for the editing project is owned by the Client.
8.4 In this respect, the Client agrees to hold me harmless from and against all claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of any potential or actual copyright or trademark misappropriation or infringement claimed against them.
8.5 Following payment of my final instalment, any content created by me as part of the editing process will become the copyright of the Client unless otherwise agreed.
8.2 I hereby represent and warrant that no part of the project will be edited by the use of AI or any automated system aside from the basic, non-enhanced spelling and grammar checks, and Find & Replace functions of Microsoft Word.
8.3 All content delivered to me by the Client for the editing project is owned by the Client.
8.4 In this respect, the Client agrees to hold me harmless from and against all claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of any potential or actual copyright or trademark misappropriation or infringement claimed against them.
8.5 Following payment of my final instalment, any content created by me as part of the editing process will become the copyright of the Client unless otherwise agreed.
9.Quality assurance
9.1 Perfection is subjective. If you give your manuscript to 10 different editors or beta readers, you will receive 10 different versions of your manuscript.
9.2 Perfection is impossible. I believe that one editor can't achieve perfection in one or two editorial rounds. That's why publishers hire editorial professionals at several stages of the production process (developmental editors, line editors, copy editors, layout artists and proofreaders).
9.3 However,
9.2 Perfection is impossible. I believe that one editor can't achieve perfection in one or two editorial rounds. That's why publishers hire editorial professionals at several stages of the production process (developmental editors, line editors, copy editors, layout artists and proofreaders).
9.3 However,
- I guarantee that I will do my best to improve your manuscript and I will always aim for the highest editorial standards.
- I guarantee that even if mine is the only professional editorial pass you commission, the changes I make will result in an improved, higher-quality book.
- I guarantee that I will respect your work, your privacy and your confidentiality.
- I guarantee that I will not make unachievable promises with regard to perfection.
10.Legal jurisdiction
10.1 This agreement is subject to the labour laws of the Republic of Cyprus, and both the Client and I agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the labour courts of the Republic of Cyprus.
10.2 The exclusive venue for any arbitration or court proceeding based on or arising out of this Agreement shall be the Labour Court in Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus.
10.2 The exclusive venue for any arbitration or court proceeding based on or arising out of this Agreement shall be the Labour Court in Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus.
11.Privacy policy and the GDPR
11.1 Please read my Privacy Policy, which explains the data I collect, how I use it and store it, and my compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
12.Acknowledgements in published works
12.1 There is no requirement for the Client to mention me in the published work's acknowledgements section. However, the Client agrees that I will have the opportunity to review any such mention prior to publication, or to decline to be mentioned.
Booking-confirmation form
The following contract agreement is for use only by clients who have already discussed their project requirements with me.
Read the Privacy Policy before filling in the form below.
If you want to have an initial conversation with me about your writing project, please refer to the Contact page.
If you are not ready to discuss your project yet and have questions about fiction developmental editing and/or my services, please refer to the Email form.
Read the Privacy Policy before filling in the form below.
If you want to have an initial conversation with me about your writing project, please refer to the Contact page.
If you are not ready to discuss your project yet and have questions about fiction developmental editing and/or my services, please refer to the Email form.
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