With over a decade of experience in academic and creative editing, I help overwhelmed writers tighten their arguments, clarify their ideas, and make their documents actually readable.
I work with graduate students, academics, researchers, and creative writers. I specialize in working with neurodivergent folks.Ideal for theses, dissertations, book chapters, articles, and creative nonfiction. Especially useful for people juggling deadlines or complicated manuscripts. My editing is clear, honest, and collaborative — I aim to strengthen your work, not rewrite your voice.
The writer builds the house.
The editor makes sure it doesn’t fall over.
Line Editing & Clarity PolishTightening prose while keeping your voice intact. Help with clarifying ideas, logical flow and thematic structure.Citation SupportAPA, Chicago, Turabian, and more — formatted correctly, every time. Footnotes, bibliographies, and reference lists included.Professional IndexingIndexing for academic books, dissertations, and manuscripts. My indexes are designed for clarity, usability, and conceptual structure — especially in texts with theological, theoretical, or interdisciplinary complexity.Feedback & GuidanceConstructive notes to strengthen argument, structure, and flow — without overriding your voice. All edits completed using track changes for full transparency. Notes are always given in clear, plain language.Book ManuscriptsI also work with full-length book projects, including:• academic monographs
• creative nonfiction
• edited collections
• book proposalsIf you're developing a book and would like support with structure, clarity, or line-level editing, feel free to reach out.
My rate is $75 CAD/hour — the standard rate for experienced academic editors.
Below are rough ballparks to help you plan. Every project gets a clear, up-front estimate.Line Editing & Clarity PolishShort projects (2–5k words): 2–4 hours
→ $150–$300Medium projects (5–10k words): 4–8 hours
→ $300–$600Longer pieces (10–20k words): 8–15 hours
→ $600–$1125Citation SupportFootnotes, bibliographies, formatting cleanup: 1–4 hours
→ $75–$300
(Citation work is billed hourly; complexity varies wildly depending on your current formatting.)Professional Indexing
Indexing rates vary by length and complexity; I’m happy to provide a quote.Feedback & Structural GuidanceBig-picture notes, organization help, ND-friendly breakdowns: 2–6 hours
→ $150–$450Theses & DissertationsThese vary widely depending on writing quality, structure, and citation chaos.
Most full dissertation projects fall between $4,000–$6,000, depending on scope and level of support.Supervisor Acknowledgment — For all thesis/dissertation work, I require a brief note or form signed by your supervisor confirming they are aware you’re using editing support.Book ManuscriptsQuoted individually. Pricing depends on length, density, and timeline.
Send me your word count and a short description of the project for an estimate.Payment Structure for Longer ProjectsDissertations and book-length manuscripts require a deposit to secure your spot. Payment structure depends on the project timeline:• Rush timelines (due within 2–4 weeks): 75% deposit, 25% on delivery.• Standard timelines (2–6 months): 50% deposit, 50% on completion.• Long-term or multi-stage projects (6+ months): 40% deposit, then 30% at the midpoint, 30% on final delivery.This structure protects both of our time and ensures clarity throughout the process.What you get• Clear, plain-language feedback• Track-changes editing (Microsoft Word or Google Docs)• ND-friendly workflow and pacing• Flexible timelines and accommodations• Total transparency about hours — no surprise fees
Academic IntegrityI provide editing only — no writing, rewriting, or ghostwriting. Your ideas stay yours. My role is to strengthen clarity, argument, flow, and consistency so your work reads the way you intend.Thesis & Dissertation ProjectsFor all thesis and dissertation editing, I require a brief note or form signed by your supervisor confirming they’re aware you’re using editing support. This protects your academic integrity and keeps our work fully transparent. If your institution doesn’t have a form, I can provide a simple template.What Affects Dissertation PricingDissertation editing varies depending on:• completeness and accuracy of citations• whether a bibliography needs rebuilding• required citation style (APA, Chicago, Turabian, etc.)• heading levels and overall document structure• formatting consistency across chapters• clarity and flow of the writingI’ll give you a clear estimate once I see a sample of your work.Communication & AccessibilityAll feedback is given in clear, plain language. I use track changes throughout the process for full transparency. ND-friendly pacing and accommodations are always available — just tell me what you need.
To make the editing process smooth and clear, please send:• Your document
Most recent version, in Word (.docx) or Google Docs.• Citation style
APA, Chicago, Turabian, or your program’s guidelines.• Missing sections
Let me know if any parts are still in progress.• Bibliography / references
Even if messy — it helps me estimate citation work.• Your timeline
The real deadline, plus any key dates.• Type of edit
Line editing, structural notes, citation cleanup, formatting, or a mix.• Accessibility needs
If you have access needs around pacing, communication, or how you like feedback, feel free to tell me. ND-friendly workflow is available.• Supervisor acknowledgment (for theses/dissertations)
A brief note or form signed by your supervisor confirming they’re aware you’re using editing support.• Anything you’re worried about
If a section feels confusing or overwhelming, flag it — it helps me focus the edit.
Initial Contact — Send me a note with your project and timeline.Review & Estimate — I’ll take a look and give you a clear plan and cost.Editing Work — Careful, detailed editing delivered on schedule.Follow-Up — Space for your questions, clarifications, or additional tweaks.Accessibility & Accommodations — ND-friendly workflow, flexible timelines, and accommodations available.No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation to see what you need.
Editing projects:
Because editing is time-based work, refunds aren’t offered for completed hours.
If you decide to stop the project early, you’ll only be invoiced for the hours already completed.Delays:
If you need to adjust your timeline, just tell me — I can usually shift pacing as long as the workload stays reasonable.Timelines:
If something unexpected happens on my end (rare), I’ll let you know immediately and propose a new timeline.
Questions or projects?
📧 [email protected]
Please include your document type, length, and timeline (if applicable).Replies within 24-48 hours.
Free 15-minute consult available
If you’d like to talk through your project, I offer a short Zoom call at no cost. This isn’t an editing session — just a quick scope conversation. Book below on Calendly.
AKA The Real QuestionsWhat does an editor actually do?You write the ideas; I make sure they’re clear, structured, and readable.
Think of it this way: the writer builds the house — the editor makes sure it doesn’t fall over.
I don’t change your voice or argument. I just help the document do what you meant it to do.Can I use AI for editing instead?AI can help with light cleanup, but it can’t evaluate argument, structure, logic, academic conventions, or citation accuracy. It won’t catch where a reader gets lost, and it can’t fix load-bearing problems. It’s a tool — not an editor.I'm scared you’ll change my voice. What if it doesn’t sound like me anymore?Your voice stays yours.
I edit for clarity, flow, and coherence — not personality.
If anything ever feels “not you,” you can tell me and I’ll adjust it. Editing is collaborative, not a takeover.Are you gentle with your feedback?Yes.
I use plain language, clear suggestions, and zero academic-gatekeeping tone.
No shaming. No scolding. No red pens around here.Do you use plain language?Yes.
All notes are written in straightforward, accessible language with track changes.
If you have specific access needs around pacing or communication, just let me know.Can I ask a friend to edit instead?You can — but friends usually do light proofreading, not structural work.
They often don’t know how to give honest feedback, or they overcorrect because they’re nervous.
A professional edit is focused, skilled, and grounded in academic experience.Is editing even worth it? It feels expensive.Editing is skilled, time-intensive work — especially at the academic level.
A solid edit can be the difference between:“This is confusing,” and “This is clear and ready to submit.”You’re not paying for grammar touch-ups — you’re paying for structural clarity, consistency, readability, and reduced stress.Will you tell me my ideas suck?No.
I don’t judge your ideas or research.
My job is to help you express them clearly.
If something is unclear, I tell you where the reader gets lost — not that your idea is “bad.”Do you meet with clients?Yes — I offer a free 15-minute Zoom consult to discuss scope, timelines, and what kind of editing will help the most.
This isn’t therapy or coaching — just clarity and logistics.Will you meet with me again if I need to talk through something?If you need a quick check-in while I’m editing your project, we can schedule a short follow-up.
Anything beyond that becomes a different kind of service, so I keep these check-ins focused and practical.What if I’m embarrassed about my draft?That’s normal.
Almost everyone feels this way, even seasoned writers.
You don’t need to make the document perfect before you send it — messy drafts are part of the process.What if I don’t know what level of editing I need?Totally fine.
Send the document (or a sample), and I’ll tell you what will help — nothing more, nothing less.
Toronto, Canada • Remote editing available everywhere
Panton Editing is an ND-friendly, accessibility-aware editing practice.
© Sparrow Panton Editing, 2025