Question 1

What does an editor do?

Accepted Answer

First, let’s set the record straight: editors don’t change your story or ruin your voice—at least, they shouldn’t. In general, authors and editors appreciate and deeply respect each other’s work; we’re on the same side and work toward the same goal. An editor’s job is to make you look good.

What editors do can depend on the type of editing they provide, but at a high level, editors improve manuscripts and other types of writing (articles, web copy, blogs, academic writing) by:

helping with structure, content, and organization
improving clarity, style, flow, and readability
enhancing word choice and sentence structure
correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling
ensuring consistency and adherence to style guides

Question 2

What are the benefits of working with an editor?

Accepted Answer

Working with an editor will make you a better writer. No other arrangement gives you direct access to someone who is as dedicated to your writing as you are, and who is trained to spot the things you need to do to make your message even better.

A great editor not only sees the ways to make your writing even better but also shows you how exactly to do that. This guidance will improve your current writing and carry over into everything you write in the future. You’ll come out of the editing process as a more confident and competent author, ready to write your next book, article, or blog post.

Question 3

What is the difference between line editing and copyediting?

Accepted Answer

While line editing and copy editing are often grouped together or even conflated into one service by other editors, at Olly Grey, these services have distinct and complementary purposes.

A line edit includes:

refining sentence structure, style, word choice, and tone
eliminating awkward phrasing or redundancies

A copyedit is a more technical process that focuses on:

grammatical accuracy, correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization
adherence to style guides
addressing factual inconsistencies

Question 4

How do I know what type of editing I need?

Accepted Answer

Let Olly Grey help you figure that out!

Editing is not only about finding typos and grammatical errors. Depending on the level of editing, an editor will also:

Check your manuscript for issues to do with story structure, character arcs, plot, and order of events.
Look at every line of your manuscript and suggest stylistic improvements, focusing on aspects such as point of view, tense, flow, and word choice. 
Check formatting, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and look out for issues of repetition, contradiction, and other inaccuracies. 
Check the final designed proof (the book as the reader will see it) for any language issues that have been overlooked or even introduced up to this point. This also includes checking again for issues with formatting, layout, page numbering, headings, and more.

Read about our services for more information. And get in touch with any questions!

Our professional editors will answer your questions and help you determine what type of editing would best serve you and your writing.

Question 5

What should I look for when choosing an editor?

Accepted Answer

Whether you plan to self-publish or work with a publishing house, hiring an editor is a smart first step. Every book you’ve ever loved has been edited because unedited books don’t usually make it to publication.

Choosing an editor should be done with care. Most editing services will require a fair amount of conversation and collaboration to get your manuscript to the point of publication. In addition to finding an editor who offers the type of editing services you need, we also recommend getting a handle on three things before you start working with an editor:

What is their technical competency? (Do they have specific degrees or training? Are they avid readers? Are they familiar with editorial processes?)
What are the logistical details of working with them? (How do they communicate and how often? What is their process like?)
Do your personalities click? (Is this someone you’d like to work with for months [or longer]?)

Question 6

How long does the editing process take?

Accepted Answer

Our timeframes for editing services depend on the length of your manuscript, the type of editing services your writing requires, and our current workload.

We will provide estimated timelines during our discovery call, and we'll be able to give a more defined and detailed timeline upon the decision to work together.

Question 7

How do you determine your rates?

Accepted Answer

Like most independent and freelance editors, Olly Grey's rates are based on word count and multiple other factors:

the length of the manuscript
the quality of the manuscript 
the needs of the manuscript
the author’s timeline

Please reach out and we’ll schedule some time to go over your editorial needs. From there we will provide a scope of work and our estimated costs.

Question 8

What authorities or resources does Olly Grey use?

Accepted Answer

Olly Grey’s editors are familiar with and refer to many authorities when providing editorial services. Though not exhaustive, the list below highlights some of our favorites:

The Chicago Manual of Style, The University of Chicago
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition)
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (2nd Edition)
Garner’s Modern English Usage, Bryan A. Garner
The Chicago Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, Bryan A. Garner
The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style, Bryan A. Garner
The Copyeditor’s Handbook, Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz
The Subversive Copy Editor, Carol Fisher Saller
The Conscious Style Guide, Karen Yin
The Sense of Style, Steven Pinker
Dreyer’s English, Benjamin Dreyer
The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

*The sources listed above contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our links.

Question 9

Why shouldn’t I rely on AI for editing?

Accepted Answer

While AI is an excellent resource and can be used as a tool—though Olly Grey does not use AI in our editing services—AI can't replicate or capture your unique voice as an author.

Because AI is primed for creating and suggesting typical language patterns, any deviation from the norm—any writing that plays with language or intentionally subverts grammatical rules or conventions—will be misunderstood and is often even replaced by AI tools.

A human editor will always be necessary because, in addition to knowing the rules of language, editing also requires:

experience with idiomatic language and literary devices
nuanced understanding of language and its tendency toward change
the ability to preserve an author’s unique style and voice
emotional insight
intuition
creativity
cultural and contextual understanding

Question 10

How is ghostwriting different from freelance writing?

Accepted Answer

Ghostwriting is a collaborative process in which we write on your behalf, shaping your ideas, voice, and perspective into a finished piece published under your name.

Freelance writing, by contrast, is typically credited to the writer and involves more independent execution.

Ghostwriting is more immersive and voice-driven, requiring close collaboration and discretion. All materials are treated as private unless agreed otherwise. We’re happy to sign NDAs or work within existing confidentiality agreements.

Upon final payment, full rights to the completed work transfer to you, unless otherwise specified.

Question 11

What kinds of projects do you take on?

Accepted Answer

Olly Grey focuses on both short-form and long-form and content, including:

Essays and articles
Blog posts
Website and brand copy
Email newsletters
Podcast and video scripts
Book-length projects (selectively)

Question 12

How do you capture my voice?

Accepted Answer

Olly Grey employs a combination of conversation, close reading, and pattern recognition to capture your voice in what we write for you.

Most projects begin with a structured intake—this may include a questionnaire, annotated materials, or a recorded conversation. From there, we build a voice profile that guides the work.

You’ll have opportunities to review and refine, so the final piece feels like an extension of you.

Question 13

What is your process like?

Accepted Answer

While each project is tailored, most follow a consistent structure:

Intake & alignment — defining goals, audience, and tone
Drafting — developing a complete first version
Revision — refining language, structure, and emphasis
Finalization — preparing the piece for publication

The process is collaborative, but designed to be efficient and unobtrusive. We'll require your involvement at key moments, where you'll provide direction and feedback. We'll handle the writing, structure, refinement, and any revisions that are required.

Question 14

How are projects priced and timed?

Accepted Answer

We price and time our work for you by scope, complexity, and level of collaboration. Each project will vary but our typical timelines are:

Short-form: ~1–2 weeks
Longer pieces: ~2–4 weeks
Extended projects: defined individually

Ghostwriting is typically more involved than standard freelance writing and is priced accordingly.

All work is established in advance, with a clear, fixed proposal.

Question 15

How do we get started?

Accepted Answer

You can begin by reaching out with a brief description of your project.

From there, I’ll follow up to discuss scope, fit, and next steps. If it feels aligned, you’ll receive a proposal outlining the work in detail.

“With ongoing efforts to ban books and erase history, I’ve merged my book-and-word-loving ways with my desire to help elevate authors’ voices and stories. I want all stories to find a home in our culture, and I want to be a resource in helping make this happen."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an editor do?

What are the benefits of working with an editor?

What is the difference between line editing and copyediting?

How do I know what type of editing I need?

What should I look for when choosing an editor?

How long does the editing process take?

How do you determine your rates?

What authorities or resources does Olly Grey use?

Why shouldn’t I rely on AI for editing?

How is ghostwriting different from freelance writing?

What kinds of projects do you take on?

How do you capture my voice?

What is your process like?

How are projects priced and timed?

How do we get started?

​“With ongoing efforts to ban books and erase history, I’ve merged my book-and-word-loving ways with my desire to help elevate authors’ voices and stories. I want all stories to find a home in our culture, and I want to be a resource in helping make this happen."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an editor do?

What are the benefits of working with an editor?

What is the difference between line editing and copyediting?

How do I know what type of editing I need?

What should I look for when choosing an editor?

How long does the editing process take?

How do you determine your rates?

What authorities or resources does Olly Grey use?

Why shouldn’t I rely on AI for editing?

How is ghostwriting different from freelance writing?

What kinds of projects do you take on?

How do you capture my voice?

What is your process like?

How are projects priced and timed?

How do we get started?

“With ongoing efforts to ban books and erase history, I’ve merged my book-and-word-loving ways with my desire to help elevate authors’ voices and stories. I want all stories to find a home in our culture, and I want to be a resource in helping make this happen."