Terms and Conditions for Moonlit Manuscript Editing

1. Agreement

By engaging the services of Moonlit Manuscript Editing ("we," "us," or "our"), you ("the Client" or "you") agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Client and Moonlit Manuscript Editing and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements, or representations, whether oral or written.

2. Services Provided

Moonlit Manuscript Editing offers professional editing services, which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Proofreading/Polishing: Correction of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, basic formatting, and typographical mistakes.

  • Copyediting and Line Editing: Enhancement of clarity, conciseness, consistency, flow, style, and accuracy, along with proofreading. Detailed attention to sentence structure, word choice, tone, and rhythm to improve the writing's impact and readability.

  • Substantive/Developmental Editing: Comprehensive feedback on structure, organization, argumentation, clarity of ideas, character development (for fiction), and overall effectiveness of the manuscript.

  • Other specific editing services as agreed upon in email.

3. Client Responsibilities

The Client is responsible for:

  • Providing the complete and final version of the manuscript to be edited, unless otherwise explicitly agreed upon.

  • Clearly and comprehensively communicating their specific editing requirements, preferences, and any relevant style guides.

  • Ensuring they possess all necessary rights and permissions to submit the manuscript for editing.

  • Responding promptly and thoroughly to any queries or requests for clarification from Moonlit Manuscript Editing.

  • Carefully reviewing the edited manuscript and providing timely feedback or approval as required.

4. Our Responsibilities

Moonlit Manuscript Editing will:

  • Provide professional editing services with diligence, skill, and care, based on the agreed-upon scope of work.

  • Strive to adhere to agreed-upon deadlines to the best of our ability.

  • Maintain the confidentiality of the Client's manuscripts and personal information with the utmost respect.

  • Communicate clearly and in a timely manner with the Client regarding the progress of their project.

5. Project Scope and Fees

  • The specific scope of each project, including the type of editing, estimated word count/page length, turnaround time, and associated fees, will be communicated via email or as noted in the project agreement form completed by the client.

  • Fees will be calculated based on an per-word rate or as a fixed project fee, as specified in email quote.

  • Any alterations to the original scope of work requested by the Client may incur additional fees, which will be communicated to and agreed upon by the Client in in an email prior to the commencement of the additional work.

6. Payment Terms. 

  • A non-refundable deposit of $150 is required at the time of booking to ensure time on our editorial calendar.

  • The remaining balance will be due full payment upon completion of the services, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing (email)

  • Invoices will be delivered to the Client via electronic mail to the address provided.

  • Payment is due within 30 calendar days from the date of the invoice, unless otherwise stipulated in writing (email).

  • We accept payment through Squarespace invoicing

  • Late payments may be subject to a late fee of 3% per month on the outstanding balance; if paying your balance is a concern, please communicate with our team and we can create a payment plan.

7. Turnaround Time

  • Estimated turnaround times will be provided in email upon discussion of your expected submission date, due date, and expected word count. These timelines are estimates and may vary depending on the complexity and length of the manuscript.

  • While we are committed to meeting agreed-upon deadlines, Moonlit Manuscript Editing is not liable for delays caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, such as technical difficulties, illness, or delays in the Client providing necessary materials or feedback. Any delays in timeline will be communicated via email.

8. Revisions and Amendments

  • The number of revision rounds, if any, included in the initial project fee will be explicitly stated in the project agreement.

  • Requests for revisions that fall outside the originally agreed-upon scope of work may be subject to additional fees.

  • Any modifications or amendments to these Terms and Conditions or the project agreement must be documented in writing and agreed upon by both the Client and Moonlit Manuscript Editing.

9. Copyright and Ownership

  • The Client retains full copyright and ownership of their original manuscript.

  • Moonlit Manuscript Editing retains copyright over any original editorial suggestions, comments, or analyses created during the editing process. However, the Client is granted a non-exclusive license to utilize these suggestions within their manuscript.

10. Confidentiality

Moonlit Manuscript Editing will treat all Client manuscripts and personal information as strictly confidential and will not disclose them to any third party without the Client's explicit written consent, unless legally required to do so.

11. Limitation of Liability

  • The total liability of Moonlit Manuscript Editing to the Client for any claims arising out of or in connection with the services provided shall be limited to the total fees paid by the Client to Moonlit Manuscript Editing for the specific project in question.

  • Moonlit Manuscript Editing shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages, including, but not limited to, loss of profits, data, or business opportunities.  

  • While we strive for the highest level of accuracy and quality, Moonlit Manuscript Editing does not guarantee that the edited manuscript will be entirely free from errors. The final responsibility for the content of the manuscript rests with the Client.

12. Termination

  • Either the Client or Moonlit Manuscript Editing may terminate the project agreement with written notice if the other party materially breaches these Terms and Conditions and fails to remedy the breach within 7 calendar days of receiving written notification of the breach.  

  • Moonlit Manuscript Editing reserves the right to terminate the agreement at any time if we reasonably believe the Client's manuscript contains illegal, plagiarized, unethical, or offensive content, or if the Client engages in abusive or unprofessional behavior.

  • Upon termination, the Client shall be responsible for paying for all services rendered up to the date of termination. Any non-refundable deposits are not subject to return.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

  • These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.  

  • Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the services provided by Moonlit Manuscript Editing shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation between the parties. If a resolution cannot be reached through negotiation, the parties agree to submit the dispute to non-binding mediation in Nolensville, Tennessee.

14. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure to perform or delay in performing its obligations under this Agreement (except for the obligation to make payments of money owed for services already rendered) where such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event.

A "Force Majeure Event" means any event or circumstance beyond a party's reasonable control, including, but not limited to:

  • Acts of God, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, storm, natural disaster, or other casualty.

  • War, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation.

  • Terrorist acts, sabotage, or piracy.

  • Strikes, lockouts, or other labor disputes.

  • Epidemics, pandemics, or outbreaks of communicable diseases.

  • Governmental actions, laws, regulations, or restrictions.

  • Embargoes or blockades.

  • Power outages, internet outages, or telecommunications failures.

The party affected by a Force Majeure Event shall provide prompt written notice to the other party of the occurrence of such event and shall use reasonable efforts to mitigate the effects of the Force Majeure Event and resume performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable.

If a Force Majeure Event prevents a party from performing its obligations for a period of more than 30 days, the other party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, along with any accompanying project agreement or quotation, constitute the complete and exclusive agreement between the Client and Moonlit Manuscript Editing, superseding all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether oral or written.

16. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting a manuscript for editing or by indicating acceptance of terms within the project agreement with Moonlit Manuscript Editing, the Client acknowledges that they have carefully read, fully understood, and irrevocably agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.