Frequently Asked Questions
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Toggle ItemHow much does it cost to use these services?
Our current fee is $40/hour, which is below the average fee that a freelance editor charges.
If you are a faculty or staff member in Engineering, Humanities, FHSS, Religious Education, the Marriott School, or the HBLL, your unit has already agreed to pay for your use of our service. Otherwise, you can use funds in your research account or ask your department for funds to cover the cost.
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Toggle ItemCan I edit my manuscript while it is submitted to FPS?
No. What you submit to FPS should be the draft you want us to edit. If you are not ready to submit a complete draft, then please wait until you are ready.
Once we complete your project, we will send it back to you, and you can edit it again.
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Toggle ItemWhat if I need my manuscript edited sooner than the 3–4 week requirement?
We sometimes have space in our schedule for rush jobs, so don’t hesitate to ask if we can fit your project in! We’ll try to accommodate your schedule if we can.
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Toggle ItemWhat will my manuscript look like after it has been copyedited or substantive edited?
Our editors use Track Changes on Microsoft Word, which means that any punctuation or words they add will show up in a different color and everything they delete will appear on the side. This allows you to go through all their changes and either accept or reject them.
The editors may also leave comments on the side of the document that you can keep or delete as you want.
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Toggle ItemCan FPS print my book?
No, we cannot. Our service provides all the tools that prepare a manuscript for publication, but we are not a publishing house.
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Toggle ItemCan you design the cover and interior of my book?
Yes, we can absolutely do both!
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Toggle ItemCan I submit my first draft manuscript to be indexed?
No. Indexing is one of the final steps in the publication process because it relies on the page numbers of the manuscript not changing. This means the manuscript must be typeset and otherwise ready to go to press before the index can be created.
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Toggle ItemHow is a proofread different from a copyedit?
While both deal with grammar, spelling, and punctuation, they happen at different times in the publication process. A copyedit is a normal round of editing that takes place on a drafted manuscript. A proofread happens after the manuscript has been typeset for publishing; its job is to make sure no last grammar or design errors slip through unnoticed.
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Toggle ItemCan I have FPS do a second edit of my manuscript after I have applied their suggestions?
Yes, we can do that for you. If you would like the same editor, please let us know ahead of time so we can make sure they will be available.
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Toggle ItemHow many projects can I submit in a year?
As many as you would like! There is no limit per person.
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Toggle ItemDo I need to be a member of BYU faculty to use these services?
No, you do not! We service anyone who is able to pay the fee for our work.