Mission Statement:
At Open Door Editing, we’re here to support writers with editing that’s thoughtful, high-quality, and always true to your voice. We believe in clarity, inclusivity, and respect—and in helping every story find its best expression.
We’re Sonja and Stacey, certified editors who care deeply about language that feels open and welcoming. Whether you’re polishing your prose or reshaping your structure, we’ll walk alongside you to open the door to writing that’s clear, strong, and full of heart.
As Sonja’s hero Bob Ross might say, every story deserves its own happy little place in the world.
Conscientious Language Policy
We are committed to using clear, respectful, and unbiased language in our editing. By using conscientious, anti-bias practices, we work with you to create stories that connect with readers from all walks of life. Our goal is to honor each author’s voice while ensuring the text avoids stereotypes, harmful assumptions, or exclusionary phrasing. We approach every project with care and awareness, choosing words that foster inclusivity and accuracy. This practice helps create writing that is both professional and welcoming to readers.
AI Policy
We see AI as a helpful tool for brainstorming and support, but we believe the heart of a book should always come from its author. We will not accept or edit manuscripts written by AI. Your story and your voice are what matter most, and we're here to help your book shine.
Terms and Details
To inquire and/or schedule services, please use the linked contact form. For new clients we may, at our discretion, request to review a writing sample to help determine what level of editing is needed. Likewise, if requested, we will provide a sample edit of the first 1,000 words of your manuscript to help you determine if we are a good fit for your writing level and/or experience. Flexible scheduling and/or rush edits are available for an additional fee. Please inquire for more information.
Submission Guidelines: For ease of editing, Open Door Editing prefers submissions as email attachments in .docx format; double spaced, Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt font. Please add page numbers as well as a page header that includes your author and manuscript name.
Editing services require a 50% deposit upon contract agreement. Contracts may be renegotiated for edits priced on a sliding scale. Once editing is complete, final invoices will be adjusted down or up, if necessary, based on the extent of the edits the manuscript required. Should you need to cancel or reschedule your edit, the deposit is nonrefundable, however, we are happy to hold your funds and apply them to an edit rescheduled within six months of your originally scheduled date. Rescheduling fees apply. Should we need to cancel, or if we are unable to complete an edit for any reason, at our discretion, your deposit is 100% refundable. Billing and payment are handled through PayPal. By paying your deposit, you agree to the terms as outlined above.
Developmental and Substantive edits include a 20-minute Zoom consultation prior to the first pass. Zoom meetings for Manuscript Reviews will come after the first pass.
One pass includes a consultation, an edit or review, any in-text notes, and an editorial letter or email summary. Length of editing turnaround will vary according to contract and scheduling.