Kindness, Respect, and Honesty in Supporting Writers Who Use AI

As a freelance editor, I get inquiries all the time from first time authors hoping to publish through a small publishing house or to self publish. In both cases, the author is responsible for having their manuscript edited and prepared for publishing. A common theme in many exchanges I have with potential authors who have used AI in their writing process is that the author feels the content of what is written is still their own, that they’ve been at source for it and therefore it feels like their authentic voice. Many will even say they want an editor to preserve what they believe is their own style and voice. Unfortunately, most of these people do not have any idea that the writing has been reduced to a narrow margin of expression and sounds just like every other piece of writing that has been similarly “aided” by AI.

A recent exchange with one such author provides a wonderful example of 1) a level of professional regard and courtesy on the part of the author (which is very compelling to anyone in the publishing profession), 2) several relevant questions authors have and my answers to those, and 3) how I prefer to handle the subject of AI involvement in the writing and/or editing of a manuscript, which is to say, I do not like to work with writing that has been written or edited by AI, but I also really want to support writers who may find that using AI in the writing process has helped them get over certain obstacles to finally completing their writing project.

I don’t know how all of this is going to pan out, the effects that a preponderance of AI-written material will have on our collective psyche, our capacity for creative language, our capacity for critical thought, and so on, but I do know that amidst a lot of meaningless dribble that is being generated, there also are sincere people who are finding themselves suddenly “capable” of writing in a way they never could before, and sometimes some of them have something valuable to say. As an editor, I notice those folks, and I wish to support them in their endeavors however they must go about them.

I am offering my recent useful email exchange with a potential client here, with some editing for the sake of privacy, in case it may be instructive and illuminating for other authors and editors who are new to the scene. It is a good example for authors of how to reach out, the kind of questions to ask, what information editors might need from you, how we specialize, and why it makes sense to take your time, if you can, to do your own writing as much as possible.

May all beings be happy!

Dear Clelia,

____ at ____ Press recommended I reach out to you. I’m the author of a manuscript called The ____, currently under consideration with them, and I’m hoping to work with a professional editor to help the writing land well for American readers. I understand you’re usually booked up well in advance, so I wanted to reach out early.

A few questions, whenever it’s convenient for you to answer:

Could you share your general rates or how you typically structure pricing for a project like this?
Once editing begins, how long does the process usually take?
Does your editing include grammar and line-level corrections, or is it more focused on structure and voice?
Would it be possible to tentatively reserve time with you before the contract is confirmed?
What’s your policy on holds and cancellations, in case things don’t move forward as expected?

Thank you for considering, and I’d love to hear more about how you typically work.

Warm regards,
Cindy

Hello Cindy,

Thank you for your inquiry!

The first step is for you to determine what level of editing is needed. If you are hoping ____ Press might publish the book, what level of editing are they suggesting you have done?

I do not usually provide developmental editing—which is to say, working with authors who are still in process with their manuscript and trying to sort out voice, theme, structure, etc. I prefer to work with manuscripts that are already in the shape the author and publisher wish them to be in.

My specialty is line editing, which means I work line by line to make sure the language is concise and clear and that it remains in the distinct voice of the author while conveying their meaning as effectively as possible to their intended audience. This may sometimes result in minor structural changes (often reducing word count), but not usually in any significant way.

Line editing includes copy editing and is then followed by a final proof-read.

Once you know the level of editing you need, you could send me another inquiry, outlining the subject of the book and its intended audience, and the editing service you require, attaching the manuscript so I can see the extent of the project and if the subject is one that is in my line of interest. I would then provide you with a sample edit and estimate of my fees so you can see the way I work and decide if it feels like a good fit for you.

I structure my fees based on word count and the level of editing required. That could range between USD$.035/word for basic copy editing up to USD$.047/word for heavier line editing.

I am not in a position to hold a space in my schedule unless a project has been confirmed. I ask for half the fee at the beginning to hold the time in my schedule (this covers me if the client has to cancel for any reason) and the other half once the project has been completed to the client’s utmost satisfaction.

I do not work with manuscripts that have been written or edited by AI.

I look forward to hearing back from you again if you wish to proceed to the next step.

Many blessings to you!

Clelia

Dear Clelia,

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation, it’s very helpful to understand how you work.

The ____ is a narrative nonfiction/memoir, roughly 60,000 words, documenting my 26-year journey through a ____ meditation tradition centered on emptying the self. The intended audience is general readers drawn to memoir and personal transformation, alongside those specifically interested in spirituality and mindfulness. I’ve attached the manuscript so you can see the scope of the project.

The contract with ____ Press is still not finalized, and their requirement is only stated as “professionally edited before submission,” without specifying whether that means line editing, copy editing, or something more developmental. Based on where the manuscript stands now, I believe it’s at the line and copy editing stage rather than needing developmental work.

I want to be transparent about the manuscript’s origin. I wrote it originally in my native language, and used AI as a tool to help translate it into English and to refine the language so it reads clearly and naturally for American readers. All of the structural, literary, and content decisions, what stays, what changes, the voice, the story itself, were made by me. I understand you don’t work with manuscripts written or edited by AI, and I wanted to describe my situation honestly rather than leave it unclear. I’d welcome your thoughts on whether this falls within what you’re comfortable taking on.

Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm regards,
Cindy

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for sending the manuscript—I’ve taken an initial look at it. First of all, your story sounds like a truly amazing and inspiring one, and well worth publishing. I am sure it will be of benefit to others. The scenes and imagery you choose, the pacing of it, all seem to be very rich and compelling.

I am sorry to say that, at the same time, the language of the manuscript definitely reads like the same AI voice I have read in many manuscripts over the past couple of years, with very limited and specific sentence patterns, vocabulary, rhythm, punctuation and tone. Unfortunately, after having worked with several such manuscripts (because I felt the content was valuable), I discovered that it didn’t feel good in my own brain to have to ingest those same patterns over and over again for long stretches of time. It’s hard to explain (although I do have a list of some of the common patterns I’ve seen excessively used by AI models, which I will attach below), but it becomes obvious when you read a lot of it and the brain just somehow feels the limited and over-processed nature of it.

I totally understand the usefulness of having a free or inexpensive and quick means of translating your original language into English. I would guess your original writing is rich and creative and very alive. If you had the time to translate it yourself or to have a friend help you or pay a translator who could do it more literally, keeping closer to your original voice (even if it seems a little awkward for English readers), that would be something I could work with and help clarify in a way that makes it easily understood by your English-speaking audience while retaining more of your original voice, tone, and mood. I would be delighted to do that!

On the other hand, since that may not be something you want to do, I would not let that hinder you from finding an editor who would be happy to work with the material as it is. I recommend a platform called Reedsy (their website is reedsy.com), which puts authors in touch with editors and other professionals (including illustrators, designers, marketing professionals) who can help you get your manuscript ready to submit to publishers or even prepare it all the way to self-publish.

Whatever you choose to do, I know your story is worth putting out there, and I encourage you to keep pressing on.

Many blessings to you!

Clelia

Dear Clelia,

Thank you so much for your honesty, and for the encouragement about the story itself. It means a great deal to hear that, especially from someone who reads as much as you do.

What you described about the AI voice actually confirms something I’ve been sensing but couldn’t quite name. I have a friend who has practiced meditation for many years and understands both our language and English deeply. More importantly, he understands the depth of what I’m actually trying to say in a way very few people do. He’s the person I’d trust most to carry my original voice into English. The difficulty is that he won’t have time to work on a translation with me until next year.

I’ve thought about it, and I’d rather wait. He once described AI translation as being like instant ramen; quick, convenient, but not the same thing as something made slowly with real ingredients. I don’t want this book to be instant. Once it’s published, it’s very hard to go back and change it, and I would rather take the time to get it right than rush something out that doesn’t fully convey what I’m trying to say.

So I think the honest answer is that I’d like to pursue the path you described, a more literal translation first, done with my friend, and then your line editing to help it find its voice in English. I understand that likely means we’re looking at sometime next year rather than this fall. I wanted to let you know honestly where things stand, in case it changes anything about how you’d think about this project, and so you’re not waiting to hear from me in the meantime.

Thank you again for taking the time to read the manuscript so carefully, and for caring enough to tell me the truth about it.

Warm regards,
Cindy

Dear Cindy,

I am happy that you can take the time and have someone who can help you with that. I do think especially with writing that is conveying very personal and/or spiritual nuances, it is best to take the time to get it right and preserve as much of the organic nature of the process as possible. You have my contact information if you want to reach out to me again once you have the newly translated manuscript. Of course you can also look for someone through Reedsy as well. I always like to promote their service since I really appreciate being able to work through their structure—it makes things easy for freelancers.

Many blessings to you!

Clelia