• These terms and conditions apply to any work done on behalf of the Client (you) by me (Akanksha Goel​).
• I will provide proofreading/copy editing/consultation services agreed upon (in writing) by myself and the Client.
• The work will be carried out unsupervised at such times and places as determined by me, using my own equipment.
• The work will be carried out by me. I will not subcontract proofreading/copy editing/consultation projects, or parts of projects, to third parties.
• I confirm that I am self-employed and am responsible for my own income tax.
• The contract of service requires that the Client acknowledges, in writing (including email via the booking-confirmation form), that they have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions.

Prior to commencement of the proofreading/copy editing work, the Client and I will agree, in writing (including email), the terms of the project:

• The medium in which the proofreading/copy editing/consultation service will be carried out
• How the material will be annotated (e.g. Track Changes in Word)
• The length of time required to complete the project, as advised by me
• A fee for the project, based on a quotation supplied by me, in writing (including email), following my evaluation of the material to be proofread/copy edited and the time frame required to complete the job
• The date by which the material will be delivered by the Client to me
• The latest date by which the completed project will be returned, following my advice to the Client

Please note that if, on receipt of the project to be worked on (or at an early stage), it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than had been anticipated in the preliminary discussion/brief or from the sample supplied, I may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline, or decline to carry out the work.

• A quotation for the work will be provided by me to the Client following my evaluation of a representative sample of the materials to be worked on, and a discussion with the Client as to what is required.
• Once the Client and I have agreed the full fee, it is non-negotiable unless the Client extends the word count of the job or requests additional services. In this case, a revised quotation and job-completion date will be negotiated.
• The Client will pay me a fee per word OR an agreed flat fee for the project, as agreed in writing.
• Unless otherwise agreed, I will supply the Client with an invoice immediately upon completion of the proofreading/copy editing project.
• Payment should be received within 14 days for full copy edits/proofreads, and at the time of booking for consultation fees.
• Unless otherwise agreed, the fee quoted is for one pass of a manuscript. Additional passes are new projects, the terms of which will be agreed separately.

• Booking fees are non-refundable.
• For a project with a total fee in excess of INR 50,000, the Client will pay a booking fee of INR 50,000.
• For a project with a total fee of INR 50,000 or less, the Client will pay the full fee up front. This is non-refundable.
• By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client agrees to secure my proofreading/copy editing services for a specific and mutually agreed-upon project, at a specific and mutually agreed time.
• By filling in the booking-confirmation form, the Client confirms that they have read and agreed to the terms and conditions herein. From thereon, the terms of the cancellation policy (see below) apply.
• The booking fee will be deducted from the final invoice issued when the copy editing work is complete.
• The booking is considered confirmed once the booking fee has been paid by the Client and received by me.
• The booking fee should be paid within 3 days of sending the booking-confirmation form to secure the slot in my schedule.

1:1 Story development consultation – 15 x 30-minute sessions

• In the case the story development part is not concluded in the mentioned sessions, or the Client wishes to have further sessions, each new session will be charged at INR 3,000. The Client can renew the package or opt for 7 x 60-minute sessions for INR 30,000.

1:1 Story development consultation – 7 x 60-minute sessions and 1 round each of copyediting and proofreading

• In the case the story development part is not concluded in the mentioned sessions, or the Client wishes to have further sessions, each new session will be charged at INR 3,000. The Client can also consider 15 x 30-minute sessions or 7 x 60-minute sessions for INR 30,000.
• The copy editing and proofreading service in the package is applicable on content that is up to 1,00,000 words long.
• The content can be the story discussed and framed during the story development consultation sessions, or some other story/content you have been working on.
• The content should come under my frame of work (see Copy Editor to check).
• I ensure you that I will deliver the best (corrected) version of your story in the first round of copy editing itself. Further rounds would be required only when you make extensive changes to the content.
• In the case additional round(s) of copy editing is requested by the Client, a mutually agreed amount will be discussed and paid (in advance) before I begin work on the content.

1:1 Story development consultation – 15 x 60-minute sessions and 2 rounds of copyediting and 1 round of proofreading

• In the case the story development part is not concluded in the mentioned sessions, or the Client wishes to have further sessions, each new session will be charged at INR 3,000. The Client can also consider 15 x 30-minute sessions or 7 x 60-minute sessions for INR 30,000.
• The copy editing and proofreading service in the package is applicable on content that is up to 2,00,000 words long.
• The content can be the story discussed and framed during the story development consultation sessions, or some other story/content you have been working on.
• The content should come under my frame of work (see Copy Editor to check).
• I ensure you that I will deliver the best (corrected) version of your story in the first round of copy editing itself. Further rounds would be required only when you make extensive changes to the content.
• In the case you are happy with the first copy edit and proofread of the content and do not wish to avail the second round of copy editing, I will refund INR 0.25 per word. For example, for a manuscript including 1,50,000 words, I will refund INR 37,500 to the Client.
• In the case additional round(s) of copy editing is requested by the Client, a mutually agreed amount will be discussed and paid (in advance) before I begin work on the content.

TERMS:

• Both the Client and I have the right to terminate a contract for services at any time if there is a serious breach of its terms.
• This Client is free to cancel a service for any reason by providing me with written notice (including email); I must acknowledge this cancellation in writing (including email) for this to be valid.
• I may cancel a service at any time for any reason by providing written notice (including email) to the Client. In the unlikely event that I cancel a service, I will provide a prorated refund of any overages of fees paid (including the booking fee).
• If, in the unlikely event that the Client is touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation or delay (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), the Client should contact me to discuss the terms of the cancellation policy. I aim to be fair and helpful at all times.
• If I am touched by extraordinary or difficult circumstances that cause cancellation (e.g. family crisis, illness, bereavement), I will contact the Client in writing at the earliest opportunity and do my best to renegotiate the time frame of the project or find an alternative supplier of proofreading/copy editing services. The booking fee will be refunded.

FEES:

• CANCELLATION DURING THE PROJECT:
  If the Client cancels the work during the proofreading/copy editing project, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).
• CANCELLATION PRIOR TO PROJECT COMMENCEMENT:
  If the Client wishes to cancel with less than one month’s notice, I reserve the right to invoice for 100% of the agreed fee (less the booking fee).

If the Client wishes to cancel with more than one month’s notice, the booking fee will not be refunded but no other charge will apply.

• I will contact the Client two weeks before the mutually agreed start date with a reminder that the file is due 24 hours before said start date.

• If in the unlikely event that the Client does not confirm in writing (including email) within one week prior to the mutually agreed start date that they will be supplying the file for copy editing, the project is deemed to have been cancelled by the Client and the slot in my schedule will be released.
• If, as is likely, the Client confirms the project, I will ask for the file to be sent to me 24 hours before the start date.

• The nature and content of the work will be kept confidential and not made known to anyone other than the Client and its contractors.
• I will not, under any circumstances, upload the Client’s files to external websites or distribute them to third parties. See my Privacy Policy for how your data is protected.
• Under the terms of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2025, the Client and I may keep on record such information (e.g. contact details) as is necessary. Either may view the other’s records to ensure that they are relevant, correct and up to date.

• All content delivered to me by the Client for the proofreading/copy editing project and ideas discussed are owned by the Client.
• In this respect, the Client agrees to hold me harmless from and against all claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of any potential or actual copyright or trademark misappropriation or infringement claimed against them.
• Following payment of my invoice, any content created by me as part of the proofreading/copy editing process will become the copyright of the Client unless otherwise agreed.

I will proofread and/or copy edit your file as best as I can. However, if the file hasn’t been through previous rounds of extensive professional editorial revision such as substantive and/or line editing, then I am likely to make thousands of corrections. This includes correcting spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation errors and inconsistencies, implementing consistency across word forms, etc.

I do acknowledge that, for some, there’s only enough money to hire one round of professional assistance. So, I respect the fact that you have a budget and that the choice of how much and in whom to invest is yours. But you do need a final read-through of the revised file.

I guarantee that

• I will aim for the very highest editorial standards.
• I will do my absolute best for you.
• I will respect your work, your privacy and your confidentiality.
• the changes I make will result in a substantially higher-quality content.

Legal jurisdiction

• This agreement is subject to the laws of India, and both the Client and I agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Indian courts.
• The exclusive venue for any arbitration or court proceeding based on or arising out of this Agreement shall be Delhi, India.

Acknowledgement in published works and permission to mention the published work

• It is at the Client’s discretion to mention me in the acknowledgement of the published work.
• The Client gives me permission to mention their published work on my website under Portfolio.

Any refund agreed upon will be refunded in 6–8 days.