How editing works at Folio, in plain language.

Overview, pricing & how it works

A real, experienced publishing editor works inside your manuscript personally, page by page, with craft-level notes on top of the software passes. It's the plan for authors who want a human's judgment on their book.

How it works

1. 1
   Tell us about your manuscript. Share its length, genre and the kind of help you want, then pick a time to talk with an editor.
2. 2
   Confirm your price. Your per-page price is shown and confirmed before the editor starts. Nothing is charged before you agree.
3. 3
   Your editor edits your book. They work through your manuscript personally and leave craft-level notes. Expect the edited draft in 2 to 4 weeks.
4. 4
   Review and request revisions. Accept, edit, or reject every change, and ask your editor to revise their work. See Revisions.

How the price works

The price is $3 per page, worked out from the length of the manuscript you upload. Your total is shown before anything starts.

Free 1,000-word allowance

Editing often shows you what a manuscript is missing. On the Expert Editor plan you can add up to 1,000 extra words during editing with no additional charges. Your editor edits them like the rest of the book.

• One allowance per manuscript. Use it in one place or spread it across chapters.
• Counted on top of your original upload, which is what your per-page price was based on.
• Any position in the book. Add a new scene, expand a chapter, or write a new intro or epilogue.
• Beyond 1,000 words, only the extra pages are billed at $3 per page, and you approve the updated price before you are charged.

What each pass covers

You choose the passes your manuscript needs. We recommend this order: structure first, polish last.

• Developmental editing: big-picture feedback on plot, pacing, characters, and structure. Your editor suggests, and you rewrite.
• Line editing: sentence-level suggestions for clarity, flow, and voice, without flattening your style.
• Copy editing: consistency in tense, POV, timeline, and terminology.
• Grammar & punctuation: grammar, punctuation, and spelling, with the reason shown for each suggestion.
• Style & consistency: naming, formatting, and stylistic choices kept uniform across every chapter.
• Fact-checking: your editor flags claims, dates, and details worth verifying. They flag; you confirm. We don't guarantee accuracy.
• Proofreading: the final read for typos and formatting slips before you publish.

Turnaround times

Your book is read and edited by a person, so it takes longer than the software passes. Expect your edited draft in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the work required.

• The clock starts when you confirm your price and your editor has your final manuscript.
• Your Pipeline page shows an estimated delivery date once work begins.
• If your editor expects to go past the estimate, you'll be told before the date passes.
• Words you add within the free 1,000-word allowance don't change your timeline. Larger additions may, and we'll tell you first.

You decide every change

Nothing in your manuscript changes unless you approve it. Your voice and your story stay yours.

• Every suggestion appears inline with a reason attached.
• You can accept, reject, or edit each one.
• Every action is reversible, with full undo and redo.
• Your editor's notes are craft-level suggestions. Final creative decisions are always yours.
• Your editor never rewrites your plot, changes your meaning, or alters your characters without your say-so.
• Your original upload is always kept, so you can return to it.

Revisions & follow-ups

• After you receive the edited draft, you can request revisions to your editor's work. We'd rather get it right than close the ticket.
• You can review, change, and re-run suggestions on your manuscript as often as you need during your editing engagement.
• A full rewrite of chapters that were already edited, or new sections beyond the free 1,000 words, counts as new editing work. It's priced separately and only with your approval.

Book rights, ownership & copyright

Folio is a tool you use, not a publisher you sign to. Even with a human editor working on your book, it stays entirely yours.

Confidentiality & data

• Uploads are encrypted and stored securely.
• Your manuscript is used only to deliver the editing you requested. It's never published, shared, or sold.
• Your editor is bound by confidentiality and sees only what they need to edit your book.
• You can ask us to delete your manuscript and its edits at any time.

Content we can edit

We edit fiction and non-fiction of all genres, including difficult themes that serve the story. We may decline manuscripts that promote violence against people, sexually exploit minors, or are plagiarized, unlawful, or fraudulent. If we decline, we'll tell you why, and you won't be charged for work we didn't do.

Refunds & cancellation

• The price is shown and confirmed before your editor starts. Cancel before editing starts and you get a full refund.
• If you cancel partway through, you pay only for the pages already edited.
• If something goes wrong on our side, such as a lost file or an editor who can't finish, we'll redo the work or refund the affected portion.
• Once you've received and accepted the finished edit, it isn't refundable.

To request a refund, contact us through Talk to an editor and we'll respond quickly.

Most asked questions