Terms and Conditions
Clear, professional terms for working together, protecting your manuscript and understanding how editorial projects are managed.
Last updated: 26 October 2026
These Terms and Conditions apply to editorial services provided by Wendy Ogilvie Editorial and to the use of this website.
For the purposes of these terms, Wendy Ogilvie Editorial is referred to as the Freelancer, and the author, publisher or other person commissioning editorial work is referred to as the Client.
The specific services, fees, deadlines and deliverables for each project will be confirmed in writing before work begins.
Where a separate written project agreement is entered into, its specific terms will take precedence over these general terms to the extent of any inconsistency, subject to applicable law.
1. About Wendy Ogilvie Editorial
Wendy Ogilvie Editorial provides independent professional editing and editorial support, with particular expertise in crime and romance fiction.
Services may include manuscript evaluations, developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, editorial mentoring, manuscript reviews and other agreed editorial support.
Website: wendyogilvieeditorial.com
2. Independent Freelance Working Arrangements
The Freelancer operates as an independent, self-employed professional.
The Client is under no obligation to offer work to the Freelancer, and the Freelancer is under no obligation to accept work offered by the Client.
The Freelancer will provide services as mutually agreed and confirmed in writing.
Unless otherwise agreed, the work will be carried out independently, without supervision, at times and places determined by the Freelancer, using the Freelancer's own equipment.
The Freelancer is responsible for her own income tax and National Insurance contributions and for accounting for VAT where applicable.
The Freelancer is not entitled to employment benefits provided to the Client's employees.
3. Editorial Services and Scope of Work
The precise nature and extent of the editorial services will be agreed between the Freelancer and the Client before the project begins.
This may include:
- Manuscript evaluations and editorial reports.
- Developmental editing and structural guidance.
- Copyediting and proofreading.
- Forensic500 opening-page assessments.
- Manuscript reviews and editorial mentoring.
- Other editorial or project-related work agreed in writing.
The Client will provide an appropriate brief and the materials reasonably necessary for the Freelancer to complete the work.
Editorial feedback involves professional judgement, and recommendations may be subjective.
4. Quotations, Fees and Pricing
The Client will pay the Freelancer a fee calculated on an agreed basis, which may be:
- An hourly rate.
- A rate per printed page or agreed unit of text.
- A fixed fee for the complete project.
- Another pricing arrangement agreed in writing.
VAT will be added where applicable.
The agreed fee will be based on the description of the work, the Client's brief and the anticipated editorial requirements.
The fee and any payment schedule will be confirmed before work begins.
5. Additional Work and Changes to the Brief
If, upon receiving the manuscript or during the early stages of work, it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than originally anticipated, the Freelancer may propose revised fees and/or deadlines.
Similarly, if the Client requests additional tasks or changes to the agreed scope during the project, the Freelancer may propose revised fees and/or delivery dates.
Any revised arrangements must be agreed before the additional work proceeds.
Our approach: Any significant change to the original brief will be discussed openly, so both parties understand the implications for cost, workload and timescales.
6. Deadlines and Delivery
The completed editorial work will be delivered on or before the agreed date, subject to the agreed scope of work and any subsequent changes confirmed between the parties.
The delivery date will be based on the description of the work and the brief supplied by the Client.
If circumstances arise that may affect the agreed deadline, the Freelancer will communicate with the Client and seek agreement on any necessary adjustment.
Deliverables may include editorial reports, annotated manuscripts, tracked changes, written feedback or other materials appropriate to the agreed service.
7. Meetings and Expenses
The Freelancer agrees to attend meetings reasonably necessary for the agreed work, subject to suitable arrangements being made.
The Client will reimburse reasonable expenses incurred in connection with agreed meetings where those expenses have been approved.
Additional reasonable expenses above the usual costs of providing editorial services will be reimbursed where agreed in advance.
Expenses will be identified separately from editorial fees where appropriate.
8. Invoicing and Payment Terms
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of the Freelancer's invoice.
For lengthy projects, the Freelancer may invoice periodically for completed stages of work, in accordance with the agreed payment arrangements.
Deposits, staged payments or alternative invoicing arrangements may be agreed before a project begins.
Where applicable, late payment of business-to-business invoices may be subject to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, as amended.
This legislation does not automatically apply to every consumer transaction.
9. Quality of Work and Corrections
The Freelancer will carry out the agreed editorial services with reasonable care and skill.
If the completed work does not meet the agreed requirements, the Client should notify the Freelancer and provide details of the concerns.
Where the Freelancer's work is unsatisfactory because it does not meet the agreed standard, the Freelancer will rectify the relevant work at her own expense and within a reasonable timescale.
This does not automatically include new editorial tasks, changes in creative direction or additional revisions outside the original scope.
Nothing in this section limits any statutory remedies available to the Client.
10. Client Responsibilities
The Client remains responsible for the manuscript and all final publication decisions.
Responsibilities include:
- Supplying accurate project information and a clear editorial brief.
- Providing the manuscript and supporting materials in the agreed format.
- Reviewing editorial suggestions and deciding which to adopt.
- Checking factual information, references and quotations.
- Obtaining any necessary permissions to reproduce third-party material.
- Approving the final manuscript before publication.
11. Copyright and Ownership
The Client retains ownership of their original manuscript and any intellectual property rights already belonging to them.
Any copyright arising in original material created by the Freelancer as part of the agreed copyediting, proofreading or editorial project will transfer to the Client upon full payment of the agreed fees, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
This provision does not transfer ownership of the Freelancer's pre-existing materials, templates, working methods or other independently owned intellectual property.
The parties may agree different copyright arrangements in a separate written project agreement.
Nothing in these terms transfers ownership of the Client's original manuscript to the Freelancer.
12. Confidentiality
The nature and content of the editorial work will be treated as confidential.
The Freelancer will not disclose unpublished manuscripts, project details or confidential information to third parties without the Client's prior permission, except where disclosure is required by law or necessary for agreed service delivery.
Any contractors or service providers given authorised access to confidential materials must be subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
The Client will also respect confidential business information supplied by the Freelancer.
13. Subcontracting
Where subcontracting is agreed with the Client, the Freelancer remains responsible for ensuring that subcontracted work is completed to the agreed standard and schedule.
Subcontractors must maintain the same appropriate standards of confidentiality.
The Freelancer remains responsible to the Client for the delivery of the agreed editorial services.
14. Cancellation and Rescheduling
Either party should communicate promptly if a project needs to be cancelled or rescheduled.
Any agreed cancellation fees, payment for work already completed, refunds or revised delivery arrangements will be subject to the project agreement and applicable law.
Consumer cancellation rights
Where a Client is acting as a consumer and purchases editorial services at a distance, statutory cancellation rights may apply.
Where a statutory cancellation period applies, the Client will be provided with the relevant cancellation information. Any request to begin services during that period, and any resulting payment obligation following cancellation, will be handled in accordance with applicable consumer law.
Nothing in these terms removes statutory cancellation rights.
15. Termination of a Project
Either the Client or the Freelancer may terminate an agreement for editorial services where the other party commits a serious breach of its terms.
Where appropriate, the parties should communicate the nature of the breach and provide a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue.
Any fees due, work completed, materials to be returned and continuing confidentiality obligations will be dealt with in accordance with the agreement and applicable law.
16. Copies of Completed Work
Unless otherwise agreed at the outset, where the Freelancer has made a substantial contribution to the copyediting, proofreading or editorial management of a publication, the Client will provide the Freelancer with one complimentary copy of the published work.
Where a physical copy is not reasonably available, the parties may agree an appropriate alternative.
17. Promotional References
The Freelancer may refer to the Client's name and the general nature of completed editorial work in professional promotional material, subject to confidentiality obligations and any restrictions agreed with the Client.
Unpublished manuscript extracts, confidential project information, testimonials and other protected materials will not be published without appropriate permission.
Clients may request that their identity or project remains confidential.
18. Editorial Outcomes
Editorial services are intended to improve the clarity, consistency, structure and overall quality of a manuscript.
Editorial recommendations reflect professional judgement and do not guarantee acceptance by a literary agent or publisher, publication, sales or any particular commercial outcome.
The Client retains responsibility for deciding whether to adopt editorial recommendations.
19. Privacy and Data Protection
Personal information relating to the Client and the Freelancer will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018, where applicable.
Personal information will be collected, retained and used only where there is an appropriate lawful basis.
Each party is responsible for maintaining accurate personal information and complying with applicable data protection requirements in relation to information they control.
Where consent is the relevant lawful basis, it must be obtained and recorded appropriately.
Further information is available in the website's Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
20. Liability and Statutory Rights
The Freelancer aims to provide all editorial services with reasonable care and skill.
Nothing in these terms excludes or restricts liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for fraud or for death or personal injury caused by negligence.
Nothing in these terms affects the statutory rights of Clients acting as consumers.
21. Website Use and Intellectual Property
The information on this website is provided to explain the editorial services offered by Wendy Ogilvie Editorial.
Website content may be updated or changed without notice.
Unless otherwise stated, original website content, branding and design belong to Wendy Ogilvie Editorial or are used with permission.
Visitors must not use the website unlawfully or interfere with its security or operation.
Website materials must not be reproduced or commercially reused without appropriate permission or another lawful basis.
22. External Websites
This website may contain links to third-party websites and services.
External websites operate independently and may have their own terms, privacy policies and operating practices.
23. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, these terms and editorial service agreements are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Subject to any mandatory consumer protections or jurisdictional rules, disputes will be subject to the courts of England and Wales.
Where a separate written agreement specifies a different applicable jurisdiction, that arrangement will be considered subject to applicable law.
24. Changes to These Terms
Wendy Ogilvie Editorial may update these Terms and Conditions to reflect changes in services, business practices or legal requirements.
Updated terms will be published on this page.
Changes will not automatically override the terms already agreed for an existing project.
25. Written Project Agreements
The Freelancer and Client may confirm their agreement through a written quotation, accepted proposal, email correspondence or a separately signed contract.
The agreement should identify the services to be provided, fees, delivery arrangements and any project-specific conditions.
Where signatures are required, the parties may sign a separate project agreement.
Important: Publication of these terms on the website does not, by itself, establish that a Client has accepted them. Their application to a particular project should be confirmed during the booking or contracting process.
26. Contact Wendy Ogilvie Editorial
Wendy Ogilvie Editorial
Website: wendyogilvieeditorial.com
For questions about these Terms and Conditions, editorial bookings or an existing project, please use the Contact page.