Terms & Conditions

The Fine Print

By engaging the services of T. Morgan Editing Services (Taija Morgan), the Author and/or Publisher (used interchangeably herein) agrees, without reservation, to the following legally binding Terms and Conditions. These Terms are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of Alberta’s courts.

Scope of Work

The services outlined and agreed upon at the beginning of the project constitute the full scope of work. Any additional tasks, rounds of editing, or manuscript versions requested after this agreement will be billed at the standard hourly rate unless otherwise negotiated in writing.

Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights remain with the Author. The Editor claims no ownership over any submitted work.

The Editor is not liable for the content or end use of any submitted material. The Editor reserves the right to refuse or return any material deemed illegal, hateful, defamatory, or otherwise inappropriate.

All materials are handled with discretion. No work will be disclosed, distributed, or shared without the Author’s express written consent.

Confidentiality

The Editor agrees to maintain confidentiality regarding all materials, communications, and client information, and will not disclose such materials to any third party without the Author’s explicit written consent, unless required to by law. This confidentiality remains in effect indefinitely, including after the completion of the project.

Payment & Limitations

  • Rates are billed at $65 CAD per hour, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.
  • All payments must be made via e-transfer unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. The Author agrees to pay 50% of the estimated total prior to the start of editing, with the remaining balance due upon completion and return of the manuscript. The initial invoice will reflect the time estimate provided after the sample edit. The final invoice will reflect the actual time spent on the project. If the editing time exceeds the original estimate, the Author will be consulted and approval obtained before any additional work is undertaken. Invoices will be issued by email.
  • For Authors outside of Canada or those who cannot pay by e-transfer: If PayPal is requested as the payment method, a processing fee (based on PayPal’s processing fees) will be added to the total. Cheques may also be accepted by mail at the Editor’s discretion. Currency conversion fees may apply in either case if applicable.
  • A non-refundable deposit of $50 CAD is required to secure a project slot. This deposit will be applied to the final invoice. It is forfeit when the project is cancelled or rescheduled.
  • If a project requires more time than initially estimated, additional hours may be billed after consultation with the Author.
  • Force Majeure: The Editor shall not be held liable for delays or failure to complete the project due to unforeseen events beyond their control, including but not limited to illness, internet/power outages, natural disasters, or government restrictions. In such cases, both parties will communicate in good faith to reschedule or modify deliverables as needed.
  • Rush Work & Communication: Work requested on short notice may incur an additional rush fee at the Editor’s discretion. The Editor maintains standard business hours (e.g., 9–5 PM, Mon–Fri) and cannot guarantee immediate responses outside of those hours.
  • Turnaround Time and Delays: Estimated timelines will be provided after the sample edit and are contingent upon prompt communication and delivery of materials by the Author. Delays on the part of the Editor (e.g., due to illness or emergencies) will be communicated promptly, and timelines will be renegotiated in good faith. Delays caused by the Author (e.g., missed deadlines, lack of response) may result in rescheduling or cancellation at the Editor’s discretion.
  • Late Payment Policy: Invoices not paid within 14 days of due date may incur a late fee of $25 CAD or 1.5% per month, whichever is greater. The Editor reserves the right to pause or withhold work on current or future projects until outstanding payments are resolved.
  • Failure to Pay: Failure to pay within 30 days of Invoice Due Date, unless otherwise negotiated, may result in formal collection processes, and the Author is responsible for all reasonable costs of collection, including legal fees. Continued non-payment may also result in cancellation of all future services.
  • Cancellation by the Author: If the Author cancels a booked editing project after work has begun, the Author will be invoiced for the hours already worked (at the standard hourly rate) and the $50 CAD deposit will be retained. If no work has yet commenced, the deposit may be retained as a cancellation fee at the Editor’s discretion.
  • Cancellation by the Editor: In rare cases, if the Editor must cancel the project due to illness, emergency, or conflict of interest, the deposit will be fully refunded and the Author will not be charged for any incomplete work.

Division of Responsibilities

The Editor will:

  • Provide professional editorial services as agreed (developmental, content, copy, and/or proofreading).
  • Use tracked changes (or clear comments) to suggest edits at the content or sentence level.
  • Respect the Author’s creative voice and intended meaning.

The Author understands and agrees that:

  • Editorial suggestions are not mandates. The Author retains full creative control and responsibility over the final manuscript.
  • Changes made by the Author post-edit may introduce new errors. The Editor is not liable for issues arising after the final version has been delivered.
  • A proofreading pass by a separate professional is strongly recommended prior to publication, particularly after implementing post-edit revisions.
  • Revision Policy: Additional rounds or feedback after delivery of the edited manuscript may be subject to further charges. The Editor is not responsible for changes made by the Author or other third parties after the editing process is complete.

Error Detection & Dispute Resolution

  • While the Editor maintains a high professional error detection rate, perfection is not guaranteed.
  • The Editor provides editorial guidance and suggestions but makes no guarantees regarding publication success, sales performance, reviews, literary representation, contest outcomes, or award recognition. The Author is solely responsible for decisions regarding the implementation of editorial feedback.
  • If the Author believes the editing did not meet agreed standards, they must raise the issue within 30 days of delivery. The Editor will make reasonable efforts to resolve concerns, within the limits of availability.
  • No refunds will be granted after editing services are rendered, unless the Editor chooses to issue one at their discretion.

Software Use & Technical Responsibilities

  • The Author is responsible for understanding how to use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes function and for ensuring all changes are reviewed and accepted or rejected.
  • The Editor is not responsible for issues arising from failure to accept changes, formatting errors, file conversion problems, or document corruption.
  • It is recommended that the Author perform a final proofread post-edit to ensure document integrity and accuracy before publication.

Indemnification & Legal Liability

The Author agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Editor (Taija Morgan, operating as T. Morgan Editing Services), from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, expenses, or legal actions (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or relating to the Author’s content, use of services, or failure to adhere to legal or ethical standards, including but not limited to:

  • Spelling, grammar, formatting, or typographical errors that may remain post-edit.
  • Factual inaccuracies, outdated information, or misrepresentation of real individuals, events, or sources.
  • Stylistic disagreements or perceived inconsistencies in tone, voice, or editing approach.
  • Loss of income, reputation, readership, reviews, sales, or publishing opportunities resulting from or associated with the Author’s manuscript.
  • Plagiarism, libel, defamation, slander, copyright infringement, or unauthorized use of third-party content or intellectual property.
  • Medical, legal, financial, or personal advice expressed or implied in the Author’s manuscript.
  • Sensitive or harmful content that causes distress or incites harm to readers or external parties.

The Editor is not a sensitivity reader, lawyer, or subject-matter expert in specialized disciplines and makes no claim to vet manuscripts for legal, ethical, or factual compliance. The Editor may, at their discretion, flag apparent issues when known or suspected, but is under no obligation to identify, research, or correct them.

The final responsibility for the accuracy, legality, appropriateness, and end use of the manuscript rests solely with the Author. This includes all decisions about publication, marketing, or public presentation of the work.

By entering into a working relationship with the Editor, the Author acknowledges and accepts full responsibility for their material and its consequences.

AI-Generated Content

If the Author submits content created in part or in whole by AI, the Editor is not responsible for verifying its originality, legality, or ethical use. The Author assumes full responsibility for the content’s origin and use, including any plagiarism or copyright concerns.

The Editor reserves the right to decline or terminate a project if the manuscript contains significant AI-generated content, plagiarism, or material the Editor believes may infringe on others’ intellectual property. It is the Author’s responsibility to ensure the originality of their work and that appropriate rights have been obtained for any included material.

Professional Courtesy and Behavioural Expectations

The Editor is committed to treating all clients with respect, integrity, and professionalism, and expects the same in return. Editing and coaching are collaborative processes built on trust, clear communication, and mutual respect.

Coaching sessions, in particular, are professional engagements. Inappropriate, abusive, or harassing behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in immediate termination of services without refund.

To ensure the safety and professionalism of both parties, coaching sessions may be recorded at the Editor’s discretion. These recordings are used solely for the purposes of accountability, clarity, and documentation.

By engaging in coaching or editing services, the client acknowledges and agrees to uphold a respectful, appropriate, and professional standard of conduct at all times.

Limitations of Editorial Role and Scope

The Editor’s services are strictly editorial in nature. The Editor is not a ghostwriter, co-author, or legal, medical, or sensitivity expert. While the Editor may offer suggestions on improving narrative elements, character portrayal, or clarity, it is the sole responsibility of the Author to research, verify, and ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of their content.

Sensitivity and Cultural Representation Disclaimer

The Editor is not a certified sensitivity reader, and therefore cannot ensure that portrayals of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, or other identities and experiences are free from harm, bias, or inaccuracy. Authors are solely responsible for ensuring their content is respectful and accurate and are encouraged to hire appropriate sensitivity readers for this purpose.

Medical, Legal, and Factual Accuracy Disclaimer

The Editor does not offer medical, legal, psychological, or financial advice. Any information within a manuscript that pertains to such topics is the sole responsibility of the Author. Authors are expected to conduct their own due diligence and fact-checking or to consult qualified professionals in relevant fields. The Editor is not responsible for any misinformation or consequences arising from inaccurate or misleading content.

Content Advisory and Refusal of Service

The Editor reserves the right to refuse or terminate services at any time if a manuscript contains content that is discriminatory, hateful, exploitative, or otherwise violates the Editor’s ethical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, works promoting racism, misogyny, queerphobia, ableism, or glorification of abuse. In such cases, any unused portion of payment may be refunded at the Editor’s discretion.

Portfolio Use and Testimonials

The Editor may request permission to reference the edited work (title, author name, and cover) for use in their professional portfolio or marketing materials. The Author is under no obligation to grant this request and may opt out at any time. No content or edits will be shared publicly without explicit written permission.

I acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Je remercie le Conseil des arts du Canada pour son soutien.
#BringingTheArtsToLife #LArtAuCoeurDeNosVies
@CanadaCouncil