Our Process
Working with an external editorial partner should not be complicated. Here is exactly how an engagement with NADAKAI runs, from first contact to final delivery.
Reach us by email, through the contact form, or by booking a call. Tell us what you are working on, what you need, and when you need it. You do not need a polished brief — a few sentences about the document, the audience, and the timeline is enough to start.
We review your document (or a sample of it) and discuss your needs. This is where we agree on the type of editing required, the scope of work, the timeline, and the cost. Nothing starts until scope is confirmed in writing.
If the right type of editing is not obvious — copyediting vs. line editing, for example — we will recommend what we think the document needs and explain why.
Once you approve the scope and quote, we confirm the timeline and begin work. For larger projects, we may ask for a deposit. All agreements are in writing — a reply to our email is sufficient.
We edit your document to the agreed specification. For structural edits or complex projects, we may send an interim memo or check in before completing the full edit. If something significant comes up during editing, we tell you. We do not go silent and then deliver.
If we identify additional work beyond what was agreed, we flag it and ask before proceeding. You will not receive a bill for work you did not commission.
We deliver the edited document as a tracked-changes file, along with an editor's note summarizing the main changes, patterns found, and any decisions made. For copyediting and proofreading, we also provide a clean copy.
You review the document, accept or reject tracked changes, and ask any questions. We are available for one round of follow-up queries at no additional cost.
We invoice on delivery, or per agreed milestones for larger projects. Payment terms are 14 days. We accept bank transfer and major payment platforms.
What to Expect
Every editorial change we make is visible. You are always in control of what goes into your final document.
If we identify additional work beyond what was agreed, we flag it and ask before proceeding. You will not receive a bill for work you did not commission.
You will not spend half the engagement explaining background. Our editors work in the sectors our clients work in.
If we think your document has a structural problem that a line edit will not fix, we will say so before you pay for a line edit.
FAQ
Yes. We treat all client documents as confidential and can sign an NDA if required. Most of our clients work with sensitive material.
Yes. If you have a house style guide, send it with your document. If you do not, we apply Chicago (16th edition) or another agreed standard.
We work primarily in Microsoft Word with tracked changes. We can also work in Google Docs. For final proofread of typeset documents, we can work on PDF with annotations.
Rush turnaround (48 hours) is available for most copyediting and proofreading work at a 50% surcharge. For line editing and structural work, rush availability depends on current capacity.
Yes. For clients with regular publishing programmes, we can structure a monthly retainer covering a set volume of editing and priority scheduling.
Send us a sample — 500 words from your document — and we will review it and recommend the right service. This is free and comes with no commitment. You can also review our service definitions to get a sense of the distinctions.