Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My essay is due tomorrow. Can you help me?
A: Probably. I offer a 24-Hour Emergency Writing Clinic, which provides immediate assistance and feedback whenever possible. Response time might vary depending on where you are in the world and what time of day it is. However, I am usually able to respond and assist you within a few hours of your query. Send me an email.
Q: Will you write MY ESSAY for me?
A: No. That’s plagiarism. I believe very strongly in academic and intellectual integrity. That said, I understand the kinds of challenges that students face and how difficult it can be to manage tasks and commitments. If you are struggling to get started with a particular assignment, or feeling overwhelmed by a research project, I can offer academic support and guidance. You might be surprised by how much a brief conversation can clarify your own argument or the structure of your ideas. If the deadline is imminent, I also offer a 24-Hour Emergency Writing Clinic.
Q: I work in field X. Can you help?
A: Absolutely. I can offer feedback and critique on writing in any academic subject. I specialize in academic writing within the broader humanities (including literary studies, history, politics, law, philosophy, theology, and the social sciences). However, I have many years of experience supporting academic writing beyond these disciplines and I am familiar with a broad range of writing conventions. It is also important to keep in mind that even the most technical and scholarly work is made better if its writing and argumentation can be made accessible to a general audience of intelligent and motivated readers. I provide detailed feedback and writing strategies designed to help you reach this audience.
Q: english is not my native language. can you help me to IMPROVE MY writing?
A: Of course. I have successfully improved the writing of students and faculty from all over the world. I also have the experience of having lived, worked, and studied in Germany for five years, where I taught English as a foreign language, including TOEFL and IELTS exam preparation. I understand the challenges of academic writing in one's non-native tongue--having done it myself!--and have developed strategies to support the needs of non-native writers.
Q: What distinguishes ~GRAPHY from automated WRITING SUPPORT services, APPS, ETC.?
A: Expert human judgment and the opportunity for an on-going mentoring relationship. Software can catch your typos and grammatical errors and make you aware of some of your stylistic choices. But it will not work with you to diagnose the underlying confusion behind these infelicities or help you to develop your own voice. It also won’t be able to evaluate whether your evidence supports the claims you make or whether your claims hang together in a way that makes for a persuasive and sound argument. This is the kind of help you can expect from ~GRAPHY. In other words, there is little to no overlap in the services I offer and that which can be produced by software.
Q: WHAT DO YOU OFFER THAT MY INSTRUCTOR, LECTURER, PROFESSOR, SUPERVISOR, OR ON-CAMPUS WRITING CENTER DOES NOT?
A: Your professors and supervisors play an essential role in your education, but many simply do not have the time or energy to work with your writing in a sustained and focused way. Writing centers at even the most elite colleges and universities often rely on undergraduate and graduate students to peer review student work and provide feedback and further guidance to struggling writers. While peer review is an important part of the writing process, it cannot match the advantages of detailed, expert, and longitudinal feedback. I offer the opportunity for an ongoing mentoring relationship across all of your courses and throughout your academic career.
Q: Can you guarantee that I will get THE grade I WANT?
A: No. I only provide feedback on how well your writing works as a piece of writing and argumentation. I don’t evaluate it against the criteria your instructor has set for you. More importantly, I don’t generate any of the content of your writing. To do so would defeat the purpose of this kind of work, which is designed to empower you to become a more confident and adept writer, as well as a more critical reader of your own work.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept? How do I pay you? WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
A: Payment for all ~GRAPHY services is collected with Wave, a web payment platform. Once you have contacted me and selected a service, I will send you a link to an invoice. The payment process is simple and safe. You can pay your invoice using most debit and credit cards (anywhere in the world), and you do not need to register for a Wave account. Wave exceeds the most stringent industry standards for security. You can read more about their security infrastructure here.
Once I receive your payment, we will get to work! Payment plans for long-term, comprehensive services are available. If you have any further questions about the process, or would like to discuss payment options, please contact me.