Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't find the answer you're looking for here, contact Sunny Words

When is Sunny Words available to help me?
Where is Sunny Words located?
Sunny Words is in the Eastern (US) time zone. My business isn't. Will this be a problem?
I could use assistance with a current project, but I may need continuing help also. What are my options?
Besides services for purchase, what else does Sunny Words offer?
Does Sunny Words have a privacy policy?
If the kind of help I need is not listed on the services page, does that mean you don't offer it?
You're a "solopreneur." So what happens to my work during your illness, vacation, etc.?
I need assistance on short notice. Can Sunny Words help?
What are your contract terms?

Q: When is Sunny Words available to help me?

A: Sunny Words is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday as well as some holidays, and closed on Thursdays. Email is checked periodically throughout the day while phone appointments are scheduled for 3:30-5:00pm Eastern (US) time.

Here are the remaining scheduled closures for 2010:

• Independence holiday: Thursday-Monday, July 1-5
• Thanksgiving holiday: Tuesday-Friday, November 23-26
• Christmas-New Year holiday: Thursday, December 24, 2010-Friday, January 2, 2011

Q: Where is Sunny Words located?

A: Sunny Words hails from charming and historical Portsmouth, VA, USA. But through the magic of telephone, email, and fax, Sunny Words can work comfortably with clients anywhere in the world.

Q: Sunny Words is in the Eastern (US) time zone. My business isn't. Will this be a problem?

A: In most cases, differences in time zone are not a problem. Sunny Words has worked successfully with people in Eastern, Central, and Pacific (US) zones as well as writers as far away as the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

Q: I could use assistance with a current project, but I may need continuing help also. What are my options?

A: Sunny Words offers both long- and short-term contracts. Some common jobs are even available as fixed-price packages which can be ordered once or on a continuing basis. See the services page for additional details.

Q: Besides services for purchase, what else does Sunny Words offer?

A: Sunny Words maintains a free-access Helpful Resources page. This page offers links to online help guides, blogs, and tutorials that can be useful to people working on writing or editing projects. The page also occasionally features links to news stories of interest to the writing/published world.

Sunny Words also publishes Word-wise, a free-access blog filled with grammar and punctuation tips, commentary on language news, modern language musings, and other English- and writing-related topics. Everyone interested in the world of the English language is invited to read and participate in the Word-wise community.

Before it became a blog, Word-wise existed as an ezine. Language, grammar, usage, and other articles from the ezine form are also available, free of charge, here on the Sunny Words site.

Q: Does Sunny Words have a privacy policy?

A: Yes. Sunny Words has an official policy and takes client and site user privacy seriously.

Q: If the kind of help I need is not listed on the services page, does that mean you don't offer it?

A: Maybe, maybe not. This page only lists the writing and editing services that Sunny words clients order most frequently. If you don't see what you need, contact Sunny Words for more information. In the event your desired service isn't available, Sunny Words can still help by referring you to another provider who has the expertise you seek.

Q: You're a "solopreneur." So what happens to my work during your illness, vacation, etc.?

A: Sunny Words makes arrangements to complete and deliver all work due during a scheduled vacation period BEFORE that period begins. Other scheduled longer-term leave can be handled in much the same way, with material delivered early to avoid missing client deadlines.

Ordinary "sick days" don't affect projects, and in most cases, Sunny Words clients will not even be aware of illness. As Sunny Words works remotely, "staying home from work" in order to avoid spreading a cold or flu is not necessary and thus does not affect deadlines.

In some cases, meeting client expectations may require subcontracting with other writing/editing professionals.

Sunny Words ONLY works with the highest calibre subcontractors. You will perceive no difference between Sunny Words's own work and that which is completed by prescreened, expert subcontractors.

Q: I need assistance on short notice. Can Sunny Words help?

A: In order to ensure that all clients, both new and existing, get the quality results they deserve, Sunny Words never accepts projects that will be due in complete form in fewer than 24 hours from the time of receipt of signed contract and deposit.

Sometimes, however, the schedule allows for rush work. Sunny Words defines rush work as that due to be completed within 24-48 hours of initial receipt. Rush projects are charged an additional 30% fee.

Q: What are your contract terms?

Here is a summary of the terms which apply to all clients regardless of contract type.

• Signed contract, all applicable client-supplied materials, and 50% deposit must be received by Sunny Words before work begins.
• Payments are only accepted through PayPal.
• Sunny Words is a sole proprietorship. Clients are to declare payments to Sunny Words as independent contractor compensation, NOT employee pay. As an independent contractor, Sunny Words is not subject to client's employee terms, including but not limited to employee benefits, specific working hours, or continuing education requirements.
• Sunny Words projects include one revision, if client deems necessary.
• As regular communication is essential for the successful completion of most projects, Sunny Words reserves the right to cancel contracts of clients who fail to respond to email and phone messages within a reasonable amount of time relative to the project's timeline. If such cancelation is invoked, Sunny Words will immediately return all client material, whether complete or not, and cancel upcoming invoices related to the project.
• If time required is available, Sunny Words can accept rush projects, defined as those due in complete form between 24 and 48 hours from time of receipt of signed contract, materials, and deposit. A 30% rush fee applies to such projects.
• At completion of project, Sunny Words will forward finished materials and a final invoice to client. Invoice will reflect total project cost less deposit amount. Final invoices are payable within 15 days.
• Unpaid invoices may incur a 1.5% late fee per month. After three months of nonpayment, Sunny Words may begin formal collections procedures or litigation.