Privacy policy

I’m Jeff Homick. This page explains what happens to information when you visit this site, watch a video, email me directly about fiction editing or book advertising, or submit the lesson form. I collect only what I need to understand what brought people here, reply to you, and provide work you ask me to do. I don’t sell your information. You can ask to see or delete your information anytime.

When you visit the site

I use Cloudflare Web Analytics to understand aggregate site traffic, such as how many people visit and which pages they use. It does not use cookies or fingerprint you, and its reports are not tied to you personally.

I count anonymous plays of the student recordings to understand what visitors listen to. Nothing about you is stored with those counts.

This site may keep first-party referral information in your browser, including campaign tags, the referring page, and where you first arrived. It may use that information for about 90 days after your last visit. If you submit the lesson form, that information may accompany your inquiry so I can understand how people find me. I do not use it to follow you around the web or send it back to ad platforms.

Your browser also remembers which one-time site tips you have dismissed. That stays on your device and is not sent to me or used to track you.

Video thumbnails are hosted on this site, so nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. When you press play, YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player loads and receives information about your browser and the playback. YouTube says views in this mode are not used to personalize your YouTube experience or ads outside this site. Google handles that information under its Privacy Policy.

When you email about editing or advertising

If you contact me directly about fiction editing or book advertising, I receive your email address, the message, and any files or other information you choose to send. My email provider processes and stores the message. I use it to reply, understand the project, decide whether we are a fit, provide requested work, and keep ordinary business records. I do not add you to a marketing list or use the message to advertise to you.

When you submit the lesson form

The form collects the student’s name and experience level, your phone number and email address, and anything you add in the optional message. There is also an optional place for a parent or guardian’s name. After submission, you can optionally tell me how you heard about lessons. The inquiry may also include the referral information described above and how you reached the form on this site.

The form asks you to check a box agreeing that I can contact you about lessons by text, call, or email. I use the information to reply, talk through lessons, and, if you enroll, schedule and plan lessons and send invoices. Texting is usually how I follow up first. If you want me to stop, just say so. You can reply STOP to a text or email me, and I will.

I use a small number of service providers to operate the form, prevent spam, store inquiries, and notify me when someone gets in touch. They handle information as needed to perform those functions. If you enroll, PayPal handles payment when you pay an invoice, so I never see your card or bank details. Other than the services needed to run lessons and this site, I do not share lesson-form information or use it to advertise to you.

Lessons and minors

This site is meant for adults and for students 13 and older who are reaching out on their own. I don’t ask for anyone’s age on the form. If the student is under 13, please have a parent or guardian fill out the form for them. I don’t knowingly collect information that a child under 13 sends me, and if I find out I have, I’ll delete it. High schoolers are welcome to contact me directly; I hear from students this way all the time.

How long I keep it

If a lesson inquiry does not turn into lessons, I keep it for up to 12 months in case you circle back, then delete or anonymize it. If we work together, I keep lesson, payment, project, and tax records for as long as I reasonably need them or as US law requires. I keep direct editing or advertising messages only as long as reasonably needed to answer, evaluate, carry out, and document the work. You do not have to wait for those periods to ask me about deletion.

Your choices

You can ask me what information I have about you, or ask me to delete it, anytime. Just email me at jeff@jeffhomick.com, and I’ll take care of what I reasonably can. I may still need to keep basic service, payment, tax, or business records for a reasonable period or as US law requires.

Keeping it safe

I store your information with reputable services and handle it with care. No system on the internet can ever be perfectly secure, but I treat your details the way I’d want mine treated.

Where I’m based

I operate out of Maryland, and most of my students and clients are based in the US. I don’t market or target services to people in the EU or UK. Wherever you’re reaching out from, your information is handled here in the US, under US law.

If this changes

I will revisit this policy before adding tracking cookies or ad pixels, changing what referral information is stored, changing how personal information is used or shared, using automated or bulk messages, marketing to the EU or UK, or starting a marketing newsletter. I will update the “Last updated” date whenever the policy changes.

Getting in touch

Questions about any of this? Email me at jeff@jeffhomick.com. I’m always happy to help.