Sharing your document allows me to view, edit, and comment on your documents. It’s easier for you and for me if your doc exists there. It’s okay if you use Microsoft Word or LibreOffice or prefer rich text format (RTF) because Google Docs will interpret it in a way that lets me do what I need to do.

This tutorial will walk you through how to share the document if it already exists in your Google account.

If it doesn’t, simply upload it to your Google Drive account and follow the instructions below.

To share a document:

• Open the document you want to share.
• Click on the blue Share button in the upper right of your browser window of choice. It’s likely going to be next to the button that accesses your Google Account (see image below, you can see my photo there).

• A dialog window will open in response. You can share with individuals or groups by typing into the “Add people to send the link to” field. However, that doesn’t apply to what I need.

• To obtain a shareable URL, go to the “Get Link” section of the popup box, and select the blue link that says “Change.” It may default to “Restricted.” That’s okay; manually change the option to “Change to anyone with the link.”

• The screen will change to look like the screenshot below.

• You only need to change the drop-down menu to the right of the “Anyone with the link” field. Editor means others can make changes. It’s ideal for the collaborative writing and/or editing I will do for you. In case you were wondering, the other options are as follows:
  • Viewer means people can view your document but cannot change it.
  • Commenter means people can’t make changes but can add comments. Do not select this if you want me to edit your document!

• If you ever lose access to the link, you’ll need to access the Share button to get the popup window again.

Folders can also be shared. If your workflow requires multiple pieces to be edited, sharing this folder’s URL may be a better use of your time.

• In Google Drive, find the folder you want to share and right-click on it (if you’re on Windows).
• In the menu that pops up, choose Share.
• It’s the same process as sharing a link to a Google Doc.

What’s next?

• You should have received instructions on where to access my client submission form. Copy the Google link in the form’s field that says, “Please provide your Google URL here.” I’ll know what to do with it from there.
• Depending on the agreed-upon review period (which varies from project to project), I ask that you give me that amount of time to perform my work. Please be aware that if you go back in and edit the file because you forgot a period or want to change entire blocks of text, you invalidate our agreement, and I will refuse to complete it. Please be patient!

What do I do with my edited doc?

I’ll let you know when it’s safe to review my comments on your document. If your requested service includes a rework, it’s critical that you communicate with me to understand where I’m at in the editing process. I may just be working on it, and I don’t want to end up commenting on something that changed because you went into the doc while I was still editing it. That just holds the procedure up, and it’s unfair to you and detrimental to my process.

Here are the options for downloading into different formats:

Once I’ve completed my work on the document, you’re free to do what you wish with it.

And that’s it! Let me know if you run into any issues.