Posted: November 5, 2024
Finding the right editor is hard, especially if you’re publishing a book for the very first time. Unfortunately, there isn’t one right way to go about looking for one. So much relies on variables: what kind of editing you’re looking for, what kind of book you’ve written, what specific genre you’re writing for, how you’re hoping to publish.
In this article, you’ll learn how to prepare yourself for an editor, what to look for, and how to determine which one to use.
Before you even go looking for an editor, you should have a good idea of what your book needs. Good quality editors can be expensive, so if you start looking without knowing what you’re looking for, you may end up wasting a lot of money on the wrong thing.
Besides that, the more work your manuscript needs, the more it’s going to cost you.
Always start with the manuscript’s content. As you write, you’re often the only set of eyes that sees the manuscript, which is fine for self revision, but not ideal in the long run. My #1 Recommendation is to join a critique or writing group who write similar content. These people will be your first set of eyes, your tester audience, who will give you an honest opinion.
This does not mean family or friends, who may sugar-coat their feedback. Find people who will uplift you, but who will also tell you if something isn’t working. Revisions with your critique group will supremely enhance your manuscript.
Keep going with available feedback. You may choose to send the completed manuscript to beta readers. Find them online or through specific beta reader sites. These people should read within your genre. They should be within your target audience. If you’re writing a story for teen girls, don’t give it to a middle-aged man to beta—and vice versa. For children’s books, you’re looking for betas who are parents with children within your target audience.
[Related Article: What is Beta Reading?]
Only when you’re happy with the story (plot, structure, characters, relationships, etc.) should you start looking for a professional editor. That way, it’s as polished as possible before you start hashing out money for an opinion.
There are some cases in which you may want to look for a professional opinion before getting too deep into your revisions.
Some authors like to take the journey of writing a story on their own. Others want a guiding hand right from the start so that once they get to a developmental editor, they’re not asked to revamp the whole thing (though this is unlikely to happen). If you’re one of these people, you’re probably looking for an Editorial/Manuscript Assessment.
[Related Article: What is an Editorial Assessment?]
In short, an editorial assessment is when a developmental editor gives a brief overview of your manuscript and lets you know where your manuscript is strong and where you need to improve. They’ll point out major issues rather than fine details. It’s a lot cheaper than full Developmental Editing, but can still get expensive depending on how skilled you are as a writer and how long the manuscript is.
Now, if you’re the type to write on your own, and you’ve already gone through free critiquing and beta reading, you’re ready to find a content editor. Choose either an assessment or full developmental editing—depending on whether you think the manuscript just needs a second opinion from a professional or if you’re certain it needs a lot more work (or if you were made aware of issues but aren’t sure how to fix them).
The easiest thing is to just use a search engine for book editors in your area. If you don’t have a preference for local editors, there are some websites you can look through for trusted quality editors, groups on Facebook where you have to be a bit more careful, and freelancer websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Reedsy where you can browse. The possibilities are nearly endless.
First things first: don’t be vague. If you put out an ISO ad for an editor, you’re going to get a lot of responses from freelancers looking for work. That’s normal. Everyone wants to put their name in the pot. To be able to find the best editor for you from the get-go—give the right information:
Don’t put your budget directly in the ad—ask the editors you engage with what their prices are—but do a bit of research to know what to expect for the kind of editing you need. Another good tip is to put the ad up in writer/author groups to ask for recommendations from them, rather than letting the editors themselves respond. (This is a good method of filtering out scam freelancers.)
ALWAYS ASK FOR A SAMPLE EDIT.
If you’re thinking of going for an editor, or have a few you’re deliberating between, follow this checklist:
If an editor doesn’t have an authentic-looking website, they’re likely no good. (In place of a website, they might have a Seller page on a freelancer site such as Fiverr or Upwork.) They should have a list of previous projects that you can search; and the reviews should be recent and of good quality. That way, you can be more certain that they’re legit.
If they have a website but don’t list whether they do sample edits or not, don’t hesitate to ask if they do. Plenty of editors will provide a free edit for a small document (typically the first 1000 words or less). Others will provide a sample at a small fee (which is then deducted from the final price if you choose to go with them, like a deposit).
A sample is important for a few reasons. First, it gives you an idea of what they’re editing style looks like. If you get a developmental editing sample and if it seems like they don’t understand the story, you know they won’t be a good fit for you. If you get a copyediting sample and it looks like they just ran it through a spellchecker and gave it back to you, you know they won’t be a good fit for you.
Second, an editing sample lets your editor see what they’ll potentially be working with. It will allow them to give a much more accurate quote, and it ill tell them whether they’ll be a good editor for you as well (more so for content editing than technical editing). Good quality editors will refuse a job if they believe that your manuscript is not a good fit for them. They’ll want to take jobs that they can be proud of working on—that they know they’re qualified to improve. A fantasy-specific editor won’t take on a futuristic sci-fi novel job if that’s not within their focus.
There’s no foolproof way of finding the perfect editor for you and your story. If you’re new to the publishing journey, you’re likely to make mistakes and regret some choices. Everyone does at one point or another. However, being informed and prepared ahead of time will heavily reduce your risk and save you a lot of money in the long run.
Best of luck! And, if you think we’re a match, don’t hesitate to email me for a Free Sample Edit! If you want to know if we’re a match, check out my Services page.
Should You Use One Editor or Multiple?
The Best Order to Edit Your Book
Working with an Editor Part 1: Content
Working with an Editor Part 2: Technical
Alpha, Beta, Editing, & ARC: The Difference
Self Editing—And Why You Should Do It
How to Get the Most Out of Self Editing
Tigerpetal Press is a small book press dedicated to publishing local authors and poets.