The relationship between a writer and editor is not unlike a marriage. This is especially true when you are trying to find a long-term editor who will be with you through multiple books or series. Finding the right fit can be tricky and even a perfectly talented editor may not be perfect for you.
Be wary of editors who refuse to do sample edits (whether paid or unpaid) as that is genuinely the best way to see if you work well together. It is also a great way to see if the feedback you receive is helpful, relevant, and actionable (i.e., you have been told what to fix, but do you know how to fix it?). Editing is not a cheap affair. The worst thing you can do is invest your money only to find out you aren’t a good match after they’ve done the work.
Tips For Hiring An Editor:
- Understand what services you are paying for
- Understand what you should expect to receive back once the editor is finished
- Have set timelines — both for when you should submit your manuscript/materials and when you should expect to receive them back
Before hiring an editor, make sure you understand:
expectation of communication and check-ins
For instance, for a developmental edit are you going to receive a general letter detailing the overall issues with your manuscript or will there also be comments within the manuscript document to anchor and illustrate where these issues are?
When copyediting, are they going to use track changes to show recommendations or directly edit your draft as if it is their own?
Once they return the edited manuscript to you is that the end of their involvement or will they provide a second readthrough?
If there are items you don’t understand or need clarification on, do they offer a follow up meeting to ensure your understanding?
