Finding the right book editor for you can feel like walking through a minefield. Everyone says they are the right choice, but it’s hard to know which voice to actually trust.
But this decision doesn’t have to be guesswork.
With a good checklist, and dedication to following each step, you can increase your chance of finding a good match for you and your manuscript, and limit your worries to improving your novel rather than making the wrong choice or being scammed.
Here are 7 steps to follow to help you find the right editor for you.
Step 1 – What type of editor do you need?
Are you in the early stages and need a Developmental Editor? Are you secure in your storyline and ready to eliminate those grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes in a Copy Edit? Or are you one step away from publishing and want one last Proofread?
It’s important to know at least the 5 Main Types of Fiction Manuscript Editing to gauge what you and your manuscript needs.
This allows you to tailor your search for an editor of that type and ensures you don’t get the wrong edit done at the wrong time. That can be a costly mistake and, unfortunately, leaves you back at square one.
Step 2 – What’s your budget?
The cost of a professional edit can vary based on the experience of the editor, and the complexity of the project, and, because it is a skilled service, it can be more than some writers realise.
Knowing a rough budget range will allow you to see your options and which editors could be a good fit.
If you’re struggling to find an Affordable Editor in your budget, you may need to look for one with less experience or change the scope of the work e.g. having a Developmental Edit report rather than a Full Developmental Edit.
Step 3 – What’s your niche?
These are the areas you want your editor to specialise in.
This could be;
- Your genre – fantasy, romance, non-fiction, crime, mystery, steampunk etc. An editor will know the audience expectations and tropes of the genre to help your manuscript appeal to its readers.
- Working with new writers. This can tailor an editor’s approach in their feedback to be more explanatory and guidance based.
- Working with traditionally published authors. This could mean the editor is willing to discuss marketability and trends in regard to your manuscript.
- Length. Some editors specialise in novellas vs novels.
There are more ways in which you can narrow down the type of editor you’d like to work with, but these are common ways for you to consider.
Step 4 – Search and find your editors
Yes, taking time to search and find editors can be a pain, but it’s needed so you don’t just pick the first one you come across.
Now, we are going to take the type of editing you’re looking for, your budget and your niche and find a handful of editors that fit into these parameters.
You can find editors through search engines, on Substack, on Facebook (there are specific groups for finding editors), Instagram, etc. Basically, anywhere you find authors, you will find editors.
Word of mouth is also a very good way to find good editors. Talk to writer friends or post questions online to see who comes recommended, but make sure to be specific in your request and the list you make. This is especially good if the writer has used the editor multiple times. A repeat client is often a good sign you’ve found a credible editor.
As an example, I am a Developmental Editor, specialising in Fantasy, Romance and Thriller novels, experienced in working with new writers and indie authors. You wouldn’t come to me if you wanted a Copy Edit, or had written a murder mystery. I could still help, but a different editor would be able to give you stronger feedback.
Get a list of at least 10 editors who fit your needs, then move onto the next step of vetting them. <- This is the hardest step, so I’ll break it down as much as possible.
Step 5 – Research and vetting
It’s time to research the editors for yourself, to get to know them a little better and vet them for the service you want to hire them for. This will get you to a top 3-5 editors to take onto the next step.
Here, you will want to check their;
- Website and online presence.
- Transparency on pricing.
- Specialisation.
- Testimonials and repeat clients.
- Qualifications and courses.
- Their personality.
All of these together build a picture of the person and them as a professional. It is important to look at them as a whole rather than striking a potential editor off for one specific area. If it’d help, I recommend writing a pros and cons list.
Going into each area to check:
Website and online presence;
Treat a website home page like a shop front, and venture inside to find all the good information about who the editor is and their background. The same with their social media pages. Reading through their posts can give you information on how they communicate, how forthcoming they are with their knowledge and how they interact with others.
One red flag would be having a website or social media pages set up but having no content or posts on them. There’s a small chance they are new and building these, so check again a week or so later, but otherwise they could be being using these to give validity to a scam.
Transparency on pricing;
Though not every editor will be able to provide a definite price per service for you to peruse, they should have information on how they calculate their quote.
For example, they could have a statement on their website like; ‘When quoting for this service, a sample of your work will need to be provided. This, along with the word count of the manuscript, will be used to assess the complexity of the project to provide a custom price.’
Some editors do have fixed rates for some services and not all, like me. I provide a fix rate per word count for a Developmental Edit Report, but a custom quote for a Full Developmental Edit.
Here, we are looking for transparency.
Specialisation;
Linking to Step 2, this is a good time to double check that the editor works with your kind of manuscript. Do they do the type of editing you are after, and work within your genre?
Experience and testimonials;
If you have a large budget for editing, then finding editors with plenty of experience and testimonials will be quite simple and often a key part of their draw for authors.
However, if you are looking for an editor on a lower budget, they might not have as much direct experience to advertise themselves with. Instead, look for relevant experience such as being a writer themselves or working in a different genre or maybe working in the publishing field. Here are some more tips for finding an Affordable Editor.
Having no experience or testimonials doesn’t automatically mean an editor will be bad, but I recommend assessing the other areas of this list in great depth before making your decision.
Qualifications and courses;
If I had to choose, I’d rank experience over qualifications.
The absence of a degree doesn’t necessarily mean an editor will be bad, just as the presence of one doesn’t automatically make them a good editor.
As a Developmental Editor, I can definitely say the Creative Writing degree I am completing helps my practice immensely, but so have the additional courses I’ve done on Developmental and Copy editing. Reading also helps, as does hearing my friends’ views on novels during book club.
Though a qualification will help, there are other avenues to gain this knowledge, some of which could help more. For example the Developmental Editing specific course I did through Liminal Pages has directly improved my editing practice far more than the general writing craft knowledge I’ve learned through my degree.
Definitely factor this element into the picture of your editor, but don’t solely rely on it.
Their personality;
Every way in which a company presents itself is about building a brand, and for sole-traders, like book editors, this brand is themselves, so you can gather a lot of information about them through how they present themselves and their business.
I’m not saying you should disregard the other elements here if you decide you really like one editor, but liking the person you will be collaborating with, even in just a professional sense, will help. So see if you like an editor’s vibe and message and core values, because you will be investing a lot of time and money in working together.
Using these 6 elements, see which editors intrigue you, which ones seem like real people and which ones you want to work with. Trust your gut, look at everything together and pick 3-5 editors to take onto the next step.
Step 6 – Reach out and get a quote
It’s time to reach out.
This doesn’t have to be for a quote in the first message, but that’s one of the ways to start a communication with the editor.
Here, you are trying to gauge the editor’s communication style, if you think you’ll work well together, and it’ll give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.
I recommend asking about;
- Their process from quote to completion.
- How they share their feedback.
- Any questions you have about them and their work.
- How many revisions are included, and if you can ask follow-up questions after the edit is completed.
Here, people also tend to ask for sample edits. Depending on the editor and type of editing you are requesting this can lead to;
- The editor declining to do a sample edit.
- The editor accepting to do a sample edit for free.
- The editor accepting to do the sample edit for a fee.
- The editor sharing a template sheet showing examples of their editing style.
I’ve seen a lot of debate around sample edits, but as a Developmental editor, this isn’t something I provide. This editing type requires taking in the whole story before providing feedback so it isn’t really possible. However, a copy editor may be more likely to provide sample edits, but you can’t guarantee them.
Either way, this isn’t necessarily a make or break element on its own, it’s down to your personal preference and the other information you’ve gathered.
If you’re happy with their answers, ask your editors for a quote and expected timeline.
Step 7 – Final decision
Then, you need to make your decision.
It’s possible that you like all the editors you’ve talked to, in which case, choose the one who you think will do the best job.
This step can feel like a bit of a sticking point, especially if there isn’t one clear editor to go with, and you want to make the right choice. However, up to this point, you have done your best to limit risk, so any of the choices are likely to be as good as the others, so make your decision based on your research.
And remember, if you decide at the end of the edit that they weren’t quite the best fit, you’ll have a better understanding of what you’re looking for in your next editor. That’s okay. You aren’t locked in for life.
It is also completely valid that you decide you don’t want to work with any of the editors you reached out to in step 6. In which case, let them know and start the process again. You will find the right editor for you if you keep looking.
Conclusion
It isn’t easy knowing who to trust on the internet, especially when trusting them with something you’ve worked hard on and with a service that can cost a fair bit.
Finding the right editor takes time, but following these 7 steps can help you feel more confident in your decision. Take your time with it, ask questions and don’t worry if you have to start the process over at any stage.
The right match will give you an editor who will improve your manuscript, make you a stronger writer and be a connection for your whole writing career if you’re lucky.
If you’re looking for a Developmental Editor for a Fantasy, Romance or Thriller novel, I’d be happy to answer any questions about my process. If you’re still deciding whether I’m the right fit, check out my Website, or catch up with my Substack for extra tips.
FAQs
If I ask an editor for a quote, do I have to go ahead with the service? – No, not at all. Until the contract is signed, you haven’t made any commitments.
Can I ask follow-up questions after receiving the feedback? – This is dependent on the editor’s process and services. Some offer this communication, some would require this as an add-on service such as book coaching. Discuss the process and options with your editor.
What is Developmental Editing? – Developmental Editing looks at the structure and development of your manuscript from viewpoints such as character, plot, and themes etc. Read ‘What does a Developmental Editor actually do?‘ if you’d like to learn about this!
I am part way through a manuscript edit and don’t like my editor, how do I stop it proceeding? – First, you need to get in touch with your editor, and review your contract to understand your options. There will likely be a deposit you already paid which you won’t get back, and a fee for the work they have already completed. If you are okay with losing this money to prevent paying the whole cost, communicate this termination with the editor and request a final invoice.
How do I know what type of editing my manuscript needs? – This can be tricky to know but if you are in the earlier stages, a Developmental Edit would likely be needed. However, if you are set with your story, a Copy or Line Edit are probably more applicable. There are 5 Types of Fiction Manuscript Editing which every writer should know about, but others when considering specialisations.
How can I trust I’ve chosen the right editor? – If you’ve followed the steps of this blog post, then you’ve increased the chance that the editor you’ve chosen will work well with you and do a good job. However, if you feel like you didn’t quite gel together by the end of the project, you can always use a different editor next time, and you’ll better understand the type of editor you want to work with.
