Working with an Editor
Wednesday Writing Weekly #79
Editing is a big part of preparing your manuscript for publishing. Before I dive into the oncoming topic of indie and self-publishing, I wanted to talk about what to expect and know before you work with an editor. Editing is an important part of the writing process. You are not only correcting mistakes in your story, but you are also polishing your story to make it the best it can be.
If you have or are hoping to work with an editor in the future, here are some things to keep in mind and prepare to get the most out of your experience.
Different Kinds of Editing Services
Editing isn’t simple, “editing” when you are looking to hire someone to look at your book. Let’s see what different kinds of services there are and what each one accomplishes.
Manuscript Evaluations: A review of your book to create an editing roadmap. What kind of edits you need to accomplish and a review of the weaknesses and strengths of your work. This is usually a broad overview that is composed of 1 to 3 pages of feedback, from your editor.
Beta Reading: Receive feedback about what is and what is not working in your story, and to review the big ideas such as your characters, plot, tensions, arcs, settings, voice, and style. This is a common read through both professionals and casual readers can complete. It is a general, “how is my book doing?”
Content Editing: Detailed feedback on your piece about the characterization, structure, flow, voice, setting, direction, and impact of your work. AKA, the “big ideas” of your work. Unlike beta reading, these are more in-depth and can include scene by scene feedback or direct in document comments and suggestions.
Line Editing: In-line edits on the word- and sentence-levels for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and all corrections from big to small. (Depending on the editor, this may include content-level editing or is only line-editing.)
Proof Reading: The final round after a manuscript has been finished. This is the last step to catch any remaining mistakes. This is meant for manuscripts that have already been edited multiple times and should have little to no mistakes left.
Each kind of edit has a purpose. Beta reading, for example, cannot replace the detailed work of line-editing. You will need to complete multiple rounds of edits on your book and each round should focus on a different level of your work from the big ideas to the small.
Budgeting
Have a clear budget in mind before you start looking for an editor. I often discuss edits with a wide range of authors, and many do not know what to expect when it comes to editing costs.
This information might scare you, but it is important to realize. Like anything in the world, you get what you pay for. Editing is a huge amount of work, and projects can often take weeks or even months to complete, depending on the size of the order.
Most editors charge around $25.00 to $40.00 or more per hour for their work. You can see a full manuscript edit cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $12,000 for one book. These costs are based on your word count. Line edits, the most expensive and most extensive edit, can cost around $0.02 to $0.07 or even up to $0.12 per word!
Obviously, lighter edits such as manuscript evaluations or proofreading will not cost as much as a line-edit. And prices vary! I refer to Writer’s Digest, Poets & Writers and other publications for basic prices and compare rates between various editors I know. The Editorial Freelancers Association is an awesome source too.
Timeline
When planning on when to hire an editor, be clear and upfront about when you want your edits to be completed. Most professional editors will have a waitlist of some sort or may take on only a certain number of manuscripts a year. Keep this in mind and be sure to look ahead of time to find an editor for you. Never assume an editor is doing nothing and can begin working on your piece as soon as you email them. Some editors charge extra fees for quick turnaround times if you need something finished by a certain deadline.
In short, plan ahead!
Conclusion
When looking for an editor, you want to be clear and upfront about what you need and what kind of services you are looking for. Be sure to do your research and know what kind of editing may benefit your work.
These are only three brief tips about this topic, but these are the three things I get asked about the most. I sometimes come across authors with the mindset of, “I already did the hard work writing my book, so you owe me an edit.” This is not common, but I’ve seen it enough online and it blows my mind. Hiring an editor is simply hiring a service and product. As a writer, you know how challenging and time-consuming edits can be. That is why the nit-picky line-edit is the most expensive and when you do find an editor that is a good match for your work, it really is a bang-for-your-buck kind of service because there is nothing quite like a great edit!
Also, when hiring someone to edit your entire manuscript… that kind of work takes one to three months long. If you think of it that way, it makes sense that you can end up spending $3,000 to $6,000 dollars easily. You are essentially hiring that editor to work for you every day until it is finished. This is not a one afternoon kind of project.
As a struggling writer myself, editing is a worthy investment. But because it may be a steep one, it is best to learn as much as you can and to take your time finding an editor for you.