The quest for the right editor

Finding the right editor can seem like a daunting task. With so many choices, how do you know which editor to choose?

Where to look

Although you could just use Google and type “fiction copy editor” or a similar search term, I’d recommend not starting there. Truth be told, anyone can call themselves an editor, so start your search by doing a little vetting to find those editors who are more professional. These will likely be editors who have joined professional editing organizations.

In the U.S., the major organizations are the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing. Both have member directories, which you can search to find editors. For other countries, there are Editors Canada, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK), and Institute of Professional Editors (Australia).

You can (and should) also ask other authors who they use for editing. You’ll still want to go through the process and make sure that editor will also work for you, but word of mouth is an excellent way to hear about outstanding editors.

What to look for

First, you want an editor that specializes in the area that matches your book, so search for editors who have worked on books similar to yours. Conventions for romance novels differ from those for thrillers, for example, and your editor should be familiar with the conventions of your genre.

Although there is not a certification program (at least not in the U.S.) for editors, you can still see whether someone has some editing training. Look for someone who has an editing certificate (this means they’ve gone through a training program; it’s not the same as a certification, but many of these programs, such as the one through UC San Diego, which I am working through, are quite extensive.) Having an English degree can also be helpful, but note that most English degrees are in literature rather than grammar, so an English degree does not automatically make someone an expert at copyediting.

Many editors will stay current in the field through continuing education—I take several webinars and courses each year, for example. This is another benefit of finding an editor who is a member of at least one editing organization as those are the groups that usually provide that continuing education.

Check the editor’s website for testimonials. It’s extremely helpful to see what other authors have said about working with this editor. Look for specifics that fit with your situation. For example, if you’re worried about the editor steamrolling over your writing and taking away your voice, you’ll find it reassuring if you read multiple testimonials about how the editor worked with the author to maintain the author’s voice.

Think about what kind of relationship you want with your editor. Does the website and testimonials seem like this editor might provide the type of relationship you’re looking for?

Contact several editors

When you find some editors you’d like to examine further, it’s time to contact them. Most editors will either have a contact form and an email address on their website. Sometimes the contact form will have specific questions for you to answer, but if not or if you’re emailing, at the very least, include the following information:

• Genre

• Word count

• Timeline for publication (especially if you have a rigid deadline)

The editor’s website will usually say if they provide a sample edit. If not, ask for one. Although many editors (including me) provide a free sample edit, don’t be surprised if the editor charges a fee for one. Word counts vary for a sample edit, but generally expect to send 500-1000 words.

How to choose a sample for editing

A sample edit does two things: it helps you determine if the editor is the right fit for you and it helps the editor determine the project rate as well as if you are the right fit for them. To help you in comparing among samples from different editors, it’s important to send the same sample to each editor if possible.

When deciding on what to send the editor as a sample, it might seem obvious to just grab the first 1000 words of the book and send that. But I’d actually recommend you not do that. Why? Those first 1000 words are probably the ones you’ve read over and edited countless times. Or maybe you haven’t looked back at them since you wrote them, so they might be a lot rougher than later parts of the book once you really got into the writing. Either way, those first 1000 words are not a good representation of what to expect in the book as a whole.

So what should you send?

• Choose a scene from the middle of the book. (You can provide the editor with background information if you feel they need it to understand the scene.)

• Choose a scene that has a mix of dialogue and descriptive text. Editors often handle dialogue a little differently from other text, so getting a good representation of both types of writing will help you see what the editor can do.

Compare the editors

Once you hear back from several editors with proposals and sample edits, it’s time to compare them and make some decisions.

Look at the sample edits. Editing fiction is subjective, so don’t expect each sample to turn out the same. Is there one editing style that seems to really “click” with you? Which one do you think will be the most helpful in making your book the best it can be? Don’t just look at grammar corrections (although make sure the editors aren’t introducing errors instead of correcting them); look at the overall types of corrections. Is the editor helpful in strengthening descriptions and verbs? Are there comments on issues such as point of view or characterization? (Assuming, of course, that you are looking for those types of comments.) Which of the sample edits seems like it will be the best for you and for your manuscript?

Of course you’ll want to look at your budget and schedule. But don’t be quick to just pick the lowest bid. Make sure you are comparing what the editors are offering and not just the amount for the project. For example, if the editor proposing $200 for the 100k word manuscript turned in a sample with just a few comma errors corrected, that’s not an adequate comparison for the $2000 project in which the sample edit shows the editor digging in deep into sentence structure and word usage. It’s a bigger investment, but the larger bid will also make your book much stronger. (Of course, if both editors quote $2000 and one just fixes a few commas and the other digs in deep in all the sentences, that’s a pretty obvious choice.)

Also look at how many rounds of editing the editor proposes and how much communication you can have about the manuscript after its return. Going through multiple rounds of editing is going to result in a higher price point, so you need to take that into consideration.

Does the editor (especially for copyediting) create a style sheet? Do you get the style sheet along with your edited manuscript? Having a style sheet created for your manuscript can be helpful not just for that manuscript but also for future books, especially if you are writing a series.

Make sure the editor provides a clear scope of the work they will do on your manuscript.

Be wary of an editor who claims your book will become an instant best-seller after working with them. No one can guarantee this. And no one can guarantee to catch 100% of the errors in your book. It’s just not humanly possible.

Finally, pay attention to your intuition. If something feels off to you, even if you can’t put a finger on it, that might not be the right editor for you. The editor-author relationship is just that—a relationship—and you want someone you feel comfortable working with, especially if you’re planning to write multiple books. What kind of relationship do you want to have with your editor? Does this editor seems like they will offer that type of relationship?

Plan ahead

A side note. You need to plan ahead. Many editors schedule their projects and are booked months in advance. Especially if you have a firm deadline, you don’t want to find the perfect editor, only to realize that you’ll have to keep looking because their next opening isn’t for a few months. Either be flexible in your schedule or start contacting editors long before your anticipated publication date.

The end of the quest

Finding the right editor can be quite the journey, but once you’ve reached that destination, the quest will be worth it. Not only can the right editor help you with the manuscript at hand, they can also help you in your development as a writer. A good editor will be honest and upfront about the state of your manuscript but will also be on your side and support you.

One thing I love most about working directly with authors is that relationship we build, especially if we work together through multiple books. I’ve had the privilege of doing that with several authors, and my joy at watching an author blossom and develop as they continue writing is boundless. I wish that relationship for you, whether that is with me or with another editor.

If you’d like to see if I could be the right editor for you, fill out my editing query form. I’ll contact you for 1000 words for a free sample edit and will get back to you with a proposal.