So, you’ve finished your masterpiece. You’ve had it reviewed. You’ve revised it, polished some more, and at last you feel ready to release it to . . . no, not the world! What you need next is an editor. Here guest blogger Arlene Prunkl from PenUltimate Editorial Services kindly shares her 4-point checklist for finding a freelance editor.

Every writer needs an editor. But it’s confusing and sometimes overwhelming out there in the world of editorial services, and perhaps you’re unsure of how to go about hiring a freelance editor. The following four steps will help ensure you find the ideal editor for your manuscript.

Hiring an editor is one of the most important business and creative decisions you’ll make in the process of getting your book to market. You owe it to yourself and your readers to hire the best editor you can find for your manuscript. It’s also a hefty financial investment that requires careful research and consideration. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you need to think about now and as you’re taking this big step.

1. Your budget

First consider your budget for the entire project, not just the editorial portion. Some authors approach me with the notion that once they’ve finished with the editing, they’re ready to publish, without further costs. They haven’t researched the other steps of the publication process. You need to factor in some or all of the following: one or two rounds of editing, cover and interior page design, proofreading after page layout and design, printing or uploading, distribution, and marketing. In addition to an editor, you’ll likely need to hire specialists for several of these areas. (To learn more, visit my page describing the editorial process.)

So plan ahead. Determine your overall budget for the  project, allotting a certain amount for each step. Then find an editor who can work within the editing portion of your budget. The more homework you do, the better your chances are of getting the most bang for your buck in each stage of the publication process.

2. What to expect

Of course, you expect professionalism. To that end, check the editor’s credentials and references carefully, using the tips in point #3 below.

Then, besides examining an editor’s credentials, use your intuition and your gut feeling about their personality. You want to hire an editor who seems like a collaborative person, open to your suggestions, your ideas, and your style. Personalities differ, and not every editor’s ideas mesh with every author’s. Your editor’s energy should match your own, and you have every right to expect that your editor will be empathetic, gentle with criticism, and ethical. The human touch is an intangible, but something you’ll sense if you’re paying close attention.

Don’t expect a freelance editor to be available immediately. Although some may be, many good editors are booked months in advance. Hire your editor as far in advance as possible.

When submitting a sample of your writing or the full manuscript, you should expect complete confidentiality regarding the content of your work. Ethical editors never breach client confidentiality.

During the edit, you can expect that your editor will have ideas to contribute to your manuscript that hadn’t occurred to you. Working with a freelance editor will likely shed light on areas of your manuscript you haven’t thought to examine. You should be open-minded and ready to consider, if not embrace, any recommendations your editor may have.

Expect criticism. This is a biggie. The unvarnished truth is that a good editor is a critic. You’re paying good money to receive criticism from a professional with the goal of improving your work. Hard as it may be, try not to be sensitive or to take things personally. But—and this is important—you should expect your editor to deliver the criticism in the kindest possible way, gently, constructively, with positive suggestions for improvement. Your months or years of work should be treated with care and respect. And you should expect to come away from the edit enlightened and excited to move ahead.

Expect to do revisions. This is another biggie. Some authors contact me with the misconception that once the first pass of editing is complete, the manuscript is now ready to become a book. But not quite yet! Your editor will make many suggestions for change and improvement, and you’ll need to go through the manuscript word by word, meticulously revising as needed. In some cases you may have to move scenes around or rewrite entire chapters. Revisions are a big part of the editorial process that first-time authors sometimes neglect to factor in.

3. Your search

So where do you find your ideal editor? Remember that not all editors are created equal. Here are your main options.

• Search the Internet. Type in key phrases like “editorial services” or “manuscript editor.” Once you’ve found a potential candidate, make sure you’re comfortable with the editor’s approach to business. Does their site tell you everything you want to know about their services, including prices? Does the editor appear to have experience in your niche or genre, and lots of references you can contact? You probably have a general idea of what level of editorial services you need. If you’re unsure, see my definitions of editorial levels, then seek out editors whose skills match your needs.
• Get referrals from other writers. Do you belong to a writers’ group, perhaps a LinkedIn group, or an online forum? Tap into all your writing connections and put the word out that you’re thinking of hiring an editor. You’re bound to get all kinds of feedback.
• Look at membership directories in editors’ associations in the US, Canada, the UK, or Australia. (You can find these listed on my Resources page.) Each of these has membership lists where you can search for editors with the skills you need. Each also has a job board where you can post the details of your job, along with your budget and any other considerations.

4. Your research

The next step is to narrow your list of potential editors to just two or three with solid experience in your niche, people who appear to be skilled in the level(s) of editing you think you need. Next, phone or begin an email dialogue with each editor and listen carefully to determine their suitability. Discuss your project, and gauge their enthusiasm level. Does the editor’s energy match yours? Discuss rates and prices. Ask to see before-and-after samples from the editor’s other authors, which some editors may provide (with their author’s permission, of course). Ask for a small sample edit. From this sample and your total word count, a skilled editor will be able to tell you what kind of editing you need and what the estimated cost will be.

Important: If you’re testing more than one editor, send each the same sample so you can make a direct comparison between their skills and editing styles. Some editors will do a free sample edit; others will charge a minimal amount for a sample edit. Don’t discount those who charge; they may well be the busiest, most experienced editors and perhaps more likely to do the best work for your needs.

On your own, check credentials, testimonials, and references. Contact two or three of the editor’s clients to learn of their experiences with that editor. You can also try to get referrals from other editors, if that’s possible. If you’re considering hiring a certain editor, try contacting their colleagues or association to verify their credentials. Get a feel for that editor’s reputation in the editorial community and publishing industry.

In all cases, do your due diligence. Put in the time and effort required to make an informed, educated choice. Editing will be one of the biggest investments of your journey into authorship (if not the biggest), and you’ll want to spend your editing money wisely. And finally, keep in mind that a good editor will always want you to get the greatest possible value out of your investment and out of your editing experience.▼

This post first appeared as “Your 4-point checklist for hiring a freelance editor” on Arlene Prunkl’s website and has been modified slightly with her permission.

 

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Canadian Arlene Prunkl spends summers in Kelowna, northeast of Vancouver, BC, and winters in Puerto Escondido, a tropical getaway on Mexico’s south coast. With a professional background in writing, editing and communication, Arlene has been a freelance editor for 22+ years. She has a wide array of experience with both fiction and nonfiction in dozens of genres including memoirs,  self-help books, and books for children and young adults. She enjoys working closely with authors, whether they’re self-publishing, planning to find an agent, or are already with a publishing house.

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Indie authors in Europe could also search Find a freelancer, the membership directory of SENSE, the Society of English-language professionals in the Netherlands