Welcome back to another blog. If you’re new here, I’m Megan, and I’m a professional writer, editor, and aspiring author.
In this post, I want to talk about hiring an editor for your manuscript. We’ll cover:
- The types of editors.
- What you should look for in an editor.
- How an editor can help you.
- Whether or not they’re worth the expense.
- Where you can find them.
- What may happen if you choose not to hire an editor.
If you prefer video, here you go!
A note before we dive in
To be clear, I understand that editors can be a big expense, and not everyone is in a position to pay for one. I get it. I’ve only hired an editor a handful of times. The first time, I had to plan and save for a while. And even then, when I spent that money, I felt it. This time around, I pulled the trigger faster because I was able to.
I do not believe that you have to have an editor to land a literary agent or get published. I do believe it can be very beneficial, under the right circumstances.
There are different types of editors
First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page. There are different types of editors. For instance, if you hire a copyeditor, they’re going to polish your manuscript and look at details like spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
A developmental editor, on the other hand, is looking at bigger aspects of your manuscript, like character arcs and pacing.
This is the first thing to consider when you’re looking for an editor: What type of editor do you need?
Personally, I can’t imagine ever hiring a copyeditor because I have always had a good eye for detail, and I don’t make many of those types of mistakes. I write and edit for a living. That’s not to say an editor wouldn’t catch mistakes that I missed. Rather, I don’t think it would be worth the investment for me.
Both times I worked with an editor for a full manuscript edit, I got a developmental edit because pacing and arcs are something I do find very challenging to master.
What else should you look for in an editor?
References are a huge help. I prefer word-of-mouth recommendations. That makes me feel safer. This is indeed how I found my editor!
Or, you can kind of work backward. If you’re talking to an editor, ask for references and contact those authors directly to ask what their experience was like working with that professional.
This next point, I think, might depend on what type of publishing you’re pursuing. Because I want to get a literary agent and be traditionally published, I specifically looked for editors who are also agents. This is not uncommon. There are many of these folks!
This isn’t to say that an agent is, by default, a good editor. Rather, I wanted someone who has that insider knowledge, that industry knowledge. Yes, this industry is incredibly subjective. So I don’t assume that just because an agent edited my manuscript, when I start querying, other agents will flock to it. That’s not realistic.
But I am 100% confident that after working with my editor, my writing is significantly better than it was before. That’s a win.
Even if you’re not trying to get an agent, I’d still argue that working with someone who has that experience can be incredibly beneficial. But it’s not a prerequisite. There are plenty of amazing editors out there who are not agents.
What about editors with less experience? I’m going to come back to the money aspect in a minute, but generally, I don’t think it’s a red flag if a professional is newer to their field. We all start from the beginning. But their rates should reflect that.
How can an editor help you?
A lot of it depends on what type of editor you hire. Let’s dig into this a bit more.
By the time you consider hiring an editor, there’s a good chance that you’ve been working on your manuscript for a year or more. Maybe you’re like me, and by that point, you’ve read it at least 50 times.
Your eyes are going to glaze right over mistakes and weak spots, and you’re going to have a harder time thinking outside the box. This does not mean you’re a bad writer. It’s human nature.
You need fresh eyes. Yes, stepping away from your manuscript for a few weeks or months can help (a ton!). But it still isn’t the same as having a brand new pair of eyes on your writing.
A qualified editor is going to find things and come up with ideas that never would have crossed your mind.
Another thing I learned is that what you get out of a professional edit doesn’t end when your work with that editor ends. I still remember and implement the feedback that the first editor I worked with gave me—around a decade ago!
Look at it as an investment that keeps paying off because it’s going to make you a better writer indefinitely.
Is an editor worth the expense?
First, how much does an editor cost?
You might pay a couple of hundred dollars. You could pay thousands. It depends on the editor, the type of edit, and how they charge, although I think most charge by word. So the longer your book, the more you can plan to invest.
Is it worth it? That depends on you and your goals, and what you need and want. I recently sent my editor my first fantasy manuscript, and it was well worth the investment. I was ready and eager to invest in myself, and I have an editor I trust.
I believe in my story. I believe in its potential. And I knew that I could comfortably afford my editor’s rates without stressing. I also know myself very well, I know my writing, and I knew I would benefit greatly from a developmental edit.
That said, there was still only so much I was willing to spend. I would not have dropped $4,000 on an edit. That’s pushing it even for me.
That’s not to say that it would be overpriced. Again, it depends on the agent. I just know that even though I could afford that, I wouldn’t sleep at night.
Only you can decide if you’re in a position to invest in an editor. This industry is so competitive and saturated. There are no guarantees. I was comfortable spending this money, even if this book goes nowhere. Which I believe it will. But if it doesn’t, I’m confident that I won’t look back on the developmental edit and think it was a waste. I think I will still be glad I did it.
Where can you find editors?
All over! The publishing industry has a big presence on X, which is free. Ask other authors if they can recommend someone. This was how I found my editor (plus a few others I bookmarked!).
Another popular platform is Reedsy. My experience with Reedsy? I know the site is legit. But I requested quotes from several editors, and many didn’t even respond. And the few who did respond had very high rates. Maybe they were worth every penny, but it was beyond my comfort zone.
If I need recommendations in the future, I’ll probably go directly to X and ask the community. There are other platforms where you can hire freelance editors, like Fiverr. In my experience, because these freelancers typically charge less, which is nice, they make up for it by securing as much work as possible. This could mean that their main goal is to finish the job so that they can move on to the next paid project. Quality may go down, as a result.
I’m not saying they’re all like that. They’re not. But I’ve seen this enough that to me, it’s not worth even exploring Fiverr anymore.
What if you ultimately decide not to hire an editor?
Whether it’s because you don’t have the funds or you just don’t want to, are you screwed?
No.
Should you still get at least one fresh pair of eyes on your manuscript? YES!
This is what beta readers and critique partners are for. You can find other writers or readers who will read your book and give you feedback.
It’s a good idea to ask people to recommend beta readers. They can sometimes be super flaky. Also, make sure you’re seeking feedback from someone whose feedback you truly want.
It helps to have a beta reader who is interested in your genre and enjoys that genre. They don’t need to be a writer, although that helps, but they should be a reader.
They might ask you to return the favor. Be honest about what you can commit to. Don’t screw people over.
I might do a separate blog on beta readers because I think there’s more to consider, but if you go this route, be specific with the type of support and feedback you need. And…be prepared. Some betas are blunt.
(On a related note, if you’re a beta, don’t be mean. You can be concise while still being kind.)
That’s my take on hiring an editor. At this point in my life, I think I will probably always work with an editor. That’s just me. I have found it so helpful and worth every penny.
Andie Smith is who I work with. Thus far, she’s edited two of my query packages and then my full fantasy manuscript. There was a notable difference in my agent responses after working with her.
Ask around. Do your homework. Consider your finances. And you’ll be ok.
xo