How to Choose a Freelance Editor for Your Book

It’s a big step in an author’s life when they decide to self-publish. There are many decisions to make, and hiring an editor is only one of them. Unfortunately, not every freelance editor has the skills to take your book to the next level. With so many people claiming to be editors, how can authors make the right decision? Here are some tips for choosing a freelance editor.

Know the different kinds of editing available.

The first step is to know what kind of editing services there are. An experienced editor should be able to help you choose which one is right for you. But it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the terminology. Keep in mind that this list does not include writer coaching or beta reading. However, those services are useful to first-time and experienced writers.

• Developmental editing

Developmental editors help authors to find the big picture and structural issues early on in their manuscripts. They do this by providing comments and suggestions for revisions in-line, accompanied by an “editorial letter” or “edit letter”, which is an overview of their professional impressions and suggestions. They may include in-line edits as examples of effective revisions for authors as a starting point.

This editing stage is great for first-time authors or those who are stuck in the revision phase and aren’t sure how to take a manuscript to the next level.

• Manuscript review

Like a developmental edit, manuscript reviews look at the whole manuscript, pointing out plot defects or structural issues. Unlike a developmental edit, manuscript reviews don’t include in-line edits or revision suggestions. Instead, they include a detailed “editorial letter” with suggestions for story development and professional impressions, and high-level recommendations for revision next steps.

• Line Editing/Copyediting

Line editing and copyediting often get confused, and they often do overlap, but they are somewhat different. Line editing dissects each line of text, rewriting when necessary and helping to make the content as smooth and seamless as possible. This service includes wordsmithing at the core of the manuscript.

Copyediting, like line editing, includes a fair amount of wordsmithing but takes a broader approach by focusing on grammar, usage, punctuation, and consistency. Copyeditors create a style sheet of the manuscript to adhere to and help prepare the text for publication. A heavy copyedit also includes rewriting and restructuring of sentences and passages, which is why it’s often confused with line editing.

• Proofreading

A final step before publication, proofreaders look for typos, misspellings, punctuation misuse, formatting issues, and other minor textual issues right before publication. This is an essential step, and authors do well to proofread their manuscripts before publication, especially if they are self-publishing. Often, proofreading and copyediting are used interchangeably in language, but it’s important to note that they are not the same service. Proofreading is not considered an editing service.

Check their credentials and testimonials.

A good writer, English or Literature major, or enthusiastic reader does not make a trained editor. Copyediting, line editing, and developmental editing are learned skills, and most editors take specialized courses or participate in internships to learn the industry standard practices for these services.

Some certifications you can look for are:

o   UC San Diego Extension Copyediting certificate.

o   UC Berkeley Extension Professional Sequence in Editing certification.

o   University of Chicago Editing certification.

o   Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) certifications and training.

Not every editor needs to complete a certification or attend training. Their experience and testimonials might be proof enough. Testimonials from previous clients are an industry standard and should give you an idea of the kinds of projects they’ve worked on in the past and how clients felt about their work. If they have examples of published projects they worked on, even better!

Seek out genre specialties and industry knowledge.

What kinds of books do they have experience with? Editing fiction requires a different skill set from editing medical journals. Do they seem to have experience with your genre and the industry? Genre familiarity is beneficial when dealing with genre trends and tropes.

Are they open to sharing the knowledge they do have? Editors should be a resource to authors. You might want to rethink their qualifications if they seem closed off and reluctant to share their opinions and experiences.

Organizations like the EFA offer training and certifications for editors in specific genres such as fiction, romance, young adult, children’s books, and graphic novels. Not every editor needs to take these certifications, but they can indicate to you as an author that an editor is serious about their craft.

Find an editor you get along with.

Some people are just not fun to work with, and that’s fine. Early discussions may shed light on personality traits you’re not a fan of. Every editor works a little differently. Ask about their process and what will be expected from you as the writer. Some editors are more flexible with timelines. Others may not be so forgiving. Ask about communication preferences. Do they ask questions as they go, or will you get the manuscript returned with comments and questions all at once?

Take advantage of sample edits. This can be a great chance for you as an author to determine whether you like their editing style or not. This is also a tool for editors to determine what level of editing they recommend. If an editor doesn’t advertise sample edits, ask for one anyway. If they aren’t willing to complete one that may be a sign of inexperience or untrustworthiness. (Please note that some editors charge a small fee for a sample edit, which is completely valid. Sample edits require effort and time to complete.)

Most editors coexist in bookish communities. You might have a connection to an editor already!

Where do you find a freelance editor?

There isn’t one single marketplace to search for and hire an editor, which can be frustrating for authors. Marketplaces like Reedsy are nice because the editors on the platform are already vetted, but you pay a premium price for that service because of the fees associated with it.  

I’ve met authors who found their editor through a Google search, social media, and even Reddit and are completely happy with the outcome. The EFA, ACES, and other trusted organizations have editor directories, which you can search with different filters. You might also join writers’ groups and self-publishing groups to get recommendations. Keep in mind the suggestions above, and you’ll find the right freelance editor in no time!

Are you ready for editing? Contact me about a sample edit today.