10 Things to Know About Your Editor

So you have a manuscript, you've poured your soul into 80,000 words and have read and re-read each line at least a dozen times. You're ready to publish, right? Maybe...

Editors are invaluable to your process. A freelance editor can help from the first moments of a concept through the entire publishing and even marketing process. But choosing the right editor is a huge deal. You need to be comfortable with your editor, not only their skills but the way the editor presents the information, protects the author's voice, and helps to improve the story using the author's vision.

Before you choose an editor, there are things you should ask for. Here are my answers to the top 10 questions you should ask before choosing your editor.

1. What type of editor are you?

My passion is developmental editing, where I can help authors shape their book right from the beginning. I love encouraging believable worlds and strong characters and I enjoy supporting an author's voice. My developmental editing process includes rounds of copy editing, and I'm comfortable with copy editing on its own. I won't let anything go out the door without a thorough final proofreading.

2. What styles of editing are you familiar with?

I use the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition with Merriam-Webster dictionary to conform with the guidelines for novel writing and publishing. For those fun words we like to put into creative writing, I'm used to using Green's Dictionary of Slang and Urban Dictionary. Upon request, I'm familiar with APA formatting as is generally used in non-fiction and academic works.

3. Do you have subject or genre expertise or preference?

Romance is my genre, but if you want to challenge me, I'm up to try anything once. Within the romance genre I like dark, the darker the better. That said, after working on something really dark I enjoy a good romantic comedy to balance things out. I have real-world experience with disaster management, paramedicine, and law enforcement.

4. What tools do you use to collaborate?

I'm pretty open to what kinds of tools we use to pass draft documents back and forth. My favorite tool for developmental editing is Google Docs but I'm very familiar with Word as a collaborative tool. Most often I use Vellum for formatting eBooks and final proofreading. For each book, I track characters, locations, major plot incidents, style notes, and other important information on Google Sheets; this information can be used to create a style guide. If you want to try something else, I'm always open to learning; we may have to adjust timeframes to match learning expectations.

5. What type of edits do you think my book needs?

Before we start working together, I'll take a few chapters of your work in progress. You will receive notes on the level and complexity of the work involved and the chapters you submit will be edited so you can see my work. From this, we will create a work plan that suits the project and your needs, and we will go from there. As your editor, it is my role to provide suggestions and opportunities for improvements; you as the author will have final say in everything related to the editing of your manuscript.

6. How many rounds of edits do you think my book will need?

This really depends on where the manuscript is at when we start; the notes you receive from the assessment will help us clearly determine the work plan. Most books requiring only copy editing take about 3 rounds of pass backs plus a final proofreading. For more developmental work, or editing that requires super deep copy editing, you may need five or more editing sessions. Before we start a project, we will discuss the level of editing needed and set a schedule for rounds.

7. How do you determine cost of editing?

The cost of editing depends on the complexity of the project. Every assessment provides an opportunity to customize, ensuring that you, the author, gets exactly what you need at all times. I charge by the book, not the word and not the hour. Prices are fixed and agreed upon before the work starts. Editing services are tiered, meaning if you order developmental editing you also get copy editing and proofreading; copy editing always includes proofreading. You will never be charged extra for last reads or extra proofreading.

8. Do you provide other editing services such as for promotional materials?

Yes. I can help you draft the query letter sent to agents and publishers, the synopsis that goes with the query, and other promotional material. I will work with your graphic designers to make sure the copy in your promotional material is not only grammatically correct but also to make sure the design and content fit the tone and theme of the manuscript.

9. Can you tell me how you incorporate Beta Readers (first readers) into your editing process?

Using trusted Beta readers, individuals who read from a "reader" point of view and provide suggestions on how your audience will receive the book, can be helpful in preparing your book for editing or during stages of the editing process. If you are choosing your own Betas, make sure they know what you're looking for ahead of the read; "I enjoyed it" is a great boost to the writer ego, but it's not helpful to you as an author. I'm happy to incorporate all the information from your Betas in the developmental stage of editing.

I have a list of experienced Beta Readers that can also "blind read" your manuscript; they are not provided the sub-genre or author information to keep them focused on the book content in the most unbiased way possible.

10. Do you supply references?

Always. Once the assessment is complete, I would be happy to connect you with a number of other authors who have used various services.