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Every author, regardless of experience or genre, needs an editor. There are no exceptions. However, finding the right editor for your book may be daunting. Particularly if you’re a new author working on your first book.
The best way to find an editor is to ask for referrals through writers groups, forums and associations. Then, once you have a few names, the next step is to reach out to them to see if they would be a good fit for you.
Your editor is your writing partner, so chances are you’ll be working closely together. He or she will also be working for you. So, as with any job, you’ll need to conduct a job interview. The following questions are a guide to help you determine if your prospective editor would be the best fit for you.
- Do you edit books in my genre?
- Do you charge be the hour, or by the word count?
- How much will you charge?
- Do you offer manuscript evaluations?
- How long is your turnaround time?
- Would you have any issues if my manuscript should contain graphic violence, sexual content, or harsh language?
I found Cynthia, my current editor, at a writer’s association meeting. We were both surprised to see one another as both of us were, at the time, also performers in Tombstone, Arizona. Because we already knew one another we knew we would be a great fit as we shared other interests besides writing. We also have the same twisted sense of humor. Never underestimate having a good sense of humor. The relationship between author and editor can be intense at times, so being able to crack a joke relieves a lot of tension.
Gayle Martin aka Marina Martindale
The main caveats might be writing for academia or a publicist or a trade publisher, and then yes, get a professional editor. But even then, if you do land a publisher, they will re-edit it anyway.
However, for the mass public reading trash, nobody cares if it passes the Chicago Style of writing. Just make sure you don't screw up character names or places.
In addition, if the editor charges by the word, make sure to count the sentences quoting from another person, in footnotes, or documents, such as the Bible, and don't include those in the word count since they don't need editing, as long as copied verbatim.
Finally, don't be afraid to negotiate the price! Many editors expect negotiation, so their quote will be astronomical to start. (This review was Unedited)
When I first self published, my ambitious publisher told me that he would edit my books, himself. That was true of the first book, but it was small. The "sequel" that he asked for, ended up being a six-month ordeal, waiting for the edited copy to come back. When the book was published, it was so full of errors that I had to republish it, seven years later. That soured me on editors.
Since then, I've been approached by editors, but paying by the word scared me, and some of the samples that I have received had the editor twisting around my words to different meanings and losing the well researched science in the process of making science fiction more readable.
However, a fellow author with an impeccably edited novel, decided to help me gratis. She has done a great job of proofing, but very little editing. Recently I submitted two short stories to a science fiction anthology. Some of the suggested edits were laughable. But most of the suggested edits were practices that I have learned from fiction. Shortcuts normally taken. The suggestions seemed to be making my writing capable to be read at the third grade level, adding words that I had purposely left out.
Ron