Choosing a book editor can be stressful. “There is a big difference between editors who point out all your literary weaknesses and come up with solutions – versus those who give you general advice that doesn’t go anywhere, ” says editor Natasa Lekic. Have a clear sense of what your goals are in the process before you begin contacting editors.
Do you just want a line editor to make sure you’ve got everything in the right place and you haven’t made any egregious punctuation or spelling errors? Do you need a content editor who will address big-picture issues? Are you looking for someone who follows all the rules laid out in the Chicago Manual of Style, or are you hoping for an editor with a more creative flair?
And then there is proofreading – a final check before publication to find missed typos, missing words, repeated words, spacing and formatting consistency. Proofreading should be the very last level of editing.
Are you anticipating to learn something during the editing process, or do you just want to send your manuscript off for editing and be done with it?
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Don’t Just Google Names
Just because an editor is listed on a particular website doesn’t automatically mean they are great at what they do. Due diligence on your part is still crucial. Rather than doing a general Google search, ask writers you respect whose work has been well edited for recommendations. Visit Writer’s Digest or other popular writing sites, and the message boards there. Keep in mind, however, that there is a difference between advertising on a site and being endorsed by them.
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Once you found several names of prospective editors, check out their websites, and contact them to find out if they are taking on new clients. Ask them whether they specialize in content, copy, or line editing, what genres they are most enthusiastic about, whether they offer a trial edit, and what their rates are. Many editors will offer either a free sample edit of your first chapter or one for a very small price. A trial edit is a great and inexpensive way to see if you’re partnering up with the right editor before you commit to a full edit.
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What to Look For in a Sample Edit
If you are able to find an editor who offers a free or inexpensive sample edit, take them up on it. There are a few things you should look for when the sample edit is returned. First and foremost, is it back to you within the time frame the editor promised? Missing that first deadline is a giant, flashing red flag. Once you have the sample back, what kind of changes have been made or suggested? Does the editor offer insights you may not have thought of before? Does she give you a reason for why certain changes have been made? Is she/he interested in your work?
- Do the grammar rules follow American English, which differs from British English?
- Does it test grammar, punctuation, and spelling? Even though the writing may benefit from heavier line editing, that is not part of this editing assessment.
- Grammar rules and recommendations vary by the style guide. The preferred style guide for this article is the Chicago Manual of Style, a common style guide for book authors.
- Dictionaries also disagree sometimes. The preferred dictionary for this piece is the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the 11th edition.
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What if I Disagree With What the Editor Says?
Ideally, your editor is seeing your work after (or at the same time) you’ve had two or three trusted beta readers go through the manuscript – and after you have done some serious self-editing. Ask the editor about the reasoning behind their changes. Is the story lagging? Was there a plot hole you forgot to fill-in? Or do their changes feel more about stylistic differences related to your unique writing voice? If that’s the case, it is a much more subjective issue, and I recommend making a list of the suggested changes with which you disagree. Then, talk to beta readers or fellow writers who know your work.
Not all authors take every single suggestion their editor makes. The choice is yours with respect to stylistic changes. Simply look at the editor’s reasoning behind some of the more significant suggestions they’ve made, weigh the validity of their argument, and then make your decision.
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What is The Average Price Range For Editing?
What should I expect to pay? How do I know I’m getting a good deal?
There is a huge price range for editing services these days, but in general for a quality edit you’re looking at ca. 2 cents per word for proofreading, 2 – 4 cents per word for copy editing and/or line editing, and upwards of 2 – 6 cents per word for a good, qualified content editor.
You’ll want to find out upfront if the cost includes revisions, or if you’ll have to pay extra for the editor to look at your work again once you have made changes. As for whether or not you’re getting a good deal, ask yourself what you hope to do with this novel. A good editor can mean the difference between critical accolades and scathing reviews. How much is that worth to you?
There are ways around the cost issue, so never let money—or the lack thereof—be your reason for putting out a subpar novel. You’ve written a book, the equivalent of running the marathon of your life. Hiring a qualified editor means the difference between you limping across the finish line or soaring past the competition.
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The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) publishes a chart of common editorial rates. The following list will also give you an idea of what editors usually charge. Keep in mind that rates vary greatly, though. The industry standard for a manuscript page is 250 words.
Copy editing:
$30-50 per hour. According to the Writer’s Market, the average is $35. Experienced copy editors might be able to edit about 10 pages per hour, which would mean they make $0.014 per word if they charge an hourly rate of $35. That makes $1,120 for an 80,000-word manuscript. According to the EFA, basic copyediting for an average-length manuscript would cost $960-2,560.
Line editing:
$40-60 per hour. Depending on the hourly rate and how long it takes to edit the manuscript, that would make $2,400-19,200 for an 80,000-word manuscript.
Some editors ask for around $0.02 to $0.03 per word (which would mean $1,600-2,400 for an 80,000-word manuscript).
Content editing:
$45-55 per hour. According to the Writer’s Market, the average is around $50.
Most editors ask for around $0.02 to 0.075 per word (which would mean $1,600-6,000 for an 80,000-word manuscript). According to the Writer’s Market, the average per-page rate is $7.50 (=$2,400 for an average-length manuscript).
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For most writers, that’s a lot of money. Can you get editing for cheaper? Probably. But you usually get what you pay for.
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Let’s say an editor can line and substantive edit five pages an hour. Which means an 80,000-word manuscript would take her about 60 hours. If the author pays her … let’s say US$500, she would make about $8 an hour – less than the minimum wage – for academic work! Someone who wants to make her living editing can’t afford to work at these rates. So that might mean the editor is forced to work faster and be less thorough, or you will need to hire someone who is just starting out as an editor and charges less. Of course, you could also limit yourself to just copy editing, but that won’t help you if your plot doesn’t work or you need help with point of view issues.
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How to Save Money on Editing?
What you can actually do to reduce your editing costs is to deliver a manuscript that is as clean as possible. Trim the “fat,” the unnecessary words and fillers, and catch all the grammar and spelling mistakes you can before you send the manuscript to the editor.
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Free software programs such as
are just examples of several programs that can help you with “pre-editing”.
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Of course, the costs of editing depend not just on the editor, but on various other factors too:
- Type of editing: For example, copy editing to correct spelling and grammar mistakes costs less than a substantive edit.
- Quality of writing: The more work the editor has to do to make the manuscript presentable, the more the editing will cost. Skilled writers with relatively clean manuscripts pay less. Editors will want to see your manuscript or at least a sample before they can determine the costs of editing.
- Length: Novels cost more than short stories or novellas, of course. But some editors work on sliding scales, so you’ll pay less per word for a longer manuscript than for a short story.
- Editor’s experience: If you hire an inexperienced editor who’s just starting out, you’ll probably save money, but (depending on the editor) you might sacrifice quality.
- Deadline: If the editor needs to work on a tight deadline, you’ll probably pay more for editing (most editors charge 25% more for rush jobs).
As you can see, there are different methods to calculate editing fees. Some editors prefer to charge by the hour. Others offer a flat rate that depends on word count, regardless of how many hours will go into editing the manuscript.
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The Advantage of a Flat Rate
Both the writer and the editor know beforehand how much the editing will cost. In contrast: with an hourly rate, the total costs won’t be determined until the editing is finished. Some writers fear the editor will drag out the editing to have more billable hours.
The Disadvantage of a Flat Rate:
Sometimes it can be difficult to estimate how much work is involved in editing a manuscript before you actually start working on it. If the editor underestimates the extent of the job, she ends up working for a very low hourly rate.
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Natasa Lekic wrote on WriteLife:
“The process of finding the right editor may seem like a slog, but it’s worth it. It takes three years at a publisher before you can edit your own books. Editing is a skill that comes from working with experts — other editors — for years. People who have only freelanced likely never had the opportunity to be guided and mentored by editors. Not only will a good editor raise the appeal of your manuscript, but more importantly, she will make you a better writer.”
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Find more on this topic:
https://authorunlimited.com/find-an-editor/
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/10-things-your-freelance-editor-might-not-tell-you-but-should
https://expertbeacon.com/how-find-right-editor-turn-your-manuscript-book/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/3-tips-how-to-reduce-you-editing-costs/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/why-books-need-editing-and-proofreading/
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