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7 Useful Tips for Working with a Book Editor
February 5, 2025
Working with a Book Editor
So you’ve finished your manuscript . . . congratulations! Now what do you need to know about working with a book editor?
When you’re ready to find and work with an editor for your book, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. But I’m here to help!
Hi, I’m Kaitlin, an editor for indie romance authors, and I know how overwhelming this part of publishing a book can be. Don’t let it keep you stuck! Here are my seven best tips for setting up yourself—and your editor—for an enjoyable and successful editing process.
1. Be prepared
Being prepared isn’t just for Boy Scouts! There are a number of things you can do to prepare for working with a professional editor that will help create a great experience for both of you.
First, do research on your potential editor before contacting them. Find out whether they edit your genre, their training and experience, and which type of edit they offer (do they provide a developmental edit, line edit, copy edit —or do they just proofread?)
This little bit of research can go a long way in narrowing down your choice of editor. Once you find a few that sound like they might be a good fit, then you can contact each one to discuss your editing needs and eventually decide who to hire.
Another significant part of preparing your manuscript for an editor is doing a self-edit.
But, Kaitlin, you might be thinking, that’s why I’m hiring a professional editor! Why do I need to self-edit?
Good question! Here’s why:
Every typo, inconsistency, or syntax mistake you catch before sending in your manuscript means one less error your editor will need to spend time on, helping them be more effective and focus on the more significant revisions that will really make your story shine. (And the less expensive it will be for you if they charge by the hour!) That’s why I advise: Don’t submit your book without that important first round of review!
Last, you’ll need to properly format your manuscript. Check with your editor to see how they’d like to receive it. When I work with authors, I just ask for a Word document attached to an email because I don’t mind changing the formatting, but other editors may prefer something different.
When in doubt, stick to the industry standards: Your manuscript should be double spaced, Times New Roman font, size 12, no tabs (first line indented instead), with page breaks added and extra line breaks removed.
(Psst . . . If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of self-editing, or unsure where to start, check out my best tips for self-editing.)
2. Be honest about your timeline
When you hire your editor, make sure you’re both clear on the timeline. Make sure that their schedule fits your schedule, and give yourself plenty of time to go through each level of editing before moving to the next step. Don’t rush the process. Rushing never makes your book better—trust me!
Both you and your editor need enough time to give your story the attention it deserves. A good rule is to estimate how long you need, then add a generous amount of cushion time (and thank me later!).
3. Communicate
The editing process will go much more smoothly if you can find an editor with a communication style that works for you. When you reach out to a potential editor, be sure to ask questions about their communication style.
For example, how often do they provide updates? (Weekly? Every other week?) How detailed are those updates? How quickly do they respond to emails? What is their feedback style in their edits? (The sample edit they provide will give you insight into this one—more on this later!)
When working with a book editor, it’s important to communicate your own feedback as well. How do you feel about your manuscript? What are you nervous about? What do you need help with? If anything comes up, tell your editor ASAP!
Lastly, follow up with your editor when your start date is approaching to make sure everything is on track or to adjust the schedule if needed.
Remember: You and your editor are a team. In any partnership, communication is key (cliche, but so, so true).
4. Get ready to handle editorial feedback
No matter how strong of a writer you are, your manuscript will come back to you with a lot of revisions. That’s totally okay! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your manuscript isn’t a magical unicorn, and it isn’t Mary Poppins (practically perfect in every way). The good news is, it doesn’t need to be! It’s the editor’s job to get the book where it needs to be.
More good news: You can soften the blow by preparing ahead of time to manage any feelings that pop up at the sight of all that red ink (or red type, in our digital age). This blog post and this one share both mindset and practical tips for handling all the feels that can come with that dreaded editorial letter.
Be sure to to ask your editor how they suggest you approach revisions. And take advantage of convenient tools that can save you time and headaches when sitting down to that hefty round of edits!
5. Change your perspective
Sometimes, feeling better about editorial feedback takes a change in perspective, so I’m letting you in on a little secret: Editing is a team sport. You did the hard work of writing a book, and now your editor will help polish it to perfection (or, at least, as close to perfection as humanly possible).
A traditional publishing team may include many editors, each with a specific area of expertise: a developmental editor, a line editor, a copyeditor, and/or a proofreader. As an indie author, you might only have one editor, maybe two, but each still plays a critical role in getting your book ready for readers to fall in love with.
Try to think of it this way: The editing process is author AND editor, not author VS. editor. No one is plotting against you or trying to make you feel bad. In the big picture, you’re both working toward the same goal—a polished, error-free novel!
6. Trust your editor
You hired a professional editor for their expertise, so trust that they know what they are doing. If you find yourself rejecting every little thing they revise, it’s time to pause and consider why.
If you’re super attached to your manuscript and can’t bear to change anything, see tips #4 and #5 above. Your editor is here to help you make you book as successful as possible. Trust their judgment. (This doesn’t mean you have to accept EVERYTHING they suggest. More on that in tip #7.)
Maybe, though, you’re working with an editor who isn’t a good fit. Sometimes this happens. To avoid this scenario, here are a few guidelines for making sure you have a quality editor in your corner:
First, make sure they are qualified to do the job. What education/training have they completed? Are they members of any editorial associations or memberships? Do they have reviews or references from past clients?
Second, make sure you get a sample edit before hiring an editor (many editors offer this for free). This will help you know if their feedback style is going to mesh well with you and your book. (What’s a sample edit? So glad you asked!)
7. Know that your opinion matters
I know, I know. I just finished saying that I want you to trust your editor. This is 100% true. You hire an editor for a reason, and you absolutely need that expert, objective pair of eyes on your book. BUT I also want you to trust yourself! You know your story, your characters, and your writing style best. So this is me giving you permission to go with your gut on some of those editorial decisions, especially when it comes to individual style choices.
Just because your editor tells you to change something doesn’t mean you HAVE to do it. It’s YOUR book. You get the final word (literally and figuratively)!
How do you feel about working with a book editor?
Now that you’ve read this blog post, you’re ready to rock the editing process! How are you feeling about finding the best editor for your book? If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to talk about how I can help. Just send me a message here. I can’t wait to read your story!
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