Do Indie Authors Need a Book Editor? The Definitive Answer From a Fiction Editor

October 2, 2023

I am active in a lot of author, editor, and self-publishing social media groups, and one question I see all.the.time from other members is: Do I need a book editor?

More specifically, do indie authors need a book editor?

I’m a fiction editor who specializes in working with newer indie or self-publishing authors so I admit I’m a little biased here, but YES. You absolutely need a book editor, especially when you are going the self-publishing route!

One of the appeals of self-publishing is that you don’t have to wait for someone to dig your manuscript out of the slush pile, but it does mean you are sourcing all the editing and other tasks a publisher would normally handle for you.

I know, I know, editing (well, good editing!) is not cheap. Working with a good, qualified editor is an investment, but it is one that is so worth it. However, editing doesn’t need to break the bank! When you are talking with potential editors make sure you ask about payment plans because many people working with indie authors offer them (myself included).

If you’re looking for other ways to mitigate the cost of professional editing you can start saving now so it’s not such a large cost when you’re ready for an editor, OR you can look critically at your manuscript and decide which type of editing you would like for your book. Yes, in a perfect world you would go through each level of editing, but I understand that when you’re just starting out as an author you may not have the finances available for that. That’s ok! Choose the type of editing service that will be most beneficial to you and invest in that.

Keep reading to learn why editors are necessary for indie authors, how you can find an editor, and when you should begin looking for one.

Why should you hire a freelance editor?

Look, you absolutely can publish your book without paying an editor. Do I recommend it? Uh…NO. Here’s why:

1. You want to put out a quality product.

If you want your novel to be the best it can be, you need to allow someone with the necessary training to use their eagle eyes to catch everything that may pull a reader out of the story. Readers want fantasy, and they want an escape! When your book hasn’t been edited it is more likely to have mistakes that remove the readers from the fantasy world you have created.

2. You're a professional writer.

It doesn’t matter if you have an agent, a fancy publishing advance, or a special-edition hardcover of your book. You are a writer! Part of being a professional writer is putting out a professional product free from errors. When you hire a professional editor, you can do that.

3. You'll lose potential lifetime readers.

You became a writer because you had a story inside you that needed to come out. Get the most eyes on your story by publishing it in its best condition. I know you’ve seen reviews on Goodreads totally trouncing on a book filled with typos, continuity issues, and plot holes.

What are the chances that those reader-reviewers are going to pick up a second book by that same author? Pretty slim! What are the chances that a lot of other readers are going to see those reviews and decide against reading that same book? Pretty likely!

I know it’s a hard pill to swallow, but reviews on websites like Goodreads can sometimes make or break a book’s success, or determine whether an author builds a loyal fanbase. Give yourself the best possible shot at gaining a loyal following by making sure every book has quality content that’s been edited by an expert.

4. You need fresh eyes.

Fresh eyes are invaluable to the writing process. You’ve just spent months of your life writing your story! Why wouldn’t you want to take a little time to step away from it and let someone with fresh eyes catch things you can’t see? Your book isn’t free from errors, and sometimes you really need an editor to see some of them.

Hiring an editor allows your story to speak. It gives it room to breathe and develop. Together with an editor, your story can be even better than you ever imagined.

Sometimes we have to get out of our own way for our best writing to come to life.

Editors can also flag sensitivity or conscious language issues for you. You may not realize something is offensive (or coming across that way). Working with an editor will help you to correct those issues before they alienate readers.

5. You want to work on your craft.

No, editing is not just finding grammatical errors. A good editor looks for plot holes, continuity and consistency issues, language problems, characterization, and voice (among other things!). It’s not just punctuation we are commenting on when we get your manuscript.

A good editor will point out things like filter words, crutch words, and things that don’t make sense in your story. We often can’t see these things on our own because we are too close to our writing.

If you want to improve your craft so you can make your novel the best it can be—and so you can keep writing books that just get better and better—an editor is who can help you with that.

How do you find an editor?

So, do indie authors need a book editor? YES. But where can you find one?

There are a lot of editors out there. It can be overwhelming to try and find one if you aren’t sure what exactly it is you want. In my experience, there are four main ways you can find an editor and I have listed them below, along with the pros and cons of each one.

(And if you aren’t sure what type of editing you need, check out my blog post “4 Types of Editing for Indie Authors” for more info! It goes into the specifics of developmental edits, line and copy edits, and proofreading.)

1. Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)

The EFA is a professional organization that freelance editors can join with a membership fee. There are two ways you can find an editor through the EFA. The best part about going through the EFA is that you are unlikely to find any scam editors there. Most scammers will not want to pay the membership dues!

1. You can fill out the Job List Submission Form and your job request will be sent out via email to all members in good standing with the organization.

Pros: You just need to fill out the form and then sit back and wait for qualified editors to send you an email about your manuscript. Easy peasy!

Cons: The jobs go out to a huge number of editors. You may get a lot of responses, and it could take you a long time to sift through them all. While the EFA encourages editors to only apply for jobs they are qualified for, some editors will pursue your job even if they do not have the experience you are requesting.

2. The Member Directory is a searchable database of all members in good standing. You can search via keywords or by checking boxes for skills, content areas, genre, materials, age, language, and software. When you search, all editors that fit the requirements of your query will be listed. You will see names and a short description of each editors’ services. If you click on an editor’s name you will be taken to their profile with more information about who they are, how long they have been editing, and a link to their website.

Pros: You are in charge of contacting editors you think would be a good fit for your project. Your email inbox won’t be inundated with responses to a job offer. You have complete control over this process.

Cons: If your search terms are too general you will have too many editors to properly vet. If your search terms are too specific you may miss seeing an editor who would be a great partner for you.

2. Social Media

Social media platforms are full of freelance editors trying to make connections with independent authors. You can join Facebook groups for writers or for your genre to make connections with editors. You can do a hashtag or keyword search on Instagram to find editors.

Pros: Connecting with someone on social media can give you good insight into who they are as a person and whether or not you would get along. You can usually scope an editor out before truly connecting with them by giving them a follow, reading their posts, or seeing how they interact with others on the platform.

Cons: There are a lot of scam editors active on social media! You need to vet editors you meet on social media carefully. Also, because there are a lot of editors active on social media, you may get overwhelmed with the amount of responses you receive if you post that you are looking for an editor.

3. Referrals

This is one of the most common ways to find an editor. Ask other authors who they have used in the past and then investigate on your own.

Pros: This editor has already been vouched for so you don’t necessarily need to be worried that they are a scammer. You have social proof that this person did a good job.

Cons: Just because someone has used an editor in the past doesn’t mean they are the right editor for YOU. Your critique partner may have really clicked with someone, but it may not feel right to you. That’s ok! Just because you get a referral doesn’t mean you have use it.

4. Google

Most reputable, professional editors have websites. Search using long keyword phrases to get results tailored to your needs. Then, scan through the results and see if there are any editors listed that might work for your project.

Pros: If an editor is showing up in search results they are most likely qualified and professional. You will be able to click through their website and get a good feel for who they are before contacting them.

Cons: If you don’t use specific enough keywords you may not get the results you want. It’s also tough to rank on the first page of Google! If you only stay on the first page you may only see very experienced editors who are likely charging more than you want to pay.

5. Me 🙂

Ok, I know I said there were four places to find a good editor, but I couldn’t resist. I’m a professional editor who specializes in working with indie or self-published authors. Romance novels are my preferred genre and I work with all spice levels. Send me a message and let’s chat!

Top tips for hiring an editor

I recently wrote a blog called “11 Essential Questions to Ask an Editor Before Hiring Them” and if you want more tips for hiring an editor I encourage you to read through it!

Here are just a few of my top tips for new authors trying to hire an editor:

1. Beware of red flags. Lack of editing qualifications (no, being great at grammar doesn’t count!), fast turnaround times (no, you can’t copyedit an 80,000 word novel in one week), and prices that are too good to be true (likely a sign of someone who will not do a thorough job) are all things that should get your spidey senses tingling.

2. Meet them via video call. Don’t do everything over email. You need to speak with your editor on a video call to make sure they are a real person and to make sure you get along. The editing process is a partnership and you need to be comfortable handing your book baby over to them. Many authors choose to work with the same editor for multiple books, so keep that in mind.

3. Sign a contract. This protects you and your intellectual property. Do not send any money without a contract in place. This way your editor can’t swindle you out of any money if they don’t complete the agreed upon editing service. Your editor should have one that you can review and sign.

When should you start looking for an editor?

Now that you know that the answer to the question “Do indie authors need a book editor?” is YES, you need to start thinking about booking one.

The sooner the better! Some editors can only take on one project per month, and schedules fill up fast. If you are finished with your first draft you may want to start looking for an editor. This way you can find one while you work on self-editing and completing the revisions your beta readers suggest. It’s also a good time to request sample edits from potential editors and see which one has a style you connect with.

That being said, while many editors do book months in advance, not all do. Sometimes a great editor has a slot open unexpectedly and they will advertise it on their social media platforms. You can also usually find editors advertising their services in Facebook groups.

Need help keeping everything organized as you work towards your publish date? Download my FREE Self-Publishing Planner at the bottom of this page.