Do a quick google search and you’ll find plenty of info on what services book editors offer you as an author—but have you ever wondered what book editors DON’T do? I thought it might be helpful to break that down today, especially if you’re working on your first book and don’t plan to use a traditional publisher.
Hey, I’m Kaitlin, a copy editor for self-publishing romance authors, and this is my top seven list of things book editors don’t do. Let me know if any of these surprised you!
I once saw an inquiry on a job board from someone who used generative AI to “write” a novel. They wanted an editor to rewrite the draft to make it better. Umm, no thank you.
The short story? Editors edit, not write (shocking, I know). That doesn’t mean we’re not excruciatingly familiar with comma rules and proper sentence structure, understand genre conventions, or don’t write ourselves on the side. It just means that our editing services are for improving the story that’s already there, not completely redoing it.
Now, let me add a couple qualifiers to this general rule.
If you are hiring an editor to do a line edit, there will be a bit of rewriting involved. Line editing means your book editor will review your sentence structure, stylistic choices, dialogue, tone of voice, and many other things that impact how your manuscript flows. Your editor will submit a lot of suggestions for reworking certain sentences or areas of your book. However, that doesn’t mean we just go in and change everything! We’ll assess what can be improved and offer specific ways to change those things, but it’s still your job as the author to decide which changes to actually implement.
Developmental editing is one other service that involves some reworking of your content. A developmental editor evaluates your overall story and provides detailed feedback on its strengths and weaknesses. The editor reviews your plot, overall flow, pacing and structure, character development, and other big-picture elements of your novel. This is the first type of editing to start with, because it ensures the bones of your book are solid before you start revising smaller details.
Note: I don’t offer developmental editing or line editing in my business. There are plenty of other good editors out there who make that their focus!
(For more info on the four main types of editing, check out this post.)
If you’re a self-published author, I regret to inform you that marketing your book is your responsibility (sorry). Again: Editors edit. We’re not marketers. Please don’t rely on your editor to help you sell your book.
Your editor may give your book a shoutout on social media close to its release day or at a specific milestone of your project, but this is completely up to them and won’t be in their contract.
This doesn’t mean you have to figure it out from scratch! Check out these fantastic tips for how to self-market your novel and give yourself the best chance of success.
Some editors offer this service, but many don’t. Formatting a book is a separate service from traditional editing and often involves a separate contract and price. You’ll want to search specifically for a formatting expert, or get yourself started with this article. Some proofreaders also offer formatting, but be sure to check their contract so you know exactly what you’re getting.
As exhilarating as it would feel to only receive positive feedback from your book editor, this is actually a huge red flag. No book is perfect (even yours—sorry), and an editor’s job is to help improve your novel, not shower it with love-bombs. If the praise comments greatly outnumber the critical or instructional comments, run!
Why is this a problem? It means either the editor isn’t experienced enough to understand what your book needs (yikes), or they’re afraid of hurting your feelings so they offer more praise than critique, which is literally the opposite of what you’re paying them for. Think about it: You want to end up with an improved manuscript, not pay them money just for them to tell you your book is already fine. What a waste of time and money!
Pro tip: When you are looking for an editor, make sure you request a sample edit. This document will help you vet the editor’s feedback type and save you from potential headaches in the middle of the project.
Editing is a professional career and full-time job for many people. And while some editors work freelance or part-time, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to get paid. We are pouring hours and hours into your manuscript, so please don’t ask us to do something for free as a favor.
I wrote a whole blog post here about the cost of editing services so you know what to expect and why editors charge the rates they do.
As an editor, I’m on your side and I want you to succeed! Unfortunately, editors are not crystal balls for the publishing industry. It’s up to you as an independent author to sell your book, and nothing in an editing contract guarantees sales. There are many factors involved in selling a book, so please don’t blame your editor if your book doesn’t sell.
But don’t get discouraged! There are several things you CAN do to improve your sales results. For starters, check out my posts on writing an effective book blurb and creating your author website.
This is YOUR book, not mine. What you choose to do with your manuscript once you get it back from your editor is your business. I won’t get upset if you don’t take my suggestions—after all, you know your story best.
However, if you’re hiring a professional editor, I don’t recommend ignoring all or a majority of our suggestions. It can feel painful, discouraging, or even embarrassing to see red marks all over your manuscript, but that’s normal! Give yourself some time away from your book and the changes the editor suggests before returning to it. Even if you initially want to reject all the feedback, creating a little space for reflection and mental processing can help you work through the initial shock and help you see where the editorial feedback does actually strengthen your book.
No matter what you decide, though, your editor won’t hate you if you don’t accept all their revisions. And that’s the seventh thing that book editors don’t do!
Did any of these surprise you? The editing process can feel complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. If you’re thinking about hiring an editor for your self-publishing journey, I’d love to help! Reach out here and let’s chat.
If you’re ready to send your book to your editor, here are some basic formatting standards and tips that you can do to prepare your manuscript and make your editor’s life easier (and they’ll love you for it!).
If you’re an author looking to hire an editor, here are some author red flags that editors look for—check them out to see what worries book editors when talking to potential clients.
Here are answers to all of my most frequently asked questions as a professional freelance book editor. Some of these book editor faqs might surprise you!