If you’re a first-time author, you might be wondering what to expect from your book editor. What does the process look like? Which questions should you ask? How do you know if an editor is legit?
I’m Kaitlin, an editor for indie romance authors. The tips in today’s post will hopefully help you feel more confident stepping into this process!
(Plan to go the traditional publishing route? Keep reading! You may still need a freelance editor before you query literary agents or publishers.)
For writers who are new to self-publishing, the idea of finding, hiring, and working with an editor can feel overwhelming . . . but don’t let that stop you from getting your book out into the world! Here are the basic steps for finding an editor who will do a great job with your story.
No, I don’t mean ask for their fingerprints or pull up their credit history. I mean read their testimonials, ask about their training and experience, and check out their website and social media. A reputable editor will be professionally trained in editing, have a functioning website, and offer at least a few client testimonials.
If you like, you can also look at some of the books they’ve edited in the past. Be aware, though, that these books don’t always give you the full picture, depending on any other editors involved or an author disregarding the editor’s recommendations.
Once you’ve found a couple editors that have professional credentials and seem like a good fit, submit an inquiry to each of them. Usually editors will have a contact form on their website, or they may provide an email address for this. If they have good business practices, you should hear back from them within 48 hours (unless you submit on the weekend, then allow an extra day or two).
Some editors prefer to communicate via email only. Others will ask to set up a phone call or video call to discuss your project. All of these are just fine! It often just depends on the editor’s preferred communication style and whether or not you live in different time zones.
During your call or email communication, be sure to ask about their rates and availability, the editing types they offer (developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, or proofreading), and request a sample edit. Check out this article for a great list of questions to ask.
My top advice for this step: Don’t skip the sample edit!! This is an essential deliverable that any professional editor should offer, whether for free or a small fee. It will help you get a feel for the editor’s work BEFORE you sign a contract. More info now = less potential regret later on.
Once you’ve chosen an editor, make sure they send you a contract, and read it through carefully. Here’s what your contract should include:
Name & contact info for each party
Type & scope of service (including deliverables)
Quoted price (per word, per hour, or flat fee)
Timeline of the entire project, including any deadlines
Legal agreement (liability, modification clause, cancellation agreement, and an AI clause)
Nervous about contracts? I wrote a whole post for you here.
(Note: nothing in this blog should be considered legal advice. If you have questions about any of these items, contact an attorney in your area!)
Okay, you’ve set yourself up for a successful partnership with your editor. You’ve signed the contract and (gingerly) handed over your entire manuscript.
While they edit your book, what should you do in the meantime? (Besides endure the gnawing anticipation, obviously.) Keep reading for my top tips to help you through this nail-biting stage!
If you need to adjust your publishing timeline, let them know. If you forgot to tell them something important about your style, word choices, naming conventions, etc., let them know. Better late than never!
Your editor will likely have a way they prefer to communicate, so respect this whenever possible. In my editing business, I send an email to my current clients every Friday detailing my progress in the manuscript and asking any questions that may have come up while editing.
Make sure to check your email on a regular basis and promptly answer any questions your editor has sent.
Some editors use Google Docs to work, and it might feel tempting to go into the document and watch them edit. Please don’t do this! Plan to stay completely out of the document until they are finished with the project.
As an editor, I’ll confess that nothing is more annoying than having someone looking over my shoulder as I try to work (one of the reasons I DON’T use Google Docs). Plus, many editors—myself included—leave notes for themselves as they edit as reminders to check a punctuation rule, come back to a section, etc. If you pop into the document, those notes might not make sense to you. You may even try to answer them, which can cause more confusion and slow down the editing process.
Even if your editor doesn’t use Google Docs, it’s still best practice to stay out of your manuscript while they edit. Sure, you won’t be “watching” them, but you risk introducing errors your editor will never see!
My best advice: Turn your notifications off. Breathe. Consider this time a well-deserved break after your accomplishment of writing a book!
You may think your time with your editor is up, but there are still a few critical things you should expect from your book editor even after they’ve returned your manuscript.
Did they send any files or attachments? Make sure they open. Check that you received all documents listed in your contract, especially the style sheet.
Open up your document and begin reviewing the changes your editor made. There will be a lot of them. (Trust me, this is normal!). It’s usually best to review these in batches, taking breaks when needed.
If your stomach tightens at seeing all the edits and red text, that’s normal too! Remember, all these changes are going to make your story stronger. Still feel like crawling under a rock? I wrote a whole post on handling editorial feedback here.
If you’re working in Microsoft, your editor likely used the Track Changes feature (or the equivalent setting for Google Docs), so be sure to use this feature as you review and accept or reject each change. Keep a running list about things you need clarification on.
Finally, compile your questions into one email and send them to your editor. Since they may be starting other projects, keep in mind that it may take them a week or two to respond depending on the number of questions you have.
Some editors will post about your book on its release date or when you have an exciting publishing highlight, such as a cover reveal. Savor these milestones in your author journey and be sure to email the editor a brief thank you for the shout-out!
At the end of the project, if you’re happy with their work the best thing you can do is write your editor a testimonial. Professional editors should have a system for collecting these, whether as a Google review or requesting them directly to put on their business website.
If you haven’t received a testimonial request from your editor a couple weeks after receiving your manuscript back, it’s always nice to send an email and ask if they would like one.
After reading this post, do you feel more confident in what to expect from your editor? Continue your research with this article, or if you’re ready to start reaching out, I’m just a few clicks away. Let’s chat about your book!
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!
When should you use italics? When should you avoid using italics? When is italics a tool for an author and when does it detract from the story? Read this blog to find out!