What to Expect When You Hire a Book Editor

If you’re a brand-new author who’s just finished your manuscript, you need an editor to look over your project and make sure it not only adheres to the genre and is cohesive but is also clean and enjoyable to read. They play a necessary role in your publication journey regardless of which path you take to get there. But what can you expect when hiring an editor when you’ve never done so before? Below are some of the main things you can expect when you hire an editor.

Finding an Editor

So you’ve finished your manuscript, and you don’t even know where to begin to find the editor you need for the project. One way to find editors is through social media. You can post on your account(s) that you need an editor for your project, and editors will flock to your post to offer their assistance.

Another method is going through an agency. For example, I’m a part of an agency called the New York Writing Room, and the editors there are vetted before joining, so you know you’re dealing with professionals. A similar site is Tessera Creatives, where you’d be paired with BIPOC editors and writers of different backgrounds. You can also try sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and freelancer association sites. Or you can do word-of-mouth recommendations.

An Introductory Conversation

When you reach out to the editors you’re thinking of working with, you’ll need to introduce yourself, whether that’s through email or a submission form on their website. As you fill it out, be sure to add who you are, your book’s genre, a summary of the book, the word count, and when you need the manuscript back. These details help the editor better determine if they can take on the project and whether it’s something they’re interested in.

During this conversation, you can also ask for a sample edit if that’s something you’ll need to determine which editor to work with. Some editors offer this service for free, while others charge a fee; the fee amount depends on the editor. Part of the reason some editors might charge a fee is that it takes work to provide a sample edit, and this could be time away from other projects. I will personally complete up to 10 pages of your project at no additional cost. If you and the editor hit it off, you’ll move on to the next step in the process.

Determine the Scope of the Project

Because you’re a green author, you may not know exactly what kind of edit you need. (Here are the different kinds of edits a book editor does.) This is where the sample edit may be beneficial. Based on the sample, the editor can determine what type of edits your project needs and the cost of providing said service(s). Some books may require a heavy copy edit, which takes more work and time than a light copy edit. Therefore, an editor may charge more for the former. They can also offer packages, if they provide any, that would be a double edit at the same time. This saves you the headache of having to find an editor for every step of the process.

Once the editorial service is determined, the editor will give you a quote for the project. Some editors, like myself, charge on a per-word basis. Other editors charge by the hour, and some charge a flat fee. It depends on their preference. If you decide you can afford the service and want to move forward, you’ll proceed to lock in your dates.

Sign a Contract or Service Agreement

After you’ve determined how much you’ll pay and which service you want, the next step is to hammer out the details and create a contract or service agreement. The service agreement will outline the cost, the type of editing, the timeframe for returning the manuscript, the scope of the edit, the payment method to be used, and other relevant terms and conditions.

Signing the service agreement means the project is locked in, so to speak, so that the editor makes themselves available to work on your project on the agreed-upon dates. Some editors require a down payment at this stage, but I don’t. I prefer to be paid once the manuscript itself is ready.

Payment Schedule (Pay Half Up-front and Half When the Project Is Completed)

What may throw you off is that it’s an industry standard to pay 50% of the project cost upfront and the remaining 50% once the manuscript has been returned. Not all editors require this. Some offer payment plans to make the project more affordable, but this isn’t always the case. If you need to split the payments, notify the editor so you can both devise a plan that works for you.

Professional and Constructive Feedback

Once the editor has your actual manuscript, you can expect professional and constructive feedback. All editorial feedback should aim to improve the book and offer insights that you, the author, may not have considered. It’s never appropriate for an editor to push their will or opinion onto your project.

What this means in practice is that an author should never rewrite your words unless you give them express permission to do so. An editor should also never tell you things like “I don’t like this line” or “This is boring.” Because it’s not only hurtful and mean, it’s unconstructive. There’s nowhere to go with feedback like that.

Good feedback should look like, “The word choice reads a little clunky. Maybe you could use this wording instead.” Here, the editor provides feedback and offers a solution. They are not telling the author what to do but instead are providing options.

Continued Work After the Editor Returns the Manuscript

You may be under the impression that when an editor gives you your manuscript back there, there’s no more work for you to do. They give it back to you, and it should be clean. That’s not how the publishing world works. A professional will use the Track Changes function in their word processor (more than likely Microsoft Word) so that you can see the changes they made. This function also allows you to accept or reject any changes as you go along.

It will feel tedious, but it’s essential to be thorough. As stated in the previous point, this is your story. You get to choose what goes in it and what doesn’t. If you want a clean manuscript, one without any Track Changes, let the editor know. They may provide a version with the changes and one without, depending on what you discuss with them.

You Don’t Have to Follow All the Editor’s Feedback

Going off the last point, you don’t have to listen to all the editor’s feedback, even if it’s constructive. Your story is yours to mold and shape. If anything an editor says doesn’t vibe with you, then it’s all right to ignore it. Just because you paid for the advice doesn’t mean you have to take it if you disagree with it. And don’t feel guilty for not taking someone’s advice. You’re in control of your work, so take control of it freely.

Additional Sessions to Talk Through Edits

Some editors, including myself, offer Zoom or phone calls to review the edits they made. I offer a complimentary one-hour call to address any questions a client may have about my edits or to review any editorial changes they would like to discuss. It’s a way to gain a better understanding of what the edits mean, why they were made, and to make changes if needed. It’s also a time to brainstorm if necessary.

The Editor Might Ask for a Testimonial

Finally, after the project has ended, some editors may request testimonials to include on their websites or professional profiles. This is entirely optional and not something you have to do unless you choose to. However, if you feel so inclined, know that it greatly helps the editor in securing even more clients if other professionals and authors have vetted them.

Working with an editor can be scary if you don’t know what to expect, but hopefully, with this knowledge, you’ll find the journey a little easier.