You finally take the leap and decide to hire an editor . . . but let’s face it, there’s a lot of options.
It’s totally okay to approach an editor and tell them you don’t know what kind of editing your project needs. Part of your editor’s job is actually to set you up with exactly the right service to improve both your work and your skill set.
Of course, it never hurts to do your research first, and to also reflect a bit on what you want out of working with an editor. With that in mind, I have three tips to guide you through choosing the type of editing that’s right for you.
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We’ll cover—
● Where are you in the writing process?
● What options does your editor offer?
● Asking questions
Where are you in the writing process?
Consider where you are in the writing process. If you’re drafting, or just finished your first draft, you’re in a very different place from someone who’s already gotten beta reader and critique partner feedback.
But “process” doesn’t have to be constrained to a single project. Are you a first-time writer, or have you already written and/or published a number of manuscripts in the past? Your experience level can guide you toward your ideal editing service.
What options does your editor offer?
Explore your editor’s options—heck, explore many editors’ options. Search their websites and read through the offered services thoroughly to understand what’s on offer and who you might click with best. (Yes, choosing an editor relies both on their skill level and how comfortable you feel with them personally.)
Most editors offer the same and/or similar options, but we all approach them differently. Get an idea of what’s on the table, and hold it up to where you are in your writing process to help narrow down your options.
Ask questions!
Editors don’t expect you to come to the table knowing exactly what you want or need, and at the end of the day we want to make sure you get the editing service that will take you the farthest.
Your editor will ask you lots of questions about you and your work, and they’ll ask to see a sample of your writing, but this is by no means a one-way street. The more questions you ask about the editor, their experience, their services, and their recommendations, the more confident you’ll feel in your editing agreement.
Deciding to hire an editor for your manuscript is a big deal. Once you decide to take the leap, deciding which service will give you the most value doesn’t need to be stressful. Wondering what kinds of services editors typically offer, and what those services entail? I’ve compiled the four kinds of editing services (plus coaching!) you’ll see most often as you research editors (and writing coaches!) that are right for you.
Rachel Oestreich is a freelance editor and writing coach specializing in science fiction and fantasy, working with independent authors, small presses, and publishers like Orbit/Redhook, Sourcebooks, and Haymarket Books.
She holds an MFA in fiction writing and serves as an adjunct English instructor at her local university and community college, teaching courses on rhetoric, composition, creative writing, and fairy tales. When not working, she writes, reads, crochets, drinks tea, and manages her two cats and a basset hound named Grimm.
You can find her on Twitter @rae_oestreich, Instagram @racheloestreich, and her website, The Wallflower Editing.
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