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It can be nerve racking and anxiety inducing to hand your manuscript off to someone else, but it has to be done! Editing is such an important part of the process, and can bring so much clarity to your story. The best part? The more times you do it, the less scary it seems! To make yourself feel a little bit better, here are a few things to help you determine who your right-fit editor is.
Keep an eye out for quality
The first step to making sure an editor is legit is pretty simple: make sure their website looks the part. I’m not saying it needs to be a professionally designed website, but make sure it’s not riddled with errors. I like the look of a website that has been updated semi-recently (or at least shows that the editor is still in business), offers information about each of the services, and perhaps includes some testimonials or a portfolio. You should be able to get a general vibe about this editor from their website or social media accounts alone. If you’re not getting a good feeling from them overall, perhaps keep looking.
Expect a reasonable response time
When I contact someone I want to work with, I expect to hear from them in a day or two, or whatever’s reasonable (I always assume that they don’t work weekends or holidays, so I’m generally more forgiving during those times). If the editor lists a response time on their website, that should be your expectation going forward. If they don’t include an expected response time, you can assume it will be something reasonable, like a handful of days. If your response goes unanswered for a week, it might be time to inquire somewhere else.
Ask for a sample edit
I’m always surprised by how many editors don’t just offer this in the first place, as I’ve found that it’s incredibly helpful to me, and to my potential clients!
For me, the sample edit lets me “practice edit” the project, which gives me an idea of how long it will actually take to edit the full manuscript. My pricing is so much more accurate after this—far more accurate than an approximated guess might be.
For you, as the potential client, this sample edit allows you test drive what the edits and comments might look like. Does the editor come across as a little too blunt for your taste? Do they only offer short comments without explanations, or do they make sure that you understand their thought processes each time? There’s no one-size-fits-all for editors, and your preferences might be different than the next writer’s. Taking a peek at this sample edit will definitely help you determine if you and the editor will be a good fit or not.
I’d also like to point out that this sample edit provides a great opportunity for you to test out the technology. Make sure you understand how to accept a change, or reject one. Delete a few comments. Make sure that however the editor returns the manuscript is compatible with whatever program you plan to use. If you think there might be a compatibility issue, or if you need the editor to accommodate technological limitations, it should be discussed with your potential editor at this point, not later down the road when you’re finalizing plans.
Engage with them about your project
I love to talk with potential clients about their projects! Knowing what their publication plans are, how confident they are about editing, what they’re most worried about, and where they see their writing career going can help me tailor the project to them. It’s helpful to see what the author thinks their strengths and weaknesses are, because often, I see different ones, and can call attention to them appropriately. I might tweak different sections in my editorial letter or style guide based on what the author wants, or even shift how much I explain in my comments. The services I offer for this particular project might change as well. Knowing this information also helps us set expectations on both sides before we even begin collaborating. If we can get on the same page, the project is sure to go off without a hitch.
Review their portfolio, testimonials, etc.
Most editors have these things readily available on their websites, and they can be treasure troves of information. While perusing their portfolio, take notice of what genres come up the most, and if you’ve read any of the books. While reading through testimonials, take note of patterns you see, the same praise being given over and over. If any of this clicks for you, that might be a sign that this is the right editor for you and your project!
Ask your writing friends for suggestions
Of course, a surefire way to find an editor you trust might be to ask for recommendations. You can ask your writing friends, or even post on writing-related Facebook groups or forums. Knowing that other people have worked with the editor and can vouch for them can really make a difference. Make sure to ask lots of specific questions to the person doing the recommending. It’s nice to get a good idea of what the editing process was like for them with more specifics than “I loved working with so-and-so.”
The lesson here? Don’t be afraid to talk to your editor about your project, about how they work, and about how you can have a successful collaboration. If the editor is worth their salt, they’ll be happy to get on the same page with you too.
