One thing that I’ve said before and will continue to say is you need an editor. You don’t just want one. And you shouldn’t just consider one. You need one.
Editing yourself takes a very special ability, and while I’m sure someone out there can do it, it’s not advised. Editing requires a sort of unbiased point of view which makes it almost impossible to do properly yourself.
As a self-published author, I highly suggest hiring a freelance editor. Working with a company can be incredibly expensive. If you aren’t sure where to find a freelance editor, I made a post about Freelance Sites for Self-Publishing.
The one I recommend the most is Reedsy. They have a very specific screening process before listing professionals on their site, so you know you’re getting someone who knows their stuff.
And they have tons of professionals to choose from.
The only downside is that the freelancers choose the price. High quality work means higher prices. Which means you could be spending a lot of money on your editor. Worth it? Well, that’s up to you to decide.
There are a lot of other sites to find freelancers like I mentioned above, and I’ll be doing a post soon focusing solely on the Reedsy process as I get ready to publish my next book. But choosing the right editor from all those sites can be a little overwhelming, so here are a few tips.
1. Post a descriptive job listing where potential editors can apply.
Most freelance sites give you the option of posting a job listing for freelancers to apply much like a job ad on Craigslist. I suggest making this job posting as descriptive as possible, which means knowing the type of editing you need (proofreading, copy editing, line editing, developmental editing).
Also, make sure you list the blurb. Your editor will have to read your book to edit, and reading a book out of your comfort zone isn’t fun. The good news is that this helps you find an editor who will be excited about working with you!
On sites like Upwork, you can also ask your freelancers to answer questions when applying to make sure they’re the right fit and are qualified for the job.
2. List a Reasonable Price.
A lot of freelance sites allow you to choose the amount you are willing to pay for the service. While using freelance sites can save you money, you must understand that freelancing is how these individuals make an income.
If someone is going to spend a lengthy amount of time editing your book, you should offer a worthwhile payment. Otherwise, you’re likely to end up with poor editing.
In other words, you get what you pay for.
3. Read All Applications Before Interviewing.
Not every person who applies to edit your book is the right editor.
Reading through all the applications you receive can help you weed out the potential editors who are right or wrong for your book.
You definitely shouldn’t choose the first person who applies. The right editor will have experience, and be excited to work with your genre. It shouldn’t just be a paycheck. They should be excited about working on your book.
4. Interview Your Potential Editors
Some people skip the interview process, but I advise against it. Every genre has specifics, and knowing if your editor has experience in the type of editing you’re looking for is important.
You should make sure you and your potential editor are on the same page when it comes to editing, time frame, and payment. The interview process is great for this.
5. Choosing Your Editor.
The last step is choosing the editor who is right for you. I can’t say exactly what that means, but I can say you’ll know when you know.
The perfect editor should be excited about the opportunity, interested in your story, and invested in the project overall. You should hear things like “this is right in my wheelhouse.”
The perfect editor will have a realistic timeline.
I’ve worked with editors before who just had too many open projects, and ended up regretting it overall. They either rushed through mine to meet the deadline (which I would have moved for better quality), or they put mine on the back burner to finish their other projects.
Solving this problem has been as simple as asking what their timeline looks like, and explaining that I value their time, I value the other projects they have, and I’m willing to work with them on it.
Showing respect to others goes such a long way.
Bonus: Hiring More Than One Editor.
This is a tactic that seems ridiculous to some people, and genius to others. It means you have a developmental editor, proofreader, line editor, and all of them are different people.
Expecting one person to do all these jobs is a lot. And it means more money and time. But sending off your book to multiple freelancers could mean smaller chunks of change for each one.
In short, there’s no one who knows your book better than you! And that means that finding your perfect editor is your journey to a polished book. But I believe in you, and I believe in the power of freelancers.
Good luck finding your perfect editor!
xoxo,
Ellie,