In my last blog post, we looked at why you ideally need to have multiple editors checking your writing. In this week’s blog post, we will be looking at how to make sure you have editors that suit you and your work, as well as being easy to get along with. This is vital to make sure the editing process goes smoothly. It will be less stressful for you if you establish early on whether your style and your editor’s are compatible and ensure you have good communication. You should also find that the overall result of the editing is better if you have a good rapport with your editor, as it allows for more back and forth and they should have a better understanding of your work.
Genre
One of the best ways to choose an editor is to look at what genre they work in. This process is twofold – firstly, do they work on fiction or nonfiction? Secondly, what area of fiction or nonfiction do they specialise in? To go back to the first point, fiction and nonfiction editing require different skills and an editor may work in one area or both, possibly just offering proofreading in one. For example, an editor for your fiction book would need to evaluate your plot and structure, as well as how well it flows and engages the reader. On the other hand, a nonfiction editor will need to check a reference list and the citation method you have used for sources.
If you need a fiction editor, you will still want to put some thought into which fiction editor you go with. There are many different genres of fiction and you will want to ensure you choose one that specialises in your genre. This should mean that you get someone familiar with the style, meaning that they can recognise how well your book will work with your target audience. They will know the expected flow of the book, how fast a story progresses, and the level of detail and background information that is typical for the genre and the narration style.
However, if you are writing a nonfiction book, you will need an editor that is used to working on your chosen topic. For example, if you are writing a chemistry book, you will want someone with experience editing this area. This ensures that they are accustomed to seeing any special terms and abbreviations that are typically used and know their meaning. In addition, it helps to have someone with a background in your chosen topic, as they will know any technical terms, as well as having an understanding of the relevant issues. This ensures that they can check your work for topic accuracy as well as editorial problems, which is especially useful in the earlier stages. Ask editors what their services cover, as not all will check for accuracy, or this may be a separate service.
Levels
In a previous blog post, we have looked at the different levels of editing that your book needs. Knowing what level of editing you require is crucial to ensure that you find the right editor, as they will have different skills that are needed at different points in the editing process. For example, your first edit will need to be big picture editing, such as a manuscript evaluation. This is focused on things such as your plot and writing style, so it would not make sense to hire an editor that specialises in this to proofread your work. Likewise, you wouldn’t hire a proofreader to do the big picture editing, as they specialise in the smaller details such as spelling and grammar.
Timing
One restriction on which editor you can work with comes down to timing. Most editors will be booked up months in advance so you’re unlikely to be able to get one instantly unless there is a cancellation. However, you also need to bear in mind that editing a novel takes a lot of time – anywhere between a week and a few months, depending on the type of editing and the amount of input needed. Of course, you will need to ensure there is time for all the levels of editing you are having, ideally with some leeway between them. Due to these restrictions, it can take a while to match up your timing requirements with an editor’s availability.
Price
Another consideration when you are choosing an editor is your budget. The price of editing will depend on a few factors, such as your editor’s experience level and location. Of course, your self-publishing budget will need to cover a lot more than editing, so you will need to work out what is realistic. Once you have this figure, you can start looking for an editor that is a good fit.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this helps you to select an editor that is a good match for your requirements and your book. In my next blog post, we will be looking at how to write a sequel, so come back in two weeks for that!
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