In this episode, we'll discuss:
- The trouble with finding book editors online
- What a book editor actually does
- The difference between Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Developmental Editing
- How to find a book editor
Table of Contents
In today’s episode of The Writing Basket, Ellie talks about finding a book editor for your manuscript!
Fiction editing is a tough, competitive business, and there just isn’t a lot of good, reliable information out there on how to find a book editor. Everybody needs an editor, after all, and spell-check doesn’t cut it!
So, let’s get into it!
What an Editor Does
Yes, finding a book editor can be tough, but what are you even looking for? What does an editor actually do? Well, as an editor myself, I can say it’s a lot of clerical work, outreach, and blog writing. Oh yeah, and editing books.
Book editors tend to come with three primary services, which we’ll discuss in the next section: Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Developmental Editing. If you want to know how to find a book editor, you have to know what your book needs. So, it’s pretty standard practice for editors to give out free sample edits and consultations. That’s what we spend most of our time doing, since we usually only work with three or four manuscripts per month. Because of that, expect to wait a little while before your book actually gets onto your editor’s desk! It’s a lot of work to edit, after all.
Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Developmental Editing
Every book needs at least one of these services! But what are they? And how do they help you with finding a book editor?
The first service, Copy Editing, is simple enough. It’s the bare minimum that every book has to have before it gets published; you send your manuscript to the editor, and they check the document for grammar mistakes and research errors, and, most importantly, they adhere your novel to The Chicago Manual of Style, Seventeenth Edition. Without getting this service at least, your manuscript will look unprofessional and sloppy. Expect to pay a minimum of one cent per word for Copy Editing, since things get pretty dicey if you choose an editor who asks for less!
Line Editing is a more advanced version of Copy Editing, where the editor also looks at every single sentence in your manuscript and determines whether or not it flows well. If it doesn’t, the editor will suggest better sentences to replace it. Line Editing is probably the most valuable service for authors who are confident in their plots and characters, but less confident in their writing style. Finding a book editor who specializes in Line Editing isn’t terribly tough, but you should get a sample edit done ahead of time to see if your editor fits with your writing style.
Finally, Developmental Editing is the highest level of book editing. It involves reading your manuscript multiple times, then suggesting changes to the plot, characters, and themes. This service is tough to get a sample edit for, so if you’re having trouble finding a book editor who specializes in Developmental Editing, make sure you check and see the reviews for books the editor has worked on in the past!
How to Find a Book Editor
Yes, it all comes down to this! At the end of the day, we all need to know how to find a book editor. And some places online just don’t get you where you need to go. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork fail at every turn to provide satisfactory services, so don’t look there! Instead, go to more reputable sources like Reedsy (though you should honestly just work with the editors you find on Reedsy directly).
Other sites with good listings of editors include The Creative Penn and Kindlepreneur!
The Writing Basket mini-podcast tips listeners on writing, character development, and more! New episodes are uploaded every Friday.
Written by (and starring) Ellie Nalle
