Choosing an Editor

Rachael Wade · Dec 28, 2009

I'm just about done with my first novel and I want to have it professionally edited. I've asked around a bit, I have an author friend or two who have recommended some names, but I was curious if anyone had any suggestions as to where to look for a good, reputable editor. I'm new to this. Thanks!

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AryaT92 · Dec 28, 2009

Publishers marketplace and Writersmarket.com can help you find legitimate editors. Good luck.

Little Red Barn · Dec 28, 2009

Rachael Wade said:
I'm just about done with my first novel and I want to have it professionally edited. I've asked around a bit, I have an author friend or two who have recommended some names, but I was curious if anyone had any suggestions as to where to look for a good, reputable editor. I'm new to this. Thanks!

Rants, raves, reviews and more on various films,music and literature that inspire us and make us think.Movie buffs, writers, musicians, artists and the every day average Joe welcome. : http://theboitenoire.blogspot.com/

Hi, Rachel and welcome to AW. Agent C Lindsey has some good recommendations she just posted here. http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2009/12/losing-sight-of-whats-important-looking.html

Jamesaritchie · Dec 28, 2009

I think hiring an editor is the worst thing you can possibly do. If you can't edit, you can't write.

mscelina · Dec 28, 2009

Jamesaritchie said:
I think hiring an editor is the worst thing you can possibly do. If you can't edit, you can't write.

*editor hat on*

QFT.

*editor hat off; writer hat on*

Why would you hire someone for something you need to know how to do for yourself? That's like a painter hiring someone to dip the brush into the paint can for him.

thothguard51 · Dec 28, 2009

Please bare in mind, editors specialize in various genre's and unless they worked in the industry, they may not edit according to who you are submitting.

They also charge 3-5 cents per word depending on how detailed you want the edit, as there are different levels of editing.

Lastly, paying for a professional edit is no guarantee of an agent or publisher accepting your work. Meaning, its no guarantee you will ever see that money back.

Learn to edit your own work and let the pulishers editors do the final editing based on the style of the publishers imprint. It may take longer, but you'll learn more and feel better...

IceCreamEmpress · Dec 28, 2009

In the US: The Editorial Freelancers Association.

In the UK: The Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

But--and I say this as a freelance editor myself, so I'm taking the food out of my own mouth by saying this--if you want a career as a writer, you're better off learning how to edit your own work.

Birol · Dec 28, 2009

mscelina said:
*editor hat on*

QFT.

*editor hat off; writer hat on*

Why would you hire someone for something you need to know how to do for yourself? That's like a painter hiring someone to dip the brush into the paint can for him.

IceCreamEmpress said:
In the US: The Editorial Freelancers Association.

In the UK: The Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

But--and I say this as a freelance editor myself, so I'm taking the food out of my own mouth by saying this--if you want a career as a writer, you're better off learning how to edit your own work.

What they said.

Birol · Dec 28, 2009

Adding to the "why hire an editor?" chorus, let me stop just saying it's not necessarily a good idea and ask a few questions of you: Why are you considering hiring an editor? What benefits are you hoping to gain? Are you looking to learn from having a professional edit your work?

Cyia · Dec 28, 2009

Have you tried finding a beta reader?

job · Dec 28, 2009

What everyone said.

Fiction writers edit their own work. This is part of the job.

Rachael Wade · Dec 28, 2009

I hear you loud and clear.

FYI - I have no problem editing my own work, it seems perfectly logical. I'm only asking because I was told this was the way to go about it, hence why I am asking around and doing my own research.

Thanks.

Birol · Dec 28, 2009

I'm not certain who you've been talking to, but hiring a professional editor isn't a requisite part of the process. It is not a necessary step. First, you write your first draft. Then, you rewrite/edit. You might repeat that second step multiple times. You might share it with a couple of trusted betas or a crit group to help you spot the mistakes you're too close to see. It depends.

Then, when it's as good as you possible can make it, you write the query and they synopsis and start submitting it to agents and publishers. If it sells, the publishing house will assign an editor to put the final polish on the manuscript.

Rachael Wade · Dec 28, 2009

More on hiring an editor...

I edit my own work as it is, and am aware I need to know how to do it myself. In answer to your questions, I wasn't necessarily trying to learn anything from hiring a professional editor, I was simply under the assumption that it was something that had to be done. This was intended to be a simple question, again, I'm new to this...but job well done to everyone making me feel like an idiot for asking!

I am hoping the sarcasm translates. Thanks for the replies everyone, it's appreciated.

Rachael Wade · Dec 28, 2009

Birol said:
I'm not certain who you've been talking to, but hiring a professional editor isn't a requisite part of the process. It is not a necessary step. First, you write your first draft. Then, you rewrite/edit. You might repeat that second step multiple times. You might share it with a couple of trusted betas or a crit group to help you spot the mistakes you're too close to see. It depends.

Then, when it's as good as you possible can make it, you write the query and they synopsis and start submitting it to agents and publishers. If it sells, the publishing house will assign an editor to put the final polish on the manuscript.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, that's exactly what I was asking. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I appreciate your time and input, I will get to editing, then.

Thanks to everyone else who chimed in!

Happy writing.

Colleen Lindsay · Dec 28, 2009

The reason I mentioned the editors in my year-end post is that many writers feel that an agent's job when they reject something is to provide an editorial letter with revision suggestions. It's not. Our job is to sell our clients' work, period. Writing detailed rejection letters is extremely time consuming and - frankly - it is a service for which you would normally pay a professional editor about $500. A large percentage of writers who get a rejection on a partial or full end up writing back and asking agents to help them fix their work, yet these same people would never think to ask their plumber or mechanic to do work for free. It's basically the same thing. Something to think about.

Best,

Colleen

vsrenard · Dec 28, 2009

With my debut novel, which is being published in April from Avon A, I did use two editors after I had gotten the novel to the best point I could on my own. Keep in mind I also belong to a good novel critique group and had many beta readers, both readers and reader-writers. The first editor got me to the point where I got a well respected agent; the second gave me suggestions that ultimately got my publishing contract.

I agree with others in that you need to learn to rewrite and edit on your own. But sometimes an editor can get you to a point beyond where you can get yourself. In my case, I was not looking for grammar, spelling, etc, but for larger structural issues. And while my beta readers could tell some something wasn't working in my novel, they couldn't pinpoint what that was. The editors did. And as I write my second novel, I am avoiding some of the pitfalls I learned from that experience.

Maxinquaye · Dec 29, 2009

And once again, as often comes up on these boards, where you are located is a factor.

If you're in the UK the external editors are a part of the publishing industry. In the US they seem not to be. In the UK external editing can be a good thing, while in the US it seems to be something that should be avoided.

waylander · Dec 29, 2009

We've had this discussion several times over, most recently here http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165616

Terie · Dec 29, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
If you're in the UK the external editors are a part of the publishing industry.

No, not 'are'. 'Can be', yes, but not 'are'. Not one of my UK-published friends has ever used an external editor, nor did we use one for the UK-published memoir I co-ghostwrote.

That might sound like I'm playing the semantics game, but there is an important distinction between saying 'are' and 'can be'. The first implies that it's the norm, which it's not.

JackinElgin · Dec 29, 2009

I used www.Scribendi.com, their fast and pretty effective (IMHO),

I got my work accepted by two publishers pretty quickly afterwards and you should see my book in stores november (ish) 2010 (fingers crossed) I actually got the rare (i think) of choosing the right publisher for me as opposed to the other way around.

Now factor in- perhaps my novel was already sick nasty awesome and really didn't need the help (buy it and find out!), perhaps i wrote a "marketable" story, perhaps I sent my M.S. to just the right publishers (I just don't see the point of an agent)

Now also consider that the money I spent cut into my advance royalties, cutting my take home profit down to enough for a trip to Red Lobster. I don't write to eat or pay bills so that didn't bother me, maybe it will bother you.

cwfgal · Dec 29, 2009

The overall consensus on this board seems to be that it is okay to take on beta readers who may or may not know much about writing and editing, and let them tell you what might be wrong with your ms, but it is not okay to pay a professional who edits for a living to do the same thing.

It's a logic I don't understand. That said, I agree with the thought that the majority of successful writers have no need for outside editors (meaning someone who edits a work before it is sold, whether that be a paid professional or a beta reader). But that doesn't mean you can't have outside editors, paid or otherwise, and still become a successful writer.

I paid someone once to edit a ms. The book never sold (actually, I never tried to sell it) but the next novel I wrote did. The money I paid was invaluable to me in terms of what I learned and what it did for my writing career. I haven't used outside editors of any sort since then but the one I did use was worth every penny and then some.

If you do decide to pay someone, be a smart buyer and do your due diligence in screening the person you plan to hire to make sure you don't get scammed. There are a LOT of scammers out there.

Beth

colealpaugh · Dec 30, 2009

cwfgal said:
The overall consensus on this board seems to be that it is okay to take on beta readers who may or may not know much about writing and editing, and let them tell you what might be wrong with your ms, but it is not okay to pay a professional who edits for a living to do the same thing.

It's a logic I don't understand. That said, I agree with the thought that the majority of successful writers have no need for outside editors (meaning someone who edits a work before it is sold, whether that be a paid professional or a beta reader). But that doesn't mean you can't have outside editors, paid or otherwise, and still become a successful writer.

I pretty much see it this way, too. Betas can be wonderful, but not something I had luck with. For one thing, I discovered I was a terrible beta because I constantly found myself trying steer the other writer into writing in my style. I read a lot, but my taste in books has always been very narrow. Beta prospects are limited when you can't properly give back -- as it should be -- in my experience.

As a journalist, I learned next to nothing in college when it came to my profession. It all came from internships and editors. I've never pay to have a MS edited, but I can see why it could be a great learning tool if you take time to study and understand the recommended changes instead of just making them.

As an aside, most AWers would cringe if they saw what copy and news editors do to the typical reporters' stories at even the biggest dailies (rewriting entire paragraphs is no big deal

).

Just my two cents.

jasonleeward · Dec 30, 2009

Choosing an Editor?

Instead of seeking an editor, critique groups and workshops can be a better option, because you'll have different perspectives instead of just one from an editor. It's best to learn as much as you can about your story and craft so that you equip yourself with the knowledge needed to edit your work. Then submit to agencies where, if your manuscript is accepted, they will have an editor for your project. It's better to spend small fees on workshops and even on writing/editing books than in one editor.

EclipsesMuse · Dec 30, 2009

Do editors tell you why they want to change a part of your story or just edit it without much explanation?

Choosing an Editor

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