How will editing make my writing better?
Editing of every type is designed to bring forth the best in your writing and ensure it clearly communicates your intended meaning. It’s another pair of eyes for spotting mistakes or inconsistencies, and it’s another brain to bounce ideas off of. Editing can provide guidance and feedback for the following and more:
Strengthening organization and structure
Lengthening or cutting your word count
Deepening your characters
Fleshing out your world-building
Increasing clarity and conciseness
Enhancing style, tone, and wording
Improving grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Enforcing consistency and continuity
Ensuring the manuscript is as close to error-free as possible
In the end, editing results in a higher quality and more engaging book.
When should I start looking for an editor?
Anytime you need one! As a comprehensive editor for cozy mysteries and fantasy novels, I can help you at any stage of the writing process.
Before you’ve started writing = brainstorming session
After you’re happy with your early drafts = manuscript evaluation
After you’ve revised several times = developmental editing
When you’re stuck on story details = brainstorming session
After you’re happy with the story = line editing
After you’re happy with the wording = copyediting
Before you hit “publish” on your formatted manuscript = proofreading
But be aware of timing delays. It’s never too early to reach out to an editor for what you need. Many editors (myself included) can be booked anywhere from one to four or more months ahead of time. The editing itself can take a month or more to complete depending on the length of the manuscript. Proofreading and light copyedits can take less time. Start looking for an editor well before you need to publish or start querying.
What should I look for in an editor?
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a book editor. In general, they fall into two categories: expertise and compatibility. Expertise has to do with the qualifications and experiences of the editor. Compatibility has to do with the fit of the editor-author relationship. Let’s break the categories down.
For expertise, consider the following factors . . .
Specialty—Does the editor accept projects in your genre and for the level of editing you need?
Experience—Does the editor seem knowledgeable and skilled? How long have they been in the business, or how many manuscripts have they worked on?
Training—Has the editor attended any training programs or completed continuing education courses? Are they part of any professional organizations?
References—Does the editor have any testimonials or success stories from previous clients?
Presence—Is the editor online, such as on social media or with a website where you can learn more about them?
For compatibility consider the following factors . . .
Style—Is their editing style a match to your voice and expectations?
Philosophy—Do the editor’s goals complement yours? Do you both hold the same values?
Personality—Do you mesh easily with the editor? Do you trust them?
Communication—How easy is it to communicate with the editor? Is that to the level and in the manner you want?
Logistics—Practically, is the editor a fit with your budget and timeline?
How do I know if you’re the right editor for me?
An editor can be incredible but still not the right fit for you or your project. So how do you pick someone out of several candidates? You get to know them and see if they provide what you need. If you’re trying to decide on me as your editor, then ask yourself if you resonate with many of the following statements:
You’ve written a fantasy or cozy mystery novel, or maybe one of these other fiction genres.
You need comprehensive editing services, meaning someone who will be with you for more than one step of your writing and editing journey.
Your core values include friendly honesty and open communication.
You expect an editor who focuses on consistency, provides education about writing, and gives guidance for applying revisions.
You value the quality of the overall service and results over simply the speed or cost.
You prefer pricing transparency (my prices are clearly marked on my services page) so you can budget accordingly.
You want a sample edit, a short review, or a consultation (depending on which of these fits your needs) before committing to a full project.
You’d like to hear what others say about working with that editor.
A lot of factors may make us the right pair for your project. The best way to know for sure is to jump on a consultation call with me or request a sample edit.
How can you help me with each step of writing and editing?
My brainstorming sessions are perfect to start you out on a new project or get you unstuck from a prior one so you can finally finish a draft. It’s also a great option for authors who have a draft and just need help on a detail or two to really tie things together. We’ll discuss anything you need help with, from initial ideation to editing steps for your finished draft.
Developmental editing or a manuscript evaluation can come after you’ve written a draft or two and completed some revising for plot and character. In a manuscript evaluation, I will review the draft for big-picture elements and make suggestions in an editorial letter for changes. In developmental editing, I will provide an editorial letter as well as leave comments and changes within the document indicating where the novel could be strengthened.
Line editing comes after you’re happy with the story itself and you want to work at the paragraph and sentence level to perfect wording and clarity. This step of editing is all about the flow of your prose and may require some rearranging of information. It’s a service that makes your voice shine, rather than extinguishes it.
Seek out my copyediting service after you’re happy with the words you have on the page and just need a cleanup of the details. During this service, I will review sentence-level details to ensure consistency of grammar, character names/traits, location elements and place names, timeline, and more.
Proofreading is the final step and should happen after all the other stages of editing have been completed. During this service, I spot errors and inconsistencies in your formatted manuscript.
What does it cost to work with an editor?
The price for book editing can vary widely because it is based on many factors: timeline, word count, depth or type of editing needed, etc. For example, developmental edits require the most in-depth work and therefore cost the most. Line editing and copyediting have similar rates because they require about the same amount of work (though they focus on different aspects). Whether the editor is charging per hour or per word, longer manuscripts require more time and attention, thus necessitating a higher investment. Rush projects require additional fees so an editor can keep to your tight production schedule.
But here’s where it gets messy:
Pricing can be harder to compare between editors when it’s unclear what to expect out of each type of editing. Some editors may charge more because they provide book maps or timelines with their deliverables. It’s important to get clarity on what is included in (i.e., the scope of) your work together.
Many editors work with sliding scales, have a minimum rate, or have a range of rates for a service. To determine where an author falls on that range, the editor might consider some of the following factors:
How clean the manuscript is (e.g., for copyediting, are grammar and spelling already pretty solid?)
How complicated the plot is (e.g., for developmental editing, are there dual timelines or multiple points of view?)
How much enhancement the text needs (e.g., for line editing, will it just be rewording, or do entire sections or paragraphs need moving?)
How many rounds of editing are happening (e.g., for copyediting, cleaning up the final manuscript can be done as a discounted add-on.)
If you want to know what it might cost to work with me, see my specific rates on my services page.
How long does a project usually take?
There is no easy answer here because the length of a service depends on several factors, namely: the word count, the editorial need, my availability, and the service type. I use a very specific formula to calculate my estimated timelines, which accounts for the manuscript length (in words), the speed at which I can edit your project, and my hours-per-week capacity. My editing speed depends on the amount of work a manuscript requires. While the results of this formula will be different for each author, the service type can help us estimate the average time needed with a project. It would not be uncommon to experience these timelines for each service:
Manuscript evaluation: three to five weeks
Developmental edit: four to eight weeks
Line edit: three to seven weeks
Copyedit: two to six weeks
Proofread: one to four weeks
The higher the word count, the longer the turnaround time. I also include a buffer period for each project to ensure that I can still return your project on time if I encounter hiccups. To get an exact estimate, please send me an inquiry.
What is the process for working with you?
It all starts with a dream . . . just kidding. It starts with an inquiry so we can get to know each other and I can learn about your project. Some manuscripts might not fit the genres I work on, the timeline I can offer, or the investment needed for the recommended services. That’s okay! By filling in my inquiry form or booking a meeting, we can learn quickly whether we’re a fit, and if not, I can steer you in the right direction to get your editing going.
If we do decide to work together, we’ll do a little onboarding before the project begins. This involves signing a contract and putting down a deposit for your slot on my calendar. We’ll hash out details like payment terms and expectations, so everyone is on the same page right from the start.
Then the work begins. I will perform the services promised within the timeline I have set with you. Depending on the services needed, we might work together for a single meeting or many months. Don’t worry; you’ll be kept in the loop. Most projects come with a midedit check-in. If the project is very long (six-plus weeks), you may get more than one check-in. For projects spanning less than two weeks, you will generally only hear from me on the due date. For manuscript evaluations and developmental edits, I will email you a list of initial questions after the first read through.
Different services may require several rounds of sending the manuscript back and forth. Or your service might include a virtual call to discuss whatever questions you might have. We will work together to set these expectations during your onboarding.
At the end of our time together, I’ll tie up any loose ends with your service and send you the final invoice. But just remember, it doesn’t have to be the end. I love working on sequels and series and am honored by the authors who continually trust me with their work.
How many drafts should I write before I hire an editor?
As a comprehensive editor, I work with authors starting from pre-draft ideation stages all the way through final-draft proofreading. Each type of editing will be appropriate for various drafts of the manuscript.
A brainstorming call is a great option when you’re draft-less and need some inspiration or direction for finishing. We can also brainstorm how to approach specific worrisome aspects of your newly finished but unedited manuscript.
Manuscript evaluations and developmental editing can be helpful within the first few drafts of a novel. VERY rarely is a novel ready for professional editing as a raw first draft with zero self-editing. You will know your manuscript is ready for developmental editing after you have reviewed the manuscript several times and have made as many big-picture revisions as you can see are necessary.
Line editing is appropriate on a draft that has already undergone developmental editing, whether by yourself or a trained professional, and you’ve made heavy revisions. You may hire a line editor immediately after developmental editing or do a round or two of line edits on your own before handing the manuscript to a professional.
Copyediting is reserved for after you have completed the developmental and line editing drafts of the manuscript. By now, there will be a MINIMUM of three to five drafts of the manuscript.
Proofreading is the final step in the editorial process and will be performed on a final draft that is formatted for publishing. This means the manuscript has gone through drafts for developmental, line, and copyediting and has gone through interior design to be formatted into its final form.
Ultimately, you want to have the strongest draft possible for your editor without having jumped ahead to later stages of editing. The “cleaner” your manuscript is, the deeper I can look to make better edits.