So, you finally did it! You've written and erased and rewritten until, finally, you were able to type those ceremonious two words... the end.
But, it's not even near the end—not for you or your book. Although finishing that first draft is definitely something you should celebrate, you should also know how to move forward.
Whether or not this is your first book-writing rodeo doesn't matter because we all learn as we go.
I know when I first started writing, I had no idea there were first drafts and second drafts and I-know-this-thing-word-for-word drafts. I just thought it was one and done and that one had to be absolutely perfect.
Now, a first draft is called a first for a reason. It's basically a rough outline of what you want your book to look like.
Some stories change a lot from the first draft to the last. Some have to be completely rewritten. Some barely need to change. Just like every person is unique, every manuscript—and step to its final draft—will be different.
So... what now? When do you decide you need an editor? What kind of editing do you need? Who do you go with? Here are some of my tops tips for aspiring authors when it comes to professional editing services.
Before the Editor
As an author, there are a few things you need to do before even looking at an editor's page, let alone contacting them.
1. Never... Ever... Look to Professionally Edit a First Draft
Now, this may seem a little harsh. I don't say never lightly but, in this case, it's definitely necessary.
Although first drafts can look like many things and be at different levels of polish by their end, the first completed draft of your novel will never be your final draft.
When it comes to your book, you're the one who knows it best, so why pay for someone to tell you things you already know and can find on your own?
Before considering hiring an editor, do the work yourself. Try to do those structural edits, line edits, and copy edits (get some beta readers to help you out!) and then see where you're stuck. Only then should you consider getting in touch with a professional.
2. Know Which Publishing Path You Want to Take
Self-publishing, traditional publishing, and small presses are three different and equally-valid paths to becoming a published author, but your biggest mistake when hiring an editor is thinking they require the same kind of attention.
A self-published author will need everything from a developmental edit to a copyedit. This is because there's no one but the author to look over this book before it hits online or in-person shelves!
With self-publishing, the author is—well—the author (duh!), the final editor, and the publisher! Any stilted dialogue, plot holes, and typos are up to them to find, or up to them to hire someone to find!
On the other side, traditional publishing requires an agent first. While it's obviously not good for a manuscript to be riddled with typos, agents can look past a handful of grammatical errors if a really wonderfully developed story is behind them.
As well, once you land an agent, they'll probably help you revise yet again. Then, their job is to find you an editor who will want to publish your book but not before revising it—you guessed it—yet again!
3. Know What Kind of Editing Your Book Really Needs
There are three main kinds of editing: developmental/structural editing, line editing, and copyediting.
Those three should be done in order, but not all books need them done professionally. Beta readers can often catch many line editing and copyediting mistakes you might have missed!
Before you start looking at editors, decide what kind of editing your manuscript needs at this point. Know what service you want to spend you money on beforehand.
If you're confused about how your publishing path will affect your editor needs or don't know how to decide between editing types, try checking out my other blog post!
4. Beta Readers! Beta Readers! Beta Readers!
As you may have noticed before, I love my beta readers! While critique partners (which I'll do a blog differentiating from betas later) are just as important as betas, betas don't look at your book from an editorial perspective.
Beta readers are basically non-friends and non-family who read your book and tell you what's working and what isn't.
After fixing what your betas point out or, even, if you're unsure how to go about fixing it... that is when you contact an editor.
Beta readers can be bought for reasonable prices or sometimes even found for free! They're a wonderful resource that every author should be using before approaching an editor.
Finding Your Perfect Partner-in-Editing
Once you've done all of the above, it's time to start looking for an editor! There's editorial services and freelance editors and all types of people offering their services, but not all editors are made the same. Here are a few tips to picking the right editor for you.
1. Price Points
First and foremost, professional editing services are expensive. Editors with more experience can charge more for their services and that doesn't mean they're overpriced, but you should also look at different editors and see what they're offering against their prices.
The most expensive editor isn't necessarily the best editor!
2. Genre and Age Category
Though you can definitely find full-service editors or editing companies with expertise in every genre and age category, when looking at smaller editors or companies, take a look at their personal information and see what their expertise is for editing and their experience.
For example, I mostly read, write, and edit fiction books with a specialized interest in dark/grimdark fantasy for the upper-YA and Adult categories. While I’m open to certain other genres and age categories, I won’t be the best fit for everyone.
If a single editor claims to be able to provide the same quality of developmental editing across the board, it's something to be suspicious about.
Line editing and copyediting are easier to believe, but an editor who says their developmental edits are the same quality for every genre and age is the same as an author claiming that about their book: it's just not true, no matter how much they believe it to be.
3. Verify. Verify. Verify
You should be careful who you send your hard work to! Check for a professional-looking website, any attached social media, and testimonials listed anywhere on their site.
Some editors even offer a test edit (5 pages or so) so you can have an idea of the quality of services they offer. Look at their contact information and send them a polite inquiry.
A good editor should answer your questions without issue and, if they don't, they're not someone you want to work with.
Bottom Line
So, those are my top tips when considering hiring an editor! If you have any questions, feel free to email me about my own services or something you're wary of in general and I'll do my best to help. Remember that your work deserves the world!
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