Six Ways To Make Your Editor Love You (Part One)

You just typed “The End” on your manuscript. Should you just bundle it up, find an editor, and send it to them? Probably not. There are a few things you can do with your manuscript beforehand that will not only make your editor love you but might save you a few bucks, too. Over the next few weeks, I’ll examine each of them in turn to help you get your manuscript in prime shape for its visit to the editor.

1. Know what you’re paying for and be realistic about your book.

Developmental edits, copy edits, proofreads. All of them are different and it often seems no two editors have exactly the same definitions. Take the time to learn about each type of edit and be clear with your editor about what you’d like and what they’re including under each type.

Here’s my definitions of the above different kinds of edits:

Developmental Edit: The 20,000 foot view. Read and review the current draft of your book to improve the execution and content, including: plot, character, narrative, point of view, and theme.

Copy Edit: A close-up inspection. Read and correct the following in your completed manuscript: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, word usage, repetition, tense, continuity, dialogue tags, point of view, inconsistency.

Proofread: A last look before publication. Read and double-check for spelling and grammatical errors that may have been missed so they don’t make it into the final version of your book. (Note: proofreading is not a replacement for editing. It is checking a manuscript after editing.)

Be reasonable about what your manuscript needs. If this is the first book you’ve ever written, I guarantee it’s going to need more than a proofread. I know some authors whose twentieth book needs extensive editing. Very few need only a proofread.

Be realistic about the time frame for editing. Most professional editors have queues between three and six months long. If you contact them a week before publication for a full copy edit and proofread, you’re probably going to be disappointed. A thorough, complete edit takes time. Be prepared for that and have a second project to work on while your manuscript is with the editor.

Last but not least, and usually the most painful: a professional edit is not cheap. A reasonable price for a copy edit runs between 1.5 and 3 cents per word. For a manuscript 60,000 words long, that’s between $900 – $1800. You’re not only paying for the editor’s time but their experience and story-sense. That’s usually been honed over many years and many manuscripts.

In the end, finding and hiring an experienced, professional editor will be well worth it. Not only will your book be much better, you’ll be a better writer as a result.

Next week: Formatting your manuscript so it’s easy for your editor to read.