![]() Finding the right editor for your fiction book seems easier than ever with the plethora of editors hitting the freelance industry nowadays. There are so many editors to choose from but how will you know who is the right editor for your story? Many authors do not know the kind of services their story needs and others don’t do thorough research. As a result, authors often end up requesting quotes from editors who offer different services from the ones their story needs in a genre that the editor is not editing. How can you find the right editor for your fiction book: Services Genre Cost Where to look for the right editor Reach out to editors Services The first step in finding the right editor for your fiction book is to determine what kind of services you need. Are you looking for developmental editing, copyediting, or proofreading? If this is the first time you are searching for a professional editor and you are not sure what kind of services you need, read this article about the different kinds of editing and consider the state of your story. If you only have a raw idea or an outline, then you need a book coach to help you:
If you have a completed first draft, then you need a developmental editor to help you improve your story’s:
If you are in the final draft of your story, then you might need a copy editor or a proofreader to help you focus on:
Genre The second step in finding the most suitable editor is to identify the genre(s) of your story. Are you writing a contemporary romance or a YA thriller? If you don’t know what genre your story is, go online and search for the definitions of various genres. For example, a story belongs to the romance genre when:
The romance genre is a very broad fiction category and can be divided into many subgenres such as contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Many editors specialise in particular genres while others edit only one genre e.g romance. Make sure to find an editor that specialises in the genre of your story and has the relevant training, education, skills and experience to edit your book. Cost The cost of the service is perhaps the most important factor for authors. The cost of the service depends on a lot of reasons such as the required service, turnaround time, training, experience and cost of living. For example, developmental editing services are typically more expensive than copyediting and proofreading services. You can look at the editorial rates of different editing services at the EFA’s editorial rates and estimate how much a service can cost. The rates published on the website are only designed to give you a rough idea of what the cost might be based on the genre and the word count of your story. Actual editorial rates may vary depending on the reasons mentioned above. Where to look for the right editor You have already determined the kind of services you need, the genre of your manuscript and your estimated budget. Now, it’s time to search for the right editor. You can find editors on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. There are many Facebook groups for editors and writers where editors advertise their services. You can also check the editor’s LinkedIn profiles to see their background, education, training and experience. You can also check sites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Reedsy to find editors or post jobs. Make sure to include the kind of editing service you need, the genre, the word count of your story, your estimated budget and your desired deadline when you post a job. You can also check the EFA’s Job List and Member Directory to hire an editor. You can also look at the websites of different editors to see what kind of services they offer. When you are looking for an editor on the search engines make sure to include keywords such as the kind of services you need and the genre of your story e.g developmental editing for a contemporary romance story or copyediting for a murder mystery story. Pay attention to the “Home” page of the editors’ sites where editors usually mention the services and the genres they are editing. You should also check their “Portfolio” page to see what kind of projects they have edited and their “About” page to learn more information about their qualifications. Finally, check their “Services” page to see what kind of services they offer. Every editor defines their services differently, so make sure to check what each service includes e.g scope of work, deadlines, cost, and deliverables. Reach out to editors When you narrow down your options and find editors that fit your criteria e.g services, genre, estimated cost, and qualifications, email them to get a customised quote for your story and to discuss with them the specific needs of your manuscript. Most editors usually have a form on their website that authors can fill out when they request a quote in order to learn more information about the author’s story and provide them with an accurate quote. For example, the form on the “Contact” page of my website helps me learn important information about the author and their story such as the project’s title, word count, genre, requested service and preferred completion date. Most editors offer a no-obligation customised quote and a 1,000-word free sample edit to see if they and the author are a great fit to work together. The editor will guide you about the next steps of the editing process but you can also ask any questions you may have. Clear communication is key for successful collaboration in order to set clear expectations about the scope of the work and to avoid misunderstandings. Conclusion Finding the right editor for your fiction story is easier than ever. Define the kind of services you are looking for, the genre of your story and your estimated budget. Research the editor’s websites and social media and reach out to the editors that match your criteria. Editors are valuable collaborators that will help you shape your manuscript into a compelling story so make sure to choose yours wisely! Further reading “Contact” form Developmental editing vs other kinds of editing EFA Job List and Membership Directory EFA rates About the authorMaria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy. She is a member of the EFA and ClubEdFreelancers. Learn more about the author: About me Get in touch: Facebook and LinkedIn Learn about fiction editing: Resources Library and Blog Get a quote for your writing project: Get in touch with me form
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About the authorMaria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy. She is a member of the EFA and ClubEdFreelancers. Subscribe to the Fiction Editing Newsletter and get free monthly advice on writing, editing and publishing your romance stories! I will never spam, share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read my Privacy Policy. |
Subscribe to the Fiction Editing Newsletter and get free monthly advice on writing, editing and publishing your romance stories! I will never spam, share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read my Privacy Policy. |