What is an Editor?
Let’s say you just finished your first manuscript. You’ve had an idea for a story or teaching material in your head forever, and you finally decided to take the plunge and write it. Now that you’ve written it and it read through and made your own edits you’re ready to publish, right?
Wrong.
Sorry to burst your bubble. I know how exciting it is to FINALLY finish something you’ve spent so many hours working towards. Worry not, because I’m here to guide you to the next step to getting your book out there for the world to enjoy.
The next step is to hire an editor to look at your book. Never heard of an editor or aren't really sure what type of editor you’re looking for? Good news, I’ll lay it all out for you below.
So, What Does an Editor Do?
In a nutshell: an editor is someone who looks over the manuscript you’ve written and makes suggestions for improvement.
That being said, there are a few different levels of edits that an editor can make. Choosing the right one for the stage of your manuscript is the most important part.
A developmental edit is the first level of editing that any manuscript will undergo. In my experience, it’s rare that a manuscript DOESN’T need a developmental edit. Authors (myself included) often think that, because they’ve spent so many hours writing and perfecting, their plot and characters are airtight.
I’ve worked with a few clients who came to me seeking a copyedit. However, after reviewing the manuscript, I realized the plot and characters had major problems. It happens. Like most creative projects, we can get way too close. It’s important to have another pair of trained eyes look at your manuscript and help you see what needs to be improved to take your story to the next level.
After the developmental edit, usually comes a copy edit. This is where the editor digs into the nitty gritty. They’ll look at sentence structure, tone, word choice, clarity, and more. One of my favorite things as a copyeditor is finding ways to cut down on words. I’m a gal of very few words.
They’ll usually adhere to an industry style guide. For fiction, that’s the Chicago Manual of Style. But there are tons of other style guides out there for every industry. So you’ll want to ensure that whoever you choose is well-versed in the style guide you need.
Then once you’ve had the copyedit, you’ll look for a proofreader. A proofreader is the final check before the manuscript goes to publication. This person is going to look at all those little pesky punctuation marks and footnotes and make sure that everything is where it needs to be.
Tip: Find a separate editor to proofread your manuscript. Do not use the same person that you used for your developmental edit or copyedit. They’ll have looked at your manuscript so much that they will miss some of those nitty-gritty details.
Where Do I Find an Editor?
There are a lot of places that you can go to hire a freelance editor.
Just don't hire your friend or Uncle Dave who is good at writing.
There are plenty of editorial associations out there that provide a directory of professional freelance editors ready to take on any project.
Here are two that I'm a member of:
The Editorial Freelancers Association
This is the more well-known association of the two as they have thousands of freelancers across the country in a variety of fields,
topics, and industries.
The Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network (PEN)
This is a more specialized association for anyone looking for a Christian Editor.
Both are great options when searching for a professional editor to bring your work to the next level. Both have directories helping you find the right editor based on your book's genre and topic.
I hope this brief blog post helped you understand what an editor does and where to find the right one for your needs. I also hope it helped convince you to take the plunge and have a more experienced set of eyes look over your manuscript and help make it the best it can be.
Let’s Chat
If you’re ready to take the leap and want to talk to me about the editorial services I offer, fill out the contact form below. I’m happy to connect with you and talk about your specific needs.
