Editorial 'shoulds' and 'should nots'

This blog explores what to look out for when hiring a book editor.

It can be hard knowing who to hire as an editor, especially if you have never used one before. Regardless of which professional you pick, you should make sure that your editor observes a certain level of editorial standard.

An editor should:

Be technically competent

Before agreeing to hire an editor, you should check that they are technically competent. The question to ask yourself is: are they qualified for the job? As with most industries, there are individuals out there posing as competent editors who really don’t have the first clue about how to edit a manuscript. Always ask your editor for their credentials (e.g. training, experience, testimonials) before handing over your work.

Be transparent about pricing

If an editor is refusing to offer you a quote, this is an early red flag. An editor should always be transparent about pricing. If they quote you ten hours and the project is set to take a little longer, they should always let you know and not simply forge ahead. Unfortunately, there are many editors out there who aren’t qualified but consider themselves professionals simply because they like reading. While reading certainly helps, there is more to editing than just that!

Make clear notes and comments on your work

An editor should clearly mark up your work. While they might have their own system for this (pages of notes or track changes), they should let you know how they work before starting on your manuscript. An editor’s role is to tell you why certain areas of your book don’t work and then help you to improve on them. Whether you are breaking specific language rules or simply haven’t expressed an idea clearly enough, the editor is there to show you how to make the necessary changes.

Take your personal style into account

An editor’s job is not to change your book into their own voice. It is to understand your style and guide you to make improvements relating to plot and clarity. An editor should help you to become a better writer, working with you to adapt and improve your style rather than completely change it.

A good editor will ultimately support you without trying to take over.

An editor should not:

Make changes without your permission

Unless you have agreed that you’d like the editor to change punctuation and grammar without you having to be involved, an editor should always mark up any changes for review. The choice is always yours as the author whether to accept or reject suggestions, especially structural and developmental notes.

Impose their own style

While to a certain extent the editor is going to have some influence on your writing, they should always familiarise themselves with your style and take that into account. They should not start suggesting (or making) major changes to your work without providing reasons why, rather than simply because they prefer it that way.

Be overly critical or dismissive

Feedback should be constructive rather than destructive. While it is an editor's job to pick out errors and make improvements (which can sometimes feel upsetting), they should not tear your work apart. An editor should gently encourage you to make changes and give you reason as to why those changes might be necessary. If they are being rude or overly unfair about your work, they probably aren't the right editor for you.

Share your manuscript with any third parties

By copyright law, a manuscript is yours, and an editor shouldn’t under any circumstance share your work with a third party (unless you have asked them to, of course). An editor’s job is confidential.

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