How Do I Hire An Editor?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Determine what you need while also being flexible. …
  2. Share any insight into your level of attachment to your writing. …
  3. Hire your editor for a two- to five-hour trial edit. …
  4. Be open to having your work assigned. …
  5. Check your expectations around cost.

Should you pay for an editor?

If you are an established writer and you have experience with book sales, and an audience of hungry fans, and the money to

afford

editing, of course you should do it. … So for a lot of authors, recommending they pay a lot of money for editing is encouraging vanity publishing (doing it for yourself, not for income).

When should I hire an editor?

“For novelists, an editor should be hired

when the author believes the manuscript is as good as it can possibly be

,” says J. Thorn, founder of the Author Copilot. “Editors should not be a substitute for the planning, writing and hard work that goes into writing.

How do you find an editor?


Asking your network for referrals

to help you find an editor for your book is a good way to find someone who’s already proven they’ve got the skills to edit your book. If that doesn’t work, you could ask potential editors for references from their satisfied clients.

How much does it cost to hire an editor?

Some freelance book editors will work for

$10 to $20 per hour

, but you can expect experienced book editors to charge $25 or more per hour. Expect to pay more for editing technical writing or specialized subject matter, as well.

Can an editor steal your book?

If an agent, editor, or publisher really wanted to steal your book, they would still need to rewrite it to avoid a plagiarism lawsuit. This takes time and lots of it. The reality is, industry professionals

don’t have the time to steal your idea

. … No one has time to steal your idea.

Do I really need an editor for my book?

Most authors

seek the help of an editor at the end stages of their process

, and, depending on how much work was put into the first draft, hiring an entire editorial team may be necessary. If this sounds costly and time-consuming, it definitely can be, but these are included in the cost of publishing a book.

Can you self publish without an editor?

Every writer knows how important the role of an editor is to the success of their book. However, if you’re a self-published author,

you may not have the budget or resources to afford to hire an editor

. This means you’ll need the tools to self-edit your book.

Can you publish without an editor?

So, do you need an editor in order to get published? Short answer:

no

. There have been many well-known authors who got their start without the early critical eye of a professional editor (see Stephen King’s book, “On Writing”.)

Are book editors free?

Although there aren’t many organizations I’ve found that offer

100% free book edits

like Tethered by Letters, all professional editors will offer authors a free sample edit. A free sample edit is an industry standard service offered by just about every professional editor out there.

What does a good editor look for?

Being an avid reader (of anything and everything), and

having an empathy for writing

is a must. Indeed, being a writer, blogger or tweeter can all enhance someone’s qualifications for revising your work, but they don’t automatically qualify that person as an editor — and more accurately, a good editor.

Do all books have editors?

Not every book needs

developmental editing

from a professional editor. Developmental editing comes early in the writing process, after a few drafts, and not every book needs it (though most do). Copy editing and line editing are done when the author is satisfied with the story after several rewrites.

How do I hire a book editor?

  1. Determine what you need while also being flexible. …
  2. Share any insight into your level of attachment to your writing. …
  3. Hire your editor for a two- to five-hour trial edit. …
  4. Be open to having your work assigned. …
  5. Check your expectations around cost.

Should I copyright my book before sending it to an editor?

Should I copyright my book before I submit it to editors and agents?

There is no need to copyright your book

(with the U.S. Copyright Office) before submitting it. … The publisher merely handles the paperwork on behalf of the author, and the copyright is the author’s property.

Can you steal an idea?

An idea by itself is not protectable. … Ideas alone are not protected under intellectual property law. There are two primary ways that you would be able to sue the company for stealing your idea. The first is if you did, in fact,

reduce the idea to a protectable form before telling the company about it

.

Do editors steal ideas?

And that’s the main idea about agents and editors stealing ideas.

They don’t need to steal ideas

, because they see incredible ideas every day—even in projects they reject.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.