​Okay, so you've found an editor who seems as if they might be perfect for you and your project. Now what? Let's talk about how to hire them!

If you found an editor on a freelancer platform like Upwork or Fiverr, the platform will likely walk you through the next steps. But if you'd like to hire a freelancer directly, the process can be more nebulous. Every freelancer has their own onboarding process—the procedure for turning potential clients into actual clients—but here's a general overview of how it might go.

1. Message them.
To get started, send the editor an email (or use their preferred form of contact according to their website, social media pages, or whatever platform you found them on). Let them know how you found them. Tell them briefly about your project and ask for a quote. This is also a good place to ask any questions you have about the editor or about working with them.

It's usually best if you include certain essential information about your project in your initial email. This means things like genre, word count, approximate timeline, and the type of service you're looking for. If you're not sure what editorial service you need, they can help you figure that out, but it will help to let them know up front where you are in the writing process and what, if any, editing has already been done.

2. Wait for their response.
The editor will respond as soon as they're able. They should answer your questions and will probably ask a few of their own. They'll let you know if they are interested, qualified, and available to work on your project. If they're not, they may refer you to a colleague or another resource.

Most editors will ask for a sample in order to provide you an accurate quote. Some will even edit that sample for free so that you can get a sense of their editorial style and so that you can both be confident that you're the right fit for each other.

3. Send them a sample.
Following any guidelines they specify, send them a sample of your project. Be patient as they complete it and get back to you. When they do, they'll likely give you a quote for the project. Don't haggle or debate their price. However, don't be afraid to bring up any concerns. One or both of you might still have a few questions at this point, so some back-and-forth messaging is normal as you hash out the details and get comfortable with each other.

4. Get onboarded.
Assuming you both still want to move forward at this point, the editor will begin their onboarding process. This may include having you fill out a form outlining your preferences, including which style guide and dictionary you'd like them to use, or asking more questions about the history of your project and your long-term goals. They will also likely have you sign a contract and may require you to pay a deposit. It's important that you both feel safe and comfortable, so follow their directions, but let them know if you're ever confused or frustrated.

5. Relax!
Once you've completed their onboarding process and sent them your project, sit back and relax. Take a break from thinking about your project and go do something fun. The editor has everything under control, and they should contact you with any predetermined milestone updates or if they have any questions or issues.

If you've never hired an editor before, the process might seem confusing or scary, but it doesn't have to be, especially now that you have a better idea of how to go about hiring an editor and what to expect when you do. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions!

​Professional Editing Organizations
Professional editing organizations such as ACES and the Editorial Freelancers Association are great resources. Both organizations have two options for finding editors: a member directory that allows you to search by your preferences, and a job board that allows you to create a job posting and let editors reach out to you instead of the other way around.

Writing and Editing Groups
If you belong to any writing groups, either in person or online, ask your writer friends for recommendations of editors they've worked with. This can give you not only a few names to contact but also a firsthand account of what it's like to work with those editors. If you're not yet a part of any writing groups, I strongly suggest joining a few. Facebook in particular has many groups devoted specifically to helping writers and editors find each other.

Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media for finding editors. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are popular avenues. Start by following editors and other writers on your favorite platform, and you'll likely soon find yourself immersed in the writing and editing community. If you don't find anyone whose content you resonate with enough to reach out, try a few different platforms until you find the right niche.

Freelancer Platforms
You may also try searching on freelancer platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Reedsy. Many sites like these also give you the option of either reaching out directly to freelancers you like or posting your project and letting freelancers contact you. There's a caveat, though; while editorial services can often be cheaper on sites like these, you usually get what you pay for.

I hope you find these resources helpful as you start your search for an editor. Next month, we'll take a closer look at the process of hiring an editor. If you have any questions, I'd love to hear from you!

Experience
You'll want to hire an editor who has experience. Simply put, you want to make sure that they know what they're doing. Experience comes in many forms. If they've been operating for a significant number of years, they'll likely say so on their website or social media profiles. They might also highlight their educational background, any professional editing organizations they belong to, or a portfolio of previous work. Some editors offer sample edits so you can see their editing style in practice. All of these things give credibility to their skills.
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Genre
While some editors are generalists and claim to edit anything and everything, you'll usually want to find an editor who specializes in a specific genre or type of writing. If you write fantasy novels, you don't want to hire an editor who primarily works on business marketing copy. And if you write reference manuals, an editor whose niche is psychological thrillers is probably not the best fit for you. Often, an editor will advertise their specialties on their website or social media pages. When you reach out, make sure to specify what kind of writing you are seeking an editor for, and ask if they have experience in that area.

Service
We've talked before about the different kinds of editing. Some editors provide a whole host of editorial services, from developmental editing all the way to proofreading. Others specialize in only one or two levels of editing. If you're not sure what type of editing you need, make sure to talk with your potential editor and figure it out together.

Budget
With editing, you usually get what you pay for. While there are some common rate ranges (check out the EFA's rate chart to get an idea), freelance editors have the right to set whatever rates they deem appropriate for their business. Because prices usually depend on a project's particular needs, many editors don't post their rates publicly, so you'll need to contact them to ask for a quote.

Remember that you're also paying for their expertise, not just their time. That said, you need to find an editor that fits in your budget. If you think you've found the perfect editor for you, but you legitimately can't afford them, be honest. They may or may not be willing or able to offer you some sort of discount or promotional price, especially if you become a long-term client or refer other writers to them.

Availability 
An important aspect of hiring an editor is finding one who is available when you need them. By that, I don't mean that they answer all your emails instantly. I'm talking about project availability. Do they have enough time in their schedule to work according to any deadlines you might have? Or if they're currently booked and you have no hard deadlines, are you able and willing to wait until they have an opening? A lot of editors book weeks to months in advance, so keep that in mind when you go looking for one.

Personality 
The editor-writer relationship can be an intimate one, especially if you end up working together for an extended period of time. That's why it's important to find an editor whose personality meshes with yours and who you'll get along with. Personality can be difficult to determine if they correspond primarily or exclusively through email. But you can often tell what kind of person someone is through their written tone and communication style. When you contact a potential editor, ask yourself these questions: Are they professional yet approachable? Do they respond in a timely manner? Do they seem to know what they're talking about? Do they communicate clearly and do their best to resolve any misunderstandings? Do they seem to care about you and your project and do their best to address any concerns you might have?

Finding the right freelance editor can be challenging, but hopefully now you have a better idea of what to look for as you start that journey. And if you think that I might be the right editor for you, I'd love to hear from you!

"Why should I hire an editor," you might think, "when I have this nifty program that checks my grammar and spelling? Doesn't it do the same thing?"

Well, no.

Technology replacing people's jobs is a reality in some industries. And people like to whisper that editing software will soon take over many types of editing done by humans. But I'm not worried that a computer is someday going to make my job obsolete. There will never be a danger of that.

We've talked before about the different levels of editing, including proofreading. You know that proofreaders have sharp eyes and that they correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, formatting, etc. 

But you may still be wondering, "What does a proofreader actually do?"

When you hear the word "editor," what do you think of? Someone who's going to take your rough draft and turn it into a masterpiece? Someone who will leave your plot alone but correct your grammar mistakes? Perhaps you just picture someone taking a red pen to your writing, leaving it bleeding.

Maybe you only have a vague idea of what an editor does. You're not alone. There are varying definitions of what an editor does because there are several different types of editing, often referred to as the four levels of editing. But the lines between these four main categories can get a bit blurred.

This is because even editors themselves can't completely agree about what constitutes each stage of editing. Two editors may have the same name for a certain type of editing but a different definition for it. Another two editors may provide the same service but call it a different name. Some editors may even combine two editing levels into one. 

Despite all the confusion among editors and writers alike, most book manuscripts follow the same basic path. Let's back up and set a good foundation for your understanding of the editing process, at least as it pertains to books (other types of writing may not follow this path). Each editing level has its own important role in the journey of a document toward publication.

Let's say we're following Sally on her novel-writing journey. First, Sally writes a rough draft of her book. The way she goes about this is going to be individual to her. For instance, she may outline the plot, sketch out her characters, and construct the details of her setting all before writing a single word. She may just start writing and discover these elements of the story as she goes. Or she may do a combination of both.

The point is that there are many ways to get to a rough draft. Once she's completed the first draft, Sally can be proud of such an accomplishment. But the work is far from over. 

Developmental Editing
After a full draft is completed, it's time for a developmental edit (also called a structural, substantive, or content edit). She may choose to make several passes back over the manuscript herself, revising and rewriting as necessary, before handing it off to a professional. (She may also engage manuscript readers at this point, but that's a discussion for another time.)

Developmental editing focuses on shaping the story as a whole. Does the story make sense? Are there problems with plot, setting, character development, scene order, or point of view? Is the overall structure sound? Are the beginning and ending effective? Are the writer's promises to the reader fulfilled? A developmental editor will evaluate the big picture, bring any issues to Sally's attention, and make suggestions for improvement. They may reorganize and rewrite sections of the manuscript themselves.

Working with a developmental editor is often an intimate and lengthy process, but it's a necessary one. Sally will work with her editor until both are satisfied that the overall content of her novel is exceptional.

​Line Editing
The remaining stages or levels of editing focus not on the content of the book but on the language used. Now that the foundation of Sally's story is firm and structurally sound, she'll want to hire an editor to drill down on the finer points of the language. 

Line editing is what it sounds like: the editor goes line by line through the text, focusing on language, style, voice, and tone. Line editors home in on the sentence-level stuff. They aim to cut out wordiness, improve sense, and smooth the overall flow of each sentence.

As I said, some editors combine multiple services into one. Line editing may sometimes be done in conjunction with either developmental editing or copyediting. 

Copyediting
If it wasn't included with her line edit, Sally will want to get a copyeditor to eliminate any glaring eyesores. Copyediting focuses on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage. Copyeditors check for logic, scrutinize cross-references, and prepare style sheets to maintain consistency across a manuscript. 

Copyeditors often operate on what is referred to as a scale from light to heavy. "Light" copyeditors correct obvious errors and flag more subjective issues for the author's review. "Heavy" copyeditors use their judgement to fix even the subjective issues without waiting for the author to make a decision. Where the editor's corrections fall on this scale should be discussed before the project begins. Copyediting can sometimes be combined with line editing or with proofreading.

Proofreading
Proofreading is the final stage of the manuscript editing process. At this point, both the story itself and the language used to tell it have been refined. Many errors have been corrected in the copyediting stage. Behind the scenes, Sally may also be working with a cover designer and a formatter. Her book is almost ready to publish!

But all editors are human. Sometimes they miss errors, and sometimes new errors are introduced during one of the previous phases. (Or maybe one of the previous phases was skipped entirely!) This is where the proofreader comes in. 

Proofreaders are the masters of quality control. They focus on many of the same issues a copyeditor does: grammar, spelling, and punctuation. But they also catch typographical errors and inconsistencies in formatting. Though it is rarer in this digital world, proofreaders may even compare the latest stage of a project with earlier stages to ensure that manual changes have been made correctly and no additional errors have been introduced. 

Like the other editing levels, sometimes proofreading is combined with copyediting. If copyediting is skipped, it makes the proofreader's job all the more important. They are the last defense between errors and the world.

Sally wants her book to be as perfect as humanly possible, so she hires a proofreader to be the final eyes on her manuscript. After investing so much time and energy into her beloved novel, she knows it's always best to have a sharp set of eyes give everything a final look. Once it's been proofread, Sally can finally publish her novel!

The Fuzzy Bottom Line
Perhaps by now you can see why the distinctions between the different types of editing can get a little fuzzy. A line editor may also perform copyediting at the same time, thereby eliminating the need for a separate copyedit. A developmental editor might also focus on sentence-level stuff, making a line editor unnecessary. A proofreader's approach may look more like copyediting. This is why it's important to thoroughly discuss the scope of each project with your editor so that you're both on the same page. 

No matter how your editor defines or combines their services, the important thing to remember is to start with the big picture and work downward. You don't want to skip right to perfecting each sentence with a line edit or copyedit only to find out later that you have a gaping plot hole that would have been addressed in a developmental edit. And you don't want a proofreader to make corrections to punctuation and grammar until after a line editor has tightened up your prose. 

Keep in mind that many editors offer packages that contain many or all of these types of editing in succession. This can be great, because the editor gets to know your manuscript intimately and walks with you through every part of the process. At the same time, being so involved in the story can make them just as blind to certain issues as you are. That's why it's sometimes a good idea to hire separate editors for each stage of editing to get fresh eyes and a fresh perspective with each pass.

So what is an editor? It can often feel like a mystery. But hopefully you now have a better understanding of the different kinds of editors and how each one can help improve your writing. Every role is important, but some of them don't always fit into neat little boxes. Ultimately, you have to choose the right editor(s) for you and your manuscript.