The indie publishing journey: Editors and editing

Editing is a crucial part of bringing a novel to life, especially if you’re indie publishing and can’t rely on an in-house editor. But do you REALLY need an editor? If so, where can you find one? And what do you need to know about working with an editor? All these questions are answered in today’s post about the editing stage of indie publishing! →

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SERIES CONTENTS

🤷‍♀️ What, why and how | 💰 Business mechanics | 📝 Editors and editing | 📚 Choosing a platform | 📜All things “legal“ | 🎨 Designing the book | 📈 Marketing 101 | ⚙️ Tips, tricks and tools

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The different types of editing

Did you know that there are several different types of editing when it comes to novels? As you embark on your indie publishing journey, it’s important that you understand what each of these are and how they differ from each other. That way, you can best identify what services editors are offering and what kind of editing you need. Here are the key terms you should be aware of:

Developmental editing: Deals with the big-picture elements of a book such as plot, pacing, character development, world-building, themes, and writing tone. It is sometimes called structural editing or content editing and should come first.

Line editing: Is about fine-tuning the language of a book. It goes through the manuscript line-by-line and refines the arrangement of words, sentences, and paragraph transitions to make them “sound good”. Sometimes called stylistic editing.

Copy editing: Addresses major issues with grammar, spelling errors, punctuation, and word choice, as well as ensuring facts within the book are consistent. Sometimes copy editing is combined with line editing, but sometime they’re kept separate.

Proofreading: The final read-through and check to find any typos, repeated words, missing words or punctuation, extra spaces, or any other minor issues. It does not include feedback on any other editing issues as outlined above.

Do I need an editor and where do I find one?

Do I really need an editor for my book? Chances are, yes. Even the best-written books from the best authors benefit from a fresh set of eyes. I’ve read quite a lot of indie published books, and while this isn’t always the case, it’s often quite obvious when a book hasn’t been edited. If your book’s pacing is off, or it’s full of spelling and grammatical errors, or has too many repeated words and phrases, this can be a real turn-off for readers. And you don’t want that!

Why would I not hire an editor? Unfortunately, as an indie publisher, you have to pay for editing yourself, and it can be quite expensive. For most indie authors, it will be the most expensive part of publishing your book, and for some it’s just not financially viable. If you’re not in a position to hire an editor, then make good use of your critique partners and beta readers or perhaps look into some of the cheap/free editing software to give you a hand.

What sort of editing does my book need? It really depends! Not all books need all types of editing (plus the costs can add up quickly). If you’ve self-edited, written several drafts, sought feedback from beta readers and incorporated any necessary changes, then you might not need developmental editing. A combined line and copy editing might do the trick! You should always do a final proofread, and if possible, get someone else to do it for you.

Where do I find an editor? There are several places you can find an editor for your book. I’ve actually focused on editors I’d met, followed, and interacted with on social media because those interactions had already established a level of trust. If social media isn’t for you, you can connect with editors on sites like Reedsy, or in Australia, the Writer’s Marketplace or Institute of Professional Editors. Or do a Google search for editing businesses or freelancers and see what pops up!

How do I know if an editor is right for me? First of all, make sure an editor can edit books in your genre and accommodate your country’s spelling and grammar conventions. Then you might want to take a look at their testimonials or even read some of the published books they had a hand in editing. Conversely, if you come across a great indie book that feels a bit like yours, check the acknowledgements and see whether their editor might be available for you.

Working with an editor

So you’ve figured out what kind of editing your book needs and found an editor you want to work with. Maybe you’ve even reached out to enquire about their services. Congrats! Everyone’s experience of working with their editor is different, and I’ve only done it once so far, but here’s a few hot tips about what to understand, consider and do…

• Costs and payment plan: Make sure you’re clear on how much it will cost for your book to be edited. Many editors charge a flat rate per word, or they might have a specific package available. You should be able to enquire and/or get a quote. Also make sure you know how the payment is made and what payment plans the editor offers. From what I’ve seen, they don’t often request the total payment in one instalment.

• Scheduling and waiting period: Remember that just because you want an editor now doesn’t mean they’re available now. Some editors can book up for months in advance, so make sure you engage with them early to find out how far ahead they’re scheduling. Since editing comes quite early in the publishing process, it’s vital you understand any waiting periods you might have to keep your publishing timeline on track!

• Turnaround time during editing: Similarly, find out what the turnaround time might be once the editor starts working on your manuscript. Some might give an estimated time based on your word count, but some might not. It can also depend on the quality of your work: if your book is already quite polished, it might take less time than one that’s still quite rough. Also keep in mind how long subsequent rounds of editing will take.

• Requested information: If an editor requests information about your book, whether that’s to provide a quote or book you in to their calendar, make sure you read the request carefully and provide the full information in the form they ask for. This goes for working with anyone you’ve hired to help produce your book. Things will go more smoothly for you and you’ll develop better relationships if you can follow their instructions!

• Communication is key: Always make sure you communicate early, honestly and respectfully with your editor, particularly if problems arise. Likewise, you should expect the same thing from them. Life happens, and sometimes things come up or go wrong, and we need to accept that. However, we’ve also entered into a professional agreement, and if you’ve signed a contract with the editor, both parties should meet its terms.

• Acknowledge the editor: Once your book is edited and polished and ready to get out into the world, don’t forget to acknowledge your editor! I like to ask my editor how they want to be acknowledged, and it’s always great to see editors included in the acknowledgements at the back of the book. Many of the editors helping indie authors might be small freelancers themselves, so it’s nice to get them a bit of publicity as well.

Have you worked with an editor before? Or are you an editor yourself? What tips and tricks do you have about editing and working with editors?