Should I Hire an Editor?
At some point you might ask yourself: should I hire an editor? Though there are a few factors to consider, hiring an editor is an investment in your project that helps ready it for publication. So where do you start?
In this post:
Consider your goals
Confidence & reassurance
Comfort with critique
The different stages of editing
Finding an editor
Determining fit
Consider your goals
First things first—what is your project and what do you hope to achieve with it? Not every piece of writing requires a professional edit, so you’ll need to get a clear idea of these two questions first.
If you’re working on a fun personal project meant only for you and your loved ones, hiring a professional editor might seem out of scope. Still, there is diversity among this type of project. Maybe you’re planning on giving your children a personal memoir as a keepsake. The extra polish might be a nice consideration.
Businesses writing for clients might already have a team member who reviews drafts before publication. But when there’s a high volume to review, or if you have a special campaign coming up, having a professional editor on call can a) avoid burnout by freeing up your team to focus on the tasks most important to their role, and b) make sure the review is done as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.
Among the more obvious candidates for professional editing are the indie author looking to put the final polish on a novel before publication, or the business owner looking to elevate their website and draw in new customers. Even a writer pursuing traditional publication might hire an editor for a pre-submission review to improve their manuscript’s odds of success.
Specific publishers will dictate the editing process for your project. As long as you’re not currently working with one, the ball is in your court.
Confidence & reassurance
Once you know your goals, the next thing to consider is your confidence level in getting there.
Some writers are confident after a few rounds of self-review, or after handing it off to a trusted friend or colleague. Other folks desire the kind of peace of mind that a professional editor provides, or they might want additional support through the publishing process. Either approach is valid, but the main thing is to be honest with yourself.
You can be a great writer, or even a great editor, but in the midst of our craft, we have a tendency to become blind to our own foibles and errors. As an editor, I personally know the value in having someone else look at my work.
Comfort with critique
Let’s say you’ve decided to move forward and hire an editor. Before you do, ask yourself this one crucial question: how comfortable am I receiving both positive and constructive feedback?
Editing is not typically a one-sided affair of either heaping praise or righteous indignation, but it’s surprising how easy it is for feedback of any kind to catch us off guard, even when we go looking for it. Our first instinct is often to brush away a compliment or get defensive about a critique.
That’s why it’s important to be ready for it. Psychological safety—feeling safe enough to express honest thoughts and opinions—on both the writer’s and editor’s side is paramount to the process.
If you hire an editor, they’re going to assume you want to hear their suggestions. We want you to succeed, so these are not offered out of malice. Good editors know how to deliver their feedback well, so unless you’re looking for someone to yell at you and call you names, you’re not likely to run into it by accident. (More on looking for an editor in a moment.)
So make sure you’re comfortable with feedback before you proceed, but don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t there yet. It can be daunting to share your writing, especially with a professional and especially for the first time.
The different stages of editing
Now that you’re really sure, it’s time to start looking for someone, right?
Not so fast, dear reader. There’s one more thing to consider first.
Some publishing processes require a project to be handed off between multiple editors. Why? There are different stages of editing. That’s not to say that a single editor couldn’t be versed in each kind (some, including myself, may choose to combine certain stages), but each serves a distinct purpose.
So what are the stages?
Structural Editing
Structural editing (sometimes also called substantive, manuscript, content or developmental editing) is typically the starting point for an edit. This is a high-level review of organization and content that may include revising, reordering, cutting or expanding material as well as suggestions of alternate formatting (e.g., bullet points vs. a paragraph).
This kind of editing is best suited if your draft is in its early stages before you’ve gotten into sentence-level revisions. If you have concerns about the order of ideas or logic, plot and character developments or concision, this is where you’ll want to start.
Stylistic Editing
Stylistic editing (sometimes also called line or sentence-level editing) comes after a structural edit. It’s a line-by-line review to clarify meaning, ensure coherence and flow and refine language. It may include eliminating jargon or clichés, ensuring consistent language level, adjusting syntax or reinforcing author style and voice.
If your draft is in its middle-stage, this is for you. If tone or mood, or ensuring appropriateness for the audience, medium and purpose are important to you, you may want to request this edit.
Copy Editing
Copy editing (sometimes also called line editing, though distinct from stylistic editing) comes after a stylistic edit of a draft and before final formatting. This edit ensures correctness, accuracy, consistency and completeness. It includes a review of grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage and consistency of mechanics and facts as well as visual or graphic elements.
If your draft is nearly complete and you’re happy with the structure and style, copyediting will put the final polish on your piece. Mechanical issues such as typos or inconsistencies in punctuation or grammar are the main focus here.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final stage of reviewing a work before publication. It takes place after any design work is completed and the document is in its final format, for instance a web page or magazine layout.
Often conflated with copy editing, proofreading actually refers to the final check that ensures nothing was omitted, added or otherwise changed between copy editing and the final format or proof (hence “proofreading”). Proofreaders may catch issues as small as typos to full missing paragraphs or even chapters.
Finding an editor
Now that we know the stages of editing, think about what your project might need to help you find the appropriate editor. Have a good understanding of your project, but be open to recommendations. Sometimes we’ll think our project just needs some light copy editing, but someone else’s inspection of it might reveal issues affecting parts of the plot. In that case, it might make more sense to start with a structural edit.
If you’re worried you may miss something, don’t sweat it. Most editors can provide their insights on a project’s priorities at this stage.
Once you have a good sense of what your writing needs, look for editors who offer that service or suite of services. Check to see if they specialize in your genre, or if they have prior knowledge on your topic.
Not sure where to start your search? Try a directory like the ones on Editors Canada, ACES (The Society for Editing) or CIEP (Chartered Institute of Editing & Proofreading). These directories have filters to help you find the most relevant candidates for your job. You can also advertise your project on institute job boards for editors to respond to.
Determining fit
Before you sign a contract, you’ll want to also ensure the editor you’re hiring is the right fit for you. Likewise, they’ll want to ensure their services are suitable for your project.
First up, do you click with the person? While it’s not necessary to become best friends, you should be able to establish a professional rapport. Consider their communication style. How would you feel receiving feedback from them?
Many editors will also offer a sample edit prior to their quote. This is an opportunity for you to see their editing and feedback approach, and for them to better assess your project. The more information about you and your project you can provide, the more accurate the quote; you may even want to provide your full manuscript ahead of the quote. Otherwise, if they have one, a testimonial page or a portfolio of previous projects can be more great examples of the editor’s work.
After this, the editor will walk you through their quote and contract. Make sure the quote works for your budget. If it doesn’t, some editors can tailor the process according to your budget. Just make sure the proposed project scope still meets your satisfaction.
After you’ve sorted through the contract details and your schedule slot comes, your project begins! And remember, though it can seem daunting at first, we’re here to help.
Searching for an editor now? Slots are currently open for my editing agency, Elixir Editorial. Receive a 20% discount on your project quote if you confirm a booking before August 31, 2024.
Take a look here to see if my services are right for you. To submit a project request, click here.
Mary Kehoe provides structural, stylistic and copy editing services for a variety of written works through her agency, Elixir Editorial. From time to time she dabbles in her own writing projects which tend toward the speculative genre.
She is a member of both Editors Canada and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), as well as a founding member and former chair of the Toronto Arts & Letters Club writing group. A longtime lover of the English language, Mary is passionate about supporting writers on the journey to inspire the world.
