Are You Prepared to Reach Out to a Book Editor for Your Manuscript?

After dedicating numerous days and nights to your manuscript, you are now nearing the final stages of your first draft and are ready to send it off for professional editing. If you are considering hybrid or self-publishing, here are five tips to help you prepare for the journey of finding and collaborating with a professional book editor.

• Be Financially Prepared: You've probably dreamed of your story for years, and now that it's complete, you're eager to share it with the world in its best form. This can be a costly process. Ideally, you've planned by investing in yourself and the process. Setting a budget for book editing and publishing can reduce the financial stress of finding an editor. Here are some ways to fund your book publishing journey:

  • Open a dedicated account for editing (and publishing).

  • Regularly deposit funds into this account over time. Starting as soon as you begin writing will ensure you have ample savings when you're ready.

  • Use this account to pay for your editor (and secure a publisher).

Editing is a vital part of the publishing journey. Don't reach the end only to opt for the cheapest editor or skip editing due to financial unpreparedness. You've worked too hard not to have a finished product you can be proud of. Additionally, you typically get what you pay for.

• Revise and Self-Edit: Self-editing is a budget-friendly step every writer should undertake before hiring a professional editor. This approach not only reduces costs but also saves time. Here are some tips for successfully self-editing your manuscript:

  • Step away from your manuscript for several days or weeks before starting the self-editing process.

  • Don't fixate on minute details, as there will always be something that could be added or removed from your writing.

  • Check your grammar and spelling, as well as sentence structure and flow.

    
    

The goal is to invest as much time and effort into your manuscript as possible before seeking professional help. Self-editing allows your editor to focus on significant details and the main editing work rather than wasting time on minor corrections.

• Contact an Editor Early: The editor you wish to work with probably has a busy schedule, often booked months in advance. Here's what I recommend:

  • Start researching editors and the type of editing you might need well ahead of time.

  • Create a list of your top five (5) editors to contact.

  • Reach out to the editor(s) you're interested in at least a month before you intend to start the editing process.

• Establish a Realistic Timeline: Authors frequently have unrealistic expectations about editing timelines. I've met authors who wanted a developmental edit for a full-length book done in a week. Before contacting an editor, consider the following:

  • Familiarize yourself with the typical timelines for the type of editing your book needs.

  • Acknowledge that quality editing requires time and cannot be rushed.

  • Understand that if your editor has a busy schedule and needs a month to start on your manuscript, they won't be able to return it in two weeks to meet your publishing deadline.

• Prepare for Additional Work: This is a common challenge for many authors. Often, writers expect editors to take over their stories and finish them. They submit their manuscripts and step back, hoping the next communication from the editor will be to deliver a final, polished manuscript ready for publishing.

  • Editing happens in stages, and each stage requires you to further refine the manuscript, even if the adjustments are minor.

  • Your editor's job is to enhance your already well-crafted story. This involves asking questions, providing feedback, and encouraging you to add or remove sections of your story. More work is involved.

  • Your involvement in writing a book doesn't end when you hand over your manuscript to your editor. That's when the real work begins, evolving into a collaborative effort.

I hope these tips assist you in getting ready to reach out to an editor. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them here or email editor@ammaedits.com.