Hi all,
This week I'm going to talk about editors. I've used two in my publishing journey so far, and both have been great with my books. But I want to help others with picking an editor that works for them. Editors can completely transform your book, so you need to know that they're right for you.
Request a sample.
Most editors will let you ask for a sample of your work to be edited. This is important, as it gives you an insight into their editing style. You can see if they understand your voice and what changes they might suggest. If you send a sample and they've missed a lot of typos or grammar issues, then you know that they're not for you.
Read reviews.
If other authors are happy with the editor, then that's a fantastic sign. If they have a couple that are unhappy with their work, that's fine. Authors can be protective over their work and some might not be ready for an edit. If the reviews are mostly positive, then that's an excellent sign. Look out for editors who have bad reviews or aren't open to sharing their portfolio with you.
Look at their portfolio.
Do they have works that they've previously edited listed? Check the book out and maybe give it a read. It'll give you an idea of what your edit will look like.
Check which genres they edit.
If you're writing a horror book, there's no point in sending it to an editor who specialises in non-fiction. Your editor should be confident enough in your genre to be able to edit your book effectively.
Prepare yourself for the edits.
You won't like all the edits that your editor suggests. But they aren't doing it to be malicious, they're doing what you paid them to do. Before you get upset, take a step back and think about how it could improve your story. But if you think it changes too much, you don't have to do it. It's your choice, after all.
That's it for this week! I hope this helps anyone who is looking into getting their book edited. See you next Sunday.
