Manuscript editing is a special branch of the writing process, and it can be called one of the most important jobs in the entire publishing industry. Writers and publishers rely on manuscript editors, often to prepare work just before its submission or final publication.
Without the help of manuscript editors, books would sure look a whole lot more confusing – and there would be many more spelling mistakes and plot holes on the published side of the business.
Books aren’t filled with unnecessary errors and glaring plot holes thanks to manuscript editors.
If you are a writer, you have the power to hire a freelance manuscript editor at almost any point in the publication process.
As most experienced writers should know by now, you can’t just hire anyone to polish your manuscript into the gem it was meant to be.
This post examines some of the most important questions that you can ask a manuscript editor to make sure they’re the right one for your book.
What Is Your Experience?
One of the most important questions for a prospective editor from their client is their experience.
Great editors have experience, and it’s your right to ask for more information about this experience before you contract them to work on your book.
Where have they worked before, and what have they worked on?
Every great editor can present their next clients with a portfolio that tells the potential client everything about why they should hire them (as opposed to the client’s second or third choice!).
Experience matters, especially if you know that you would like your manuscript to match up with a specific editor’s expertise and style.
What Are Your Specialities?
The job description of “editor” isn’t just about taking a manuscript and making it better. Editors can be specific to their careers, or might have certain areas in which they have more experience than in others – and in this case, take a close look at everything an editor has worked on before.
Some editors are better suited to editing a horror fiction manuscript, while others might have spent most of their career working on nonfiction autobiographies.
If you have a specific genre or topic to edit, remember to ask about an editor’s specialities and how this could contribute to the betterment of your work.
Who Are Your Previous Clients?
Reading through an editor’s Reedsy profile or biography is not going to tell you everything you want to know about their work.
For a writer in need of an editor, it can be just as important to ask for specific information – such as who their previous clients have been.
It’s important for the prospective client (that’s the writer) to develop a good feeling for what the editor does, and the other way around. Samples, and sometimes a list of their past clients, allows you to do exactly this.
Always ask an editor for more specific details about who they have worked for in the past; the answer will usually contain a little more information than what you could find in their public profile, and it can help you to decide if they’re the right editor for your manuscript.
What Have You Edited?
If you are a writer who wants to make sure you find the right editor for your manuscript, then examples of their work can be just as important to ask for as to ask who their previous clients were.
Most prestigious and successful manuscript editors should be able to show you more than just a list of their past clients, but should also be able to tell you what they have edited before.
The good thing to see here is works that are actively in publication.
Editors, the ones that are good at their jobs, contribute to authors getting published.
However, less experienced editors will be able to show less samples.
How Long Can It Take?
The projected time-frame is an important question for any professional relationship, especially one that exists between an editor and their client.
As a writer, one of the first questions you should ask your prospective manuscript editor is this: how long can it take?
While an exact time-frame is not always possible or practical to give, most professionals are able to provide an estimated time in which a job can be completed.
The answer an editor will give you depends on their schedule, and the turn-around-time of their business. It can also have a lot to do with the length of your manuscript, and how much has to be changed.
Remember that it’s always your right to ask about the practical turn-around-time of a job.
How Much Will It Cost?
Cost is calculated in a different way by each editor, and there is no single price for “manuscript editing” in the world. When you pay for a manuscript editor, you pay for their time and experience – and this is why it’s so important to make sure that you hedge your bets with the right editor for what your book needs.
According to Reedsy, editors can charge depending on their individual level of experience and competency. Rates might be charged per project, but there are some editors who charge by the hour instead.
Ask about the estimated cost before you decide to stick to one editor for your manuscript.
Which Manuscript Format Do You Prefer?
Manuscript formatting is an important convenience that makes sure everyone in the publishing industry is on the same page. Standard formatting eliminates funny fonts and frills, and changes it in favor of a standardized font and size throughout.
Format can also refer, these days, to the electronic format a manuscript should be submitted in.
Some editors prefer PDF, while others do their edits in DOCX.
Many editors still prefer to do their most intensive edits on paper.
Always ask, or you’re not going to know.
Could I See Your Progress?
Once the project has started, a client is allowed to ask for a progress report – and in fact, this is something that most editors and writers would encourage a writer to do.
Editors and their clients have to remain in contact with one another, often trading thoughts and progress reports as the manuscript edit goes forward.