Finding the Right Manuscript Editor
Finding the Right Manuscript Editor
Readers and reviewers can spot a poorly edited book from a distance. You’ve put much time and work into writing your book, and a poor review could nullify all that effort. A professional copyeditor will give you open and honest feedback that will, if done correctly, improve the quality of your finished product.
Choosing the right copyeditor for your particular title can be a daunting task. A recent Google search identified over 31 million hits for the term copyeditor. Finding the right one can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
A few tips on choosing the right copyeditor:
- Does the person have a broad knowledge of the subject matter? What has the person edited that is similar to your work?
- Is the person familiar with the style manual appropriate for your title? While The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for many works, some topics, including law, medicine, computers, and social sciences follow specialized style guides.
- Cost is not directly relative to quality.
- Ask others with similar titles for recommendations.
- Don’t fall for a slick Web page. Marketing is one thing—editing is another.
- Get a full editorial evaluation and sample edit before permitting a copyeditor to start editing your book.
- Make sure the editor looks at your work before giving you a firm quote. Those who quote sight unseen are probably not going to do “whatever it takes” to make your book the best it can be.
One more question you need to ask yourself is whether to hire a company or a freelance service provider. Each one has pros and cons.
Freelance Service Provider vs. Company
Cost: A freelance service provider may be cheaper than hiring a company. Companies tend to have more overhead than the average freelance service provider.
Schedule: A freelance service provider is one person and can do only so much. Companies are more able to arrange resources to meet demanding schedules.
Quality: A freelance service provider does not have quality control checks in place. An experienced, reputable company generally has quality control checks in place.
Control: You control who does the copyedit with a freelance service provider, (after all you choose the editor!). When using a company, you need to trust that they will use the most appropriate copyeditor for your particular title.
In the end, if you value your writing, you will seriously consider hiring a professional copyeditor or company to add that touch of professionalism that no one really notices—unless it isn’t there.
Laying the foundation for a quality marketing plan involves offering the best book possible for the reader. For those of you with questions regarding editorial services, feel free to email me at MJ@selfpublishing.com.
Last 5 posts by Margaret Jennings
- Why a Copy Editor Instead of a 10th-Grade English Teacher? - September 20th, 2007
- Choosing the “Perfect” Service Provider - March 4th, 2006
- The Power of a Comprehensive Editorial Evaluation - January 3rd, 2006
- What’s Behind a Proofread? - December 6th, 2005
- Copyedit or Copy Edit? - October 11th, 2005
June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I am writing a trilogy of my life. It is filled with many abuses. The difference is I earned a top accounting degree and an honorable discharge despite the abuse. I am sober (and always have been) but am suffering from a condition known as “fibromyalgia”. It is an excruciating condition most likely developed in the first five years of my life.
According to one Rheumatologist, my neurons are “miswired” due to severe trauma I experienced that neither my body, mind, nor nerves were prepared for at such an young age. I’m writing it so that others can be aware of the likelihood of suffering my condition regardless of which youngster surviving any trauma.
Furhermore, I want to provide the insights of how I survived the cruelest of crimes with parents who sold me up the river since my daddy “brought home the bacon and I didn’t”. My desire is to provide a solice for other victims and a resource of how to get through it all. There are some books out there, but not many with the insights, optimism, and actual accomplishments that mine provides.
The material is very mature and includes my thoughts during some of the most severe violations. I need a copy editor who’s not afraid of honest content regarding serious scenarios. The name above is my pen names since I do have children and do not want them to suffer publically because of what I endured. I still need to review the last couple chapters, but the other 12 to 14 are ready to be scrutinized.
Please offer some suggestions of where to find someone. My expectation is for that person to sign a non-disclosure agreement in addition to an outright fee – no commissions or percentages. Just so you know, I refuse to give a publisher a huge profit off my suffering. It is my story – the money belongs to me especially since I lost an $80K career due to my condition. My children should be the beneficuaries – not some millionaire CEO. Thank you in advance of any advice you can offer.
Sincerely,
Ms. Colbert