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Book Editing:
5 Reasons NOT to Select A Book Editor
Based on Cheaper Rates
By Lori Lisi
You’ve seen them. I know you have. As a savvy writer, I know you’ve shopped around for the best editing deal you can find. After all, it takes quite a bit of time and money just to get the point of submission. For a business venture in which the return can be uncertain, you’ve got to watch every dollar to get there.
Or do you? What are you really after? I hope that what you ultimately want is a manuscript that's ready to be laid on the desk of someone who can get your writing career going, like a good agent or a prominent publisher. Deep down, you know that you may only have one shot in front of those influential eyes. So, are you really going to base the decision of selecting an editor on just his or her rates?
I hope not, because you’d really be selling yourself short if you did… and your manuscript too. Do you really want to wonder if your book was turned down because you used the cheapest editor—and didn’t find the right editor instead?
How can focusing on just the cost of the editing process affect your chances of getting published? Let’s take a look at just a few ways...
1. Low rates tell you nothing about credentials. What qualifies this potential editor to edit your book? Just a few example criteria might be: Has he or she edited books that have become published? Does he or she know Chicago Manual of Style? Do past clients refer him or her favorably?
2. Low rates might not reflect the level of editing actually needed. Even if an editor is established and qualified, the less expensive edits are usually just for copyediting, such as spelling, grammar, style, etc., and don’t include feedback for more substantial issues, such as plot or character development.
3. Low rates may not equate to helping you develop your writing. The ideal book editing process should help you with your writing skills for future books, not just the manuscript being focused on at the time. Finding an editor with this kind of wide-view focus may be challenging to get at a “bargain” rate.
4. The lowest rate editor might not be one that's knowledgeable about the publishing world. If an editor isn’t the least expensive one around, that editor may have more experience with the writing AND publishing process, than one that is cheaper. Such an expert would be able to keep this valuable knowledge in mind as he or she works with your manuscript—and you—possibly even past the editing stage itself.
5. The lowest rate editor might be one looking to gain experience. Do you want to pay for that? Paying for a good edit the first time will cost you much less.
Just because an editor is inexpensive, it doesn't mean that he or she isn't qualified or doesn't return quality work. However, now you know why NOT to choose an editor based on price alone. So what do you look for?
For more help on how to find the right editor for you, check out information found in our report about this topic:
The Serious Writer's Report #1: How to Find the Right Editor for You.
Direct any requests for reprint rights of this article to the Contact Page.
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