Navigate the Editor Landscape: When and How to Choose the Right Editor. And the Right Type of Edit

What kind of editing do you need?

Continuing from our article last month where I outlined some realities of both traditional publishing and self-publishing models, now we discuss how to choose the right editor for your chosen publishing path.

Things to consider first

Your level of experience and/or expertise. If you are writing your first book and have taken only a cursory study of the craft of fiction writing, it's highly likely you are not yet ready for an editor. This means, if you intend to publish traditionally, you still have a long way to go before sending that MS off to an agent or publishing house. Many manuscripts (MS) suffer from being submitted to professionals too early. I.E. the writer hasn't yet sufficiently developed their skills, and/or their story on the whole. Most agencies and houses will stipulate that if the MS has already been rejected, not to submit it again, unless they specifically invite a rewrite/revise and resubmit (R&R). Never send in an R&R without a specific request.

In terms of self-publishing, we all know that there are plenty of instances where the author became too enthusiastic too soon – or lacked sufficient ability to evaluate their story and writing skills objectively – before hitting the 'publish' button. Then they wonder why their story isn't gaining any traction or has received poor reviews. Every book, and its quality, is a marketing tool for the next project, so getting it right – or as good as you can – is extremely important and takes time. Unfortunately, too many inexperienced writers jump from draft to proofread too soon, often because they haven't done their research or follow bad advice.

In either route, at this stage, writing classes or a mentor/coach might be more appropriate. Certainly garnering some feedback from some writing peers is a good first step. Not only to gauge some initial reactions to your writing but because receiving feedback from other writers also prepares you for receiving feedback from editors. You'll be more familiar with established writing terms, and it will break down some of your natural defensive barriers, so that you are more open to constructive criticism. Freely communicating with an author is extremely important for the exploration of ideas, and for a strong working relationship when needing to find the best way around the trickier areas of a manuscript. If a writer is highly defensive about their work, that can really affect the writer-editor relationship. Reciprocating feedback with a critique partner is also an excellent learning curve. It will help you develop your own editing skills and instincts.