What a Freelance Editor Can Do For You Whether you are vying for a coveted slot with a traditional publisher or soldiering on as a selfpublisher, you can gain an edge by following one piece of advice doled out across the board: hire an independent editor. Authors hoping to be taken seriously must have informed feedback in order to put out an exceptional product. Not just any editor will do, however. Read on to determine your editing needs.
Developmental editing What it is: A developmental editor analyzes the underlying structures and character arcs of your story. If your project falls short of heart-thumping tension, heart-breaking consequence, and heart-warming resolution, this is the editor you want to hire. Diagnosing such problems often requires a complex comparative analysis to classic storytelling structure, and may result in a major deletion, re-organization, and/or revision of material. On the business front, your editor should understand the market for your genre so she can advise you appropriately. I, for instance, specialize in the developmental editing of character-driven fiction and memoir. I’d be the wrong choice for heavily plot-driven mysteries or thrillers, which require a different sensibility. When to hire a developmental editor: After you’ve worked with the story for a couple of drafts and incorporated suggestions made by trusted beta readers. What it costs: According to rates established by the Editorial Freelancer’s Association (EFA), which defines a manuscript page as 250 words, the cost for editing a manuscript of 100,000 words would begin at $3,600. To that, some providers must add sales tax. I’ve found that my market, comprised mostly of writers striving for traditional publishing contracts or testing the waters of self-publishing—endeavors with uncertain results—will not bear these prices. My baseline prices, and what you get for them, are at Writing-Partner.com.
Copyediting or line editing What it is: A copyeditor will comb your manuscript line by line to address formatting, iron out syntax and word usage, correct punctuation, and maintain voice. If the story fails to move her she may not tell you, because analyzing story structure is not her job. (This is why I refuse to copyedit works I did not edit developmentally—I will not polish on the surface what is flawed at its foundation.) Because of your copyeditor’s eye for pattern and detail, and her working knowledge of accepted styles (i.e. The Chicago Manual of Style), after her attentions your compound words will be appropriately hyphenated, your numbers properly represented, your passive language challenged, your Oxford commas consistent, and all instances of your and you’re—and other homophones MS Word is not likely to pick up—will get squared away.
When to hire: Once you’re sure your story is fully developed and you’re ready to add the final polish. The author always incorporates copyediting changes prior to proofreading. What it costs: EFA rates suggest that copyediting that 100,000-word manuscript would cost you $1,200. Again, markets vary—an editor in a rural area may charge less than one in New York City. It pays to shop around. You can finish reading this article on our website about freelance editor.