When to Hire an Editor For Your Book? Writerful Books, 29 March 20163 October 2023 Welcome to the new frontier of publishing and book editing with the explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT. This encroaching digital technology such as AI book editing services mean that your publishing journey and writing process can now be undertaken by an AI bot without ever once engaging with a human editor. The question of whether this is the way to go has been discussed by many experts in the field of publishing such as commissioning editors and literary agents. For most aspiring authors, the prospect of getting their manuscripts picked up by a literary agent or signed by a traditional publisher can be disheartening. Many of the authors we’ve worked with have experienced first-hand the dreaded ‘slush pile’ – when a manuscript never quite reaches a publishing house’s desk, regardless of how much effort, time and hopes are put into it. It’s true, traditional publishing companies tend to be choosy about which projects they bet on and the selection process can be brutal – but the self-publishing process can provide a more equal playing field, if you have the right tools and professional advice required. If you’ve spent a significant amount of time creating and crafting your manuscript, you need to take the time to find the right editor – otherwise, all your hard work may be in vain. Why Hire an editor? Clarity: It’s easy to get lost in a sea of words and lose the meaning behind them. Line editors make sure that your words make sense, while also improving grammar, punctuation, style, syntax and the overall flow of your writing. Development: If you feel you need to develop and refine your ideas, Writerful Books’ developmental editors can provide detailed feedback and guidance. Objectivity: It’s a game of hit or miss when asking family and friends to read and critique your story and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to pick up on subtleties in your work. An experienced editor is best placed to study the details of your work, detect flaws and recommend ways to fix them. Experience: Professional book editing is a skill, and one best left to professionals. Having your manuscript edited or proofread by someone who is experienced in the field will give you better chances of success. Refinement: With readers coming to expect a certain level of quality, it’s important to be ahead of the game. Having superficial errors in your manuscript could damage your reputation as a writer, so let an editor pick these up before you submit your book to agents and potential buyers. Language: Our book editors are native English speakers and understand the nuances of the language – they will get your book the attention it deserves. Resources: Traditional publishing companies often haven’t got the resources to edit a large number of manuscripts in-house. This is why they expect authors to have had their work edited before submitting it to them. Specialisation: Being a good writer does not necessarily make a good editor. Editing is a specialised task, requiring skills and in-depth knowledge for a successful outcome. Time: It’s easy to get lost in an unending cycle of editing and rewriting. Hiring a professional editor will save you time and energy, leaving you with more time to focus on other areas of your project. Success: As with any project, success is not only the outcome but also the process. Our editing services strive to support you in making your work the very best it can be, increasing your chances of success and helping you achieve your publishing goals. Our book editors understand the importance of a well-written book and the importance of making sure that it is as perfect as possible before submitting it to agents, publishers and potential buyers. Our team of experienced editors is here to offer professional assistance and guidance, turning initial drafts into clear, concise and perfect literary works. Our book editing services provide extensive feedback that takes into account of your book’s story-line, characterisation, flows and structure, as well as grammar and style. We also offer core assessment packages, tailored to fit your project’s requirements and budget. Here’s what our authors had to say.. - Helen G. Thank you so much for your insightful comments. I had to laugh at the grammatical errors. It seems no matter how hard I try to find them, some always get through. Grammarly is good, but it doesn’t seem to ever catch it all. This novel went through 4 edits with the program and it missed all of those you specified. I need to read it aloud, which I haven’t done. It is the best way but time consuming. - Helen G.Read Moreread less - Patrick L. Thank you for another wonderful assessment. This is very helpful and I greatly appreciate your suggestions and compliments. Everything makes perfect sense. I'm working on the revisions now and I am very excited to complete the next draft. I was planning to start querying agents/publishers after that, but I was curious if you think feedback from beta-reading might be necessary/helpful before moving forward. Thanks, Patrick. - Patrick L.Read Moreread less - Nella R. Thanks so much for your thorough and constructive review! Being into romance writing, I'm not surprised the romance is a little overdone. I will revisit and find a way of dealing with the issues you so proficiently highlight. It does all make sense, and yes, I did want to finish the story quickly. I got my idea for the ending from The Birds(Hitchcock) - when they drive off leaving behind a problem that is clearly not going away. Regards, Nella. - Nella R.Read Moreread less - Heather P. Thanks so much for this report, having had a quick read over I’m extremely happy with it. Everything that’s been said is fair, great food for thought and really helpful. I feel much more confident now about self-publishing, so kudos to the reader for not only doing this in such timely fashion but also with such style and understanding. - Heather P.Read Moreread less - Denise N. Thank you for my Evaluation. I was quite excited and nervous to read the feedback. Your feedback was really great. I do understand what you are saying. My biggest thing I did get from the feedback was, I am obviously not getting my message across about the most important topic of all, which is, negative money thoughts, all to do with the mind. It is not about, financial security, independence etc it is about looking at your money thoughts and language. If you have any other suggestions I would love to hear from you, if not, thank you again. - Denise N.Read Moreread less - Morgan V. I appreciate your quick and efficient work on this. As a writer, my biggest fear is that I'll bore people in the process of the read. Hopefully that wasn't the case here, though it sounds like it did a bit in the middle. I think my plan is to go the self publishing route. Perhaps that will make a difference in my word count. I did shave off about 10,000 words before I gave it to you. I don't know how in the world I'd ever get it down to 90. Then again, if it is in the YA category, perhaps it needs to be. Which brings me to that. Where do you think you would find it on a Barnes and Noble bookshelf? And is there a certain niche readership that I would need to find for it to latch on? - Morgan V.Read Moreread less - Mark P. Thank you for the helpful and detailed feedback! - Mark P.Read Moreread less - Maria G. Thank you very much for this. I find it quite helpful, and instructive. Especially the bias, it was definitely not intended. I simply did not realise it. Neither my editors. So, I will work some more on the story, and will take on board all the other raised questions. - Maria G.Read Moreread less - Sean C. Thank you so much for your report. And I agree with, say, 95% of it. I always wanted to better describe the technical aspects of the business and I could have written 200,000 - 300,000 words, but I learned as I went along that that was not the route to take. I’m happy now to say hello again to the text and begin to revise it pretty much in the manner you suggest. I must say that it’s the journey of writing the book that is so satisfying – I suspect I will be lost when it’s actually finished (although I have an idea for another one). Good luck with Heart of Darkness, one of my favorites; you’ll easily breeze through it since it’s so short, then think, “what was he actually talking about”? Enjoy! - Sean C.Read Moreread less - Benjamin G. I've just been looking over the beta reader report and can't thank you enough. You identified so many issues I would never have found on my own. I agree with all your suggestions and am excited to go through another revision to improve the manuscript. Your report was much more insightful and detailed than I expected. I will be referring you to fellow writers looking for a good beta reader. Thanks again. Sincerely, Benjamin J. Gohs - Benjamin G.Read Moreread less - Alex M. Thank you very much! I hope it wasn't too raw and disconnected at this stage; there is perhaps too much ranting in there. Is it possible to do another round of beta reading with your company, after I review/edit? - Alex M.Read Moreread less - Tina H. Thanks Declan for your thorough breakdown of my book. Yours is the first feedback that is constructive. Friends and family are always a little too enthused and not always honest with their feedback. I will take your thoughts into consideration as I rework some of the chapters. Thanks so much for beta reading my book! Thanks, Tina. - Tina H.Read Moreread less - Philip K. Hello Declan – I have been through your further assessment, thanks for those insights I can certainly work with those and will follow up on the contacts you suggest asap. I’m pleased to report that after many months of research and writing I have finally been able, this week, to self publish on Amazon the novel named “Treaty or Treason”! A close call with Penguin Ireland sadly didn’t work out for traditional publication. I would like to pass on particular thanks to Declan at Writerful Books (Dublin and Melbourne) who assessed the manuscript and helped me with many comments and kept me trudging or swimming on. Some famous author once commented that writing a book is like swimming the English Channel, you don’t know where you are, don’t know how far you have come or how far it is to go, but you have to keep swimming! Couldn’t agree more. Philip Kerrigan. - Philip K.Read Moreread less - Stephanie H. Thank you ever so much! Hope to send more business your way soon. Stephanie Hansen - Metamorphosis Literary Agency - Stephanie H.Read Moreread less - Barbara R. Thank you so much for your thorough and conscientious review of my manuscript, and for your honest feedback and suggestions. I have already made several suggested edits. - Barbara R.Read Moreread less - Lisa H. I am in receipt of your report. I will be looking it over thoroughly tomorrow, but I glanced at some if it already and it looks like it is going to be very valuable toward helping me improve and strengthen my book. I will let you know if I have any questions. - Lisa H.Read Moreread less Load More No matter what stage of the book-writing process you’re at, we recommend that you hire a book editor to help make your manuscript the polished, successful book it deserves to be. Our book editing services are the way to go if you want to take your writing to the next level and increase your chances of getting your book published. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) These FAQs are meant to provide authors seeking a book editor with essential information and guidance. They aim to address common concerns and queries authors may have about the editing process, the role of an editor, the benefits of editing, and the costs involved. The goal is to help authors understand what to expect when working with an editor, the impact of editing on their manuscript, and how it can improve their chances of success in the publishing industry. Our goal is to empower authors with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about hiring a book editor and to ensure they have a smooth and productive editing experience. When should you hire an editor for your book? It is recommended to hire an editor for your book once you have completed the initial draft and revised it to the best of your ability. This ensures that the editor can focus on fine-tuning and enhancing your work. Do I really need a book editor? While it is not compulsory, a book editor can greatly improve the quality and marketability of your book. They offer a fresh perspective, identify and fix errors, improve structure and pacing, and ensure coherence and consistency. Is it worth it getting a book editor? The value of a book editor is subjective, but many authors find it worth the investment. An editor can elevate your book’s quality, increase its chances of success, and save you from potential embarrassment caused by errors or weak writing. At what stage should writers edit? Writers should typically edit their work before seeking professional editing. This includes self-editing and soliciting feedback from beta readers or writing groups. Editing at least once before hiring an editor helps ensure you present your best work. Should I hire an editor before querying? It is not necessary to hire an editor before querying agents or publishers. However, having a polished manuscript increases your chances of attracting their interest and demonstrates your commitment to producing a high-quality book. What to do before hiring an editor? Before hiring an editor, it is crucial to revise and self-edit your manuscript thoroughly. This includes checking for grammar and spelling errors, improving clarity and coherence, and addressing any major structural issues. Do editors read the whole book? Yes, professional editors read the entire book to provide comprehensive feedback and suggestions for improvement. They analyze the plot, characters, dialogue, pacing, and other elements to ensure a cohesive and engaging reading experience. Does an editor rewrite the book? Editors will not rewrite your book. Instead, they offer suggestions, revisions, and guidance to help you improve your writing and storytelling. The extent of their involvement depends on the specific editing services you choose. How much does a book editor cost? The cost of a book editor varies depending on factors such as experience, expertise, and the level of editing required. Rates can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Our book editing fees are competitive and come with a satisfaction guarantee. Request a quote below. How long does it take an editor to edit a book? The time it takes an editor to edit a book depends on various factors, including the length of the manuscript, the complexity of the content, and the editor’s schedule. It can range from a few weeks to several months. Discussing timelines with your chosen editor is essential. Do I need a literary agent or editor first? It is not necessary to have a literary agent before hiring an editor. You can choose to work with an editor independently to improve your manuscript’s quality before seeking representation or publication. Do literary agents get you editors? Literary agents can help connect authors with editors, but their primary role is to represent authors to publishers. While some agents provide editorial feedback, it is not their main focus. Authors can hire an editor independently or find one through a literary agent’s recommendations. Do I have to hire an editor before querying? Hiring an editor is not a requirement before querying agents or publishers, but having a professionally edited manuscript can increase your chances of attracting interest. It demonstrates your commitment to producing a high-quality book and can make your work stand out. What to do before sending a book to an editor? Before sending your book to an editor, it is essential to revise and self-edit it thoroughly. This includes checking for grammar and spelling errors, improving clarity and coherence, and addressing any major structural issues. This ensures that the editor can provide more targeted feedback and suggestions. Should I pay an editor for my novel? Yes, hiring an editor for your novel usually involves a fee. The cost varies depending on factors such as the editor’s experience, the level of editing required, and the length of the manuscript. It is essential to discuss fees and payment terms with your chosen editor before beginning the editing process. What do editors look for in a book? Editors look for various elements in a book, including strong and engaging storytelling, well-developed characters, consistent pacing, clear and concise writing, proper grammar and punctuation, effective dialogue, a well-structured plot, and a cohesive and engaging narrative voice. They also focus on eliminating errors, improving clarity, and ensuring consistency in style and tone. Why is book editing so expensive? Book editing can be expensive due to the expertise and time required to thoroughly review and improve a manuscript. Editors invest their skills, experience, and knowledge to enhance the quality of your work, which justifies the cost. Will a publisher edit your book? Publishers typically provide editing services as part of the publishing process. However, the extent of their editing may vary. It is important to note that having a professionally edited manuscript before submitting to publishers can increase your chances of acceptance. What are the benefits of a book editor? The benefits of a book editor include improved writing quality, enhanced storytelling, increased marketability, and a higher chance of attracting literary agents and publishers. Editors offer objective feedback, catch errors and inconsistencies, and help you refine your work to its fullest potential. Note: The answers provided are general in nature and may vary depending on individual circumstances and preferences. It is always recommended to research and consult with professionals in the publishing industry for specific advice. Feel free to reach out with any questions or queries you may have or the request an obligation-free quote below. Hire an Editor Here Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Service Required *Creative EditingDevelopmental EditingManuscript AssessmentManuscript EvaluationOther ServiceCountry / Currency *Australia (AUD)Canada (CAD)Ireland (EUR)United Kingdom (GBP)United States (USD)OtherWord Count *Brief Synopsis *What Are Your Publishing Objectives? *Submit Your Manuscript Click or drag a file to this area to upload. PhoneSubmit * Acceptance of a manuscript electronically does not automatically imply any contractual obligations. Some editing jobs may take up to six months to complete depending on the workload of individual editors and length of the manuscript. Editing will only commence once a client agreement form has been signed and costs agreed upon. Writerful Books offers affordable editing services to authors within Australia (Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney), in all major centres in Ireland (Cork, Belfast, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Waterford) and the UK (Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield) and the US. Our book editors edit fiction as well as non-fiction. We can tailor our editing services to match your requirements. Articles Book Editing ServicesHire a Book Editor