As a writer, one of the scariest moments is that first time you push send on your email or print off a draft and let someone else read your words. In a way, there is no turning back from there. Your work (that you have likely spent months or even years on) is out there to be judged and evaluated. This can feel as exposing as standing naked in front of someone and handing them a Sharpie, inviting them to circle anything that they don’t like.
If you’re working as a professional writer or want to become a published author, you likely know that there are many steps between showing your work for the first time to the final draft that makes its way into the world. But, if you’re a new author, how do you know if you’re ready to let in someone else’s opinion and notes? Here are a few tips that could help you decide if its time to bring in a professional editor and what level of service you should be looking for.
You Are Looking for an Professional Eye
The most common reason writers need editors is because every book or story needs that outside eye to let you know if all of your ideas and the heart of your story are actually finding their way onto the page in an efficient and entertaining way. As an editor, one of the most frequent comments that I hear when presenting feedback is something along the lines of “I thought that was clear” or “I didn’t realize I forgot to add in that detail”.
It is impossible for any writer to experience their book as a reader. You know everything about the world of your story and therefore, when presented with missing pieces or confusing scenarios, you will naturally fill in the blanks without even realizing you’re doing it. This is why it is so important to expose your book to others before it goes out to the general public.
A professional editor is going to do more than just assess your book from the perspective of a new reader. When they do come across any issue to clarity, believability, efficiency of storytelling, or anything else that might come up, they are going to ask questions and will present options that will help you to find the best solutions.
Every editor has their own list of services that they provide and it is important to be sure what you are getting before you sign on. While some editors and editing services will go through your story with a fine-tooth comb to find any inconsistency or missing details, others will take broader strokes and concentrate on the main motivations and actions of the character, along with elements of world building or that affect the overall plot and structure of the piece. If you are at an early stage of editing, this wider look at your work might be the best use of your budget and energy at this time. To find more about the types of editing, click here.
You Know That There Are Problems But Are Not Sure How to Fix Them
Rewriting a manuscript is a huge exercise in problem solving. You not only need to find entertaining solutions to all of your characters’ problems leading to a satisfying ending, but also need to worry about things like consistency of details, timelines, balancing the flow, pacing, and storylines while creating stylish and even prose throughout. Once you finish your first draft and start tweaking and changing things, it can be difficult to separate those elements that are holding your story together and those that are holding it back. You might also have one specific thing that you know is wrong but are drawing a blank with how to fix it.
Substantive editors work with you to bring the best possible version of your story to the page. While one part of the editing process is simply assessing what the strengths and weaknesses of the piece might be, another (in my opinion more important) part of our job is to help to guide you towards solutions to any issues we find. This might mean asking questions that could spark new ideas and jumpstart your creativity, or it could mean presenting you with a few options that could work as a solution.
When talking to agents and publishers about when is it best time to submit a manuscript, their answer is always going to be “when it is the best you can possibly make it”. For many, this means that you have already gone through many rounds of rewrites.
You Are Ready to Enter the Business of Publishing
When you are preparing to publish a book, either through self-publishing or by selling the rights to publish to a traditional publisher, you are essentially starting your own small business. To be successful, you will need to think about more than just the art of telling the best possible story. You also need to think about who the market is for your book, what the selling features of it might be, and what your choices are for publishing.
If you are planning to traditionally publish, acquisition editors and literary agents get dozens of new manuscripts on their desk or in their inbox each week. They couldn’t possibly read them all from cover to cover. So, it has become the norm for them to start out by reading your query letter and the first few chapters, if they are into your pitch.
This is your one and only chance to get them as excited about your work as you are. So, you don’t want to give them a single reason to put your manuscript down to move onto the next. Also, more and more publishers are cutting back on their editing time. This means that they are looking more favourably on manuscripts that have already gone through substantive edits.
Editors can help be that first critical eye, looking at the larger story as a whole and to help you with things like style and narrative voice – the things that will set your book apart from the others they have waiting in their inbox.
Stylistic editing is critical to making sure that you are offering the best possible product to potential publishers. Stylistic edits should be the last that you undertake before sending your book off to acquisition editors.
If you are self-publishing, you will absolutely need to have at least a couple of editors on your team to produce a book that can compete with others currently on the market. Ideally, you should have one editor for substantive and stylistic edits, a second for copyediting, and a third as a proofreader.
When should you not seek the help of an editor? When you’re hesitant to make any changes to your manuscript, either because you believe it to be finished or because you do not fully trust the editor. Also, keep in mind that there are editors working at all skill levels and price ranges. Just make sure you understand what you are getting as part of your service before you sign on.
If hiring an editor is not feasible for you, there are also options to get outside eyes on your work for a low cost or for free. Look into writer’s critique groups, contests, and scholarship programs.
Hiring an editor should be a positive and exciting experience. Approach it with an open mind, take the time to choose the right editor, and you are sure to get something great out of the experience.
Happy Rewriting!
