My first book went through three rounds of editing with two different editors. One focused on structure. The other focused on sentence-level craft. Together, they caught problems I was blind to after months of staring at the same manuscript.
Editing is not optional. The best writers in the world work with editors. The difference between a good manuscript and a published book is almost always the editing process.
Here is how to find the right editor, hire them, and get the most out of the relationship.
Types of Editing
Before you hire an editor, you need to understand what type of editing your manuscript needs. Different editors specialize in different stages of the revision process. The Editorial Freelancers Association's rate chart provides industry benchmarks for what each type of editing costs.
Developmental Editing
A developmental editor evaluates the big picture: story structure, character arcs, pacing, theme, and overall organization. They do not fix sentences. They fix the book.
Developmental editing is the most transformative and the most expensive type of editing. It often results in significant rewrites: cutting chapters, reorganizing sections, deepening characters, or rethinking the narrative approach.
If your manuscript has structural problems, a developmental edit should come first. Polishing sentences in a chapter that will be cut is wasted effort.
Copy Editing
A copy editor works at the sentence and paragraph level. They fix grammar, punctuation, word choice, consistency, and clarity. They catch repeated words, awkward phrasing, and factual inconsistencies.
Copy editing happens after the structure is finalized. It assumes the book's organization is sound and focuses on making each sentence as clear and correct as possible.
Line Editing
Line editing falls between developmental and copy editing. A line editor focuses on the prose itself: voice, rhythm, word choice, and the quality of individual sentences. They make the writing sing without changing the structure.
Not all editors offer line editing as a separate service. Some combine it with copy editing. If your writing is sound but the prose feels flat, a line editor is what you need.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final pass. A proofreader catches typos, formatting errors, and small mistakes that survived every previous round. Proofreading happens on the final, formatted version of the manuscript.
Proofreading is not editing. Hiring a proofreader when you need a developmental editor is like getting a car wash when the engine is broken.
How to Find an Editor
Professional Directories
The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and Reedsy both maintain directories of vetted editors searchable by genre, type of editing, and price range. These are reliable starting points.
Genre-Specific Recommendations
Ask writers in your genre who they use. Writing communities, forums, and social media groups are full of editor recommendations. An editor who specializes in how to write a thriller novel will bring different skills than one who specializes in memoirs.
Published Acknowledgments
Open books similar to yours and check the acknowledgments section. Authors often thank their editors by name. This gives you a list of editors with proven track records in your genre.
Agent and Publisher Referrals
If your book is handled by a publishing house, your publisher assigns an editor. If you are self-publishing, agents and publishing professionals often know freelance editors they can recommend.
How to Vet an Editor
Finding an editor is easy. Finding the right editor takes more work.
Request a Sample Edit
Most professional editors offer a sample edit of two to five pages at low or no cost. This shows you their editing style, the depth of their feedback, and whether their approach matches your needs.
A sample edit also shows whether the editor understands your genre. An editor who rewrites your how to write a fantasy novel to sound like literary fiction is not the right fit, regardless of their skill.
Check Their Portfolio
Ask for references or links to published books they have edited. A strong portfolio includes books in your genre with positive reviews that mention the writing quality.
Evaluate Communication
The editor-author relationship requires clear communication. Pay attention to how fast the editor responds during initial conversations. An editor who takes weeks to respond to a query email may take weeks to respond to questions during the edit.
Verify Credentials
Professional editors have some combination of formal training, membership in editing organizations, years of experience, and a track record of published clients. None of these alone is sufficient, but together they indicate a professional.
How Much Does Editing Cost?
Editing costs vary by type, length, genre, and the editor's experience.
General ranges for a 70,000-word manuscript:
Developmental editing: $1,500 to $5,000
Line editing: $1,000 to $3,500
Copy editing: $800 to $2,500
Proofreading: $400 to $1,200
Rates are often quoted per word (1 to 6 cents per word) or per page. Some editors charge flat fees.
Cheap editing is expensive if it misses problems. The cost of re-editing a poorly edited manuscript is higher than hiring a competent editor the first time.
How to Work With Your Editor
Set Clear Expectations
Before work begins, agree on:
The type of editing being performed
The timeline for delivery
The number of revision passes included
The format for delivering feedback (tracked changes, editorial letter, and inline comments)
Payment terms and schedule
Put everything in a contract or detailed email agreement. Professional editors expect this and will provide one if you do not.
Stay Open to Feedback
The hardest part of working with an editor is hearing that something you wrote does not work. Your job is to listen, consider, and decide. Not every suggestion needs to be accepted, but every suggestion should be heard.
When I received my first developmental edit, I disagreed with several of the suggestions. I sat with them for a week before responding. By the end of that week, I agreed with most of them. The initial resistance was ego, not craft judgment.
Communicate Well
If a suggestion confuses you, ask about it. If you disagree, explain why. The best editor-author relationships are conversations, not one-way deliveries.
Good editors welcome pushback. They want you to understand their reasoning so you can make informed decisions about your manuscript.
Trust the Process
Editing takes time. A developmental edit of a full manuscript takes four to eight weeks. Copy editing takes two to four weeks. Rushing the process produces a worse result.
Build the editing timeline into your overall writing schedule before you set a publication date.
Every book benefits from professional editing. The question is not whether to hire an editor but which type of editing your manuscript needs and which editor is the right fit. Invest the time to find the right person, communicate well, and stay open to the process. The manuscript that comes out the other side will be stronger than the one that went in.
Final Thoughts
The right editor helps you identify weaknesses, strengthen your manuscript, and bring it closer to its full potential. Choose an editor whose expertise matches your needs, communicate well, and treat the process as a collaboration aimed at making the book better.
Related Resources
FAQ
Here, I will answer the most frequently asked questions about how to find, hire, and work with an editor.
Do I need all four types of editing?
Not always. Every manuscript benefits from at least copy editing and proofreading. Developmental editing is most valuable for first-time authors or manuscripts with structural challenges. Line editing is valuable when the structure is sound, but the prose needs refinement.
Can one editor do all types of editing?
Some editors offer multiple services, but most specialize. Even editors who offer everything tend to be stronger in one area. For the best results, use different editors for developmental and copy editing passes.
Should I edit my manuscript before sending it to an editor?
Yes. Self-edit as well as you can. Fix obvious errors, tighten the prose, and resolve structural issues you are aware of. The cleaner your manuscript, the more the editor can focus on the problems you cannot see.
How do I know if my editor is doing a good job?
A good editor explains their reasoning, not just their changes. They identify patterns in your writing, not just individual errors. After working with them, you should understand why changes were made and be able to apply similar improvements on your own.
What if I disagree with my editor's suggestions?
Disagreement is normal and healthy. Consider each suggestion carefully before accepting or rejecting it. If you disagree with a fundamental direction, discuss it with the editor. The final decision is always the author's.
When in the process should I hire an editor?
After you have completed the full draft and done at least one round of self-revision. Sending a rough first draft to an editor wastes their time on problems you could fix yourself. Sending a polished draft lets the editor focus on the issues that require professional expertise.