Complete Guide to Finding an Editor for Your Book

Finding an editor for your book can be extremely difficult. Fiction indie authors may think that a book editor will completely change the idea they have for a story, and that they can do a better job themselves. As an indie author, you know that polishing your story is important, but do you really even really need a fiction book editor? And if you do, how do you go about finding an editor? You might find yourself asking these questions as you near the end of writing your book. This post will help you with valuable tips and resources so finding an editor for your book can be less overwhelming, whether you are writing a magical romance book, writing an epic fantasy story, or anything in between.  

Do You Even Need a Fiction Book Editor?

First, to address the question of if you need a fiction book editor. The answer is, it depends! Do you want to create a book that your readers will enjoy and be immersed in without errors and mistakes distracting them? Do you want your story to capture your readers attention and follow a story structure that is designed to do so? What about making sure your structure is fluid and translates to an engaging, cohesive story? If so, hiring a fiction book editor is something that will assist you with doing so! A fiction book editor is like a bridge between you and your readers. They help to enhance the flow of your story and ensure your intended message comes across to your readers. It isn’t just about correcting a few grammar mistakes here and there, but it includes your editor having a deep understanding of your story, characters, vision, and themes, helping to bring out the best in your manuscript.

A fiction book editor is trained to find errors indie authors might miss. It’s like having a second set of eyes that will go behind you to make sure you don’t miss any story elements, but making it a professional set. Sure, you could have other authors, etc., read your story. Actually, if you simply can’t afford a professional, this is a good idea until you are able to do so. However, fiction book editors have received training specifically for the publishing industry’s standards in finding gaps and weaknesses in your manuscript. 

A fiction book editor should do all of this while keeping your unique voice. It requires a balance to make sure an author’s voice is kept while helping them to amplify their story. A good editor understands this and knows their job is to support indie authors, not impose their own arbitrary rules and style.  

So now that we know why hiring a book editor for your fiction manuscript is important, let’s talk about how to identify your editing needs. 

How to Identify Your Editing Needs

If you simply search for fiction book editor, fantasy book editor, romance book editor, etc., many results will come up on a search engine. You may not know where to start. That’s why it’s important to identify your editing needs before performing a search online. 

To figure out your book’s needs, do a self-assessment of your fiction manuscript. Are you confident in your story structure and characters but need help with grammar, word usage, and punctuation? Are you good at character development but need help with showing vs telling in your story? Once you know the answer to this, you will be able to focus on your story’s specific needs.

You can also ask a critique partner or beta reader what your story needs. They can give you insights on how the story makes them feel from a reader’s perspective. If multiple readers point out issues with pacing or character development, then this is something that shows you may need help with a developmental edit. If the comments focus on clarity and sentence level issues, you may benefit from a line and copy edit. 

Of course, you also want to self-edit your story. This is something that I can’t suggest too much, as it is imperative to receive high-level feedback with your fiction book edits. See my prior blog post on self-editing for more information.

Identifying your editing needs is the first step in finding an editor for your book. Once you do this, you are able to move on to actually searching for a professional editor to help you transform your manuscript into an engaging story that resonates with your readers. 

Finding an Editor Who is Qualified

Finding a editor who is qualified can be hard. When I first started editing over six years ago, it was easier to determine who was qualified. There are no required certifications for a fiction book editor, so anyone can call themselves one. There have been many times fiction authors have approached me after working with one of these “book editors” needing a complete re-edit of their manuscript. So I think it’s important to reiterate that indie authors look for a qualified book editor. You can look at professional organizations to find a book editor who is qualified, such as the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) or The Society for Editing (ACES). These organizations maintain a directory of qualified editors. And if you are looking specifically for a Black book editor, check out Black Editors & Proofreaders for a directory of Black book editors, coaches, and proofreaders that have all undergone strict quality control to be listed in the directory. 

Additionally, you might try social media to find a fiction book editor. However, it is important to look at the editor’s qualifications. Did they simply take an English course vs a book editing course? Do they belong to any professional organizations that show they are committed to refining their skills? Do they have positive testimonials from clients? If someone is simply calling themselves a fiction book editor because they are a writer or wanted to try it out, be cautious. It can be cheaper, but there is usually a reason for this. If you want a professional book edit, make sure to take these details into account. 

Questions to Ask a Fiction Book Editor

Once you narrow down your list or after finding an editor you want to reach out to, make sure to ask a few key questions. You can ask directly about their qualifications if they aren’t listed, along with their experience related to your specific needs. Also, take a look at their collaboration style. Do they work to support indie authors or do they just provide their suggestions? 

You can also check things such as if they encourage open communication, or if there are only certain times you can communicate about your book edits. Does your communication style match? These may be more or less important to you based on your editing goals. 

Editing Samples

Receiving an editing sample from a book editor is a great way to alleviate any stress or doubts you may feel. It will give you insight to the way the editor works and the type of comments they leave. For big-picture edits, such as a developmental edit or manuscript evaluation, these edits will only show a small portion of what you will get. Mainly, you will see the type of in-line comments a fiction book editor will provide. 

Recap and Free Editing Sample

Now that you know how to find a fiction book editor and understand the need to identify your book’s specific needs, where to look for an editor, and what to look for in a fiction book editor, it’s time to put this into practice. You can take a look at my fiction book editing services here. I take pride in helping to support indie authors with a variety of services, including developmental edits, copy edits, line edits, and manuscript evaluation. You can request an editing sample here for more information. And remember that when finding an editor, the right editor will help you to enhance your manuscript into a polished and engaging book that captivates your readers without changing your unique voice.