Why work with an editor.

Lesson 3: "The only kind of writing is rewriting"


In today’s lesson, we’re taking a cue from Ernest Hemingway's famous quote by talking about rewriting — or, more specifically, rewriting with the help of an editor.

Why should I work with an editor?

Many first-time authors intuitively feel like editing is something they can do themselves — but they're almost always wrong. If Margaret Atwood doesn't edit her own book, neither should you. 


Publishing a book is an incredibly collaborative process. Editors can look at a project with fresh eyes, offering suggestions and direction that's crucial in helping authors write the best possible book.


If your aim is to self-publish the very best book you can, it's up to you to find a good editor (or editors).

What kinds of editors are there?

Before you can hire an editor, you need to know about the kinds of professional editing services available. Depending on the stage your manuscript is at, their services can be broadly divided as follows:

Developmental Editing

A developmental edit is a thorough and in-depth edit of your entire manuscript. It is an examination of all the elements of your writing, from single words and the phrasing of individual sentences to overall structure and style. It usually addresses “bigger picture” issues, like plot holes, problematic characterization, and pacing problems.

Copy Editing

A copy editor’s job is to make the most readable version of your book possible. Obvious things like bad grammar and spelling mistakes are addressed first, though everything from poorly constructed sentences to noticeable changes in your tone will be highlighted.

Proofreading 

The last step in the editing process. Proofreading involves checking for small errors in spelling or punctuation. It is essentially a way for authors to be sure that absolutely no mistakes get through before the book is distributed.

How much does it cost to hire a good editor?

Depending on the experience of the editor, not as much as you might think. We at Reedsy recently crunched the numbers on the last 1,000 quotes given by editors on our network. Using the data, we can give a pretty accurate picture of how much it will cost to edit your book. You can find the most up-to-date figures here.


That’s all for today! It gets even better, as tomorrow we’ll be back with some fantastic tips on how to make your book look as stunning as it reads.


Until then,

Martin from Reedsy


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