How To Hire An Editor

Last week I shared my personal experiences about becoming a self published author. Now I'm going to share the advice of some of the people who have helped me...

Hello! My name is Mickey Reed, and I'm a freelance editor for independent and self-published authors. I provide many different editing services tailored to the needs of writers. Today I will be talking about six important factors authors should look for when hiring an editor. 
1. Someone who uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
You will most likely be communicating with your editor via email and social media. Perhaps you'll visit editors' websites to compare prices and services. Use those platforms to decide whether or not the potential editor is trained and knows English grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules. You may not know all of them yourself, but comma usage, missing/extra words, and homophone mix-ups (your vs. you’re, etc.) are key signals that the editor may not be able to spot every type of error in your manuscript. If you're looking for a content editor, this may not matter as much. 
2. Someone who is pleasant and present.

You will be working very closely with your editor and trusting him or her with your manuscript. Make sure you find someone with whom you can easily communicate. It will make editing a breeze if you have an editor who can return emails or phone calls in a timely manner as well. You'll be less stressed about the whole process if you get along with your editor, so if you don't feel right about working with someone, don't do it. You want a solid team behind your book. Don't feel like you need to settle.
3. Someone with referrals or testimonials.

Feel free to check into testimonials or referrals. These usually mean that the editor has experience in the field, but chatting with an author who has used that editor may help ease your mind or move you in the right direction. Testimonials are usually on the editor's website, and authors who love their editors generally aren't shy about sharing information. Ask around and get recommendations. Or if you’ve read a self-published book with great editing, check who the editor was. Sometimes, an editor is just starting out and won't have these things. Check the other two points above in that case.
4. Someone who works well with deadlines.
As an author, you'll probably have release dates you'll want to hit. Your editor should be willing to work with you to meet your goals. In turn, you should be realistic with those goals. Editing requires time, so make sure you give your editor enough to do his or her job. But if you're married to your release date and there is a reasonable amount of time to get the job done, your editor should respect that. This is where communication (see #2 above) comes in very handy.
5. Someone who charges a reasonable rate.

There is an industry standard out there for what freelance editors can charge (http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php). If someone is charging more than that, you can move on or decide if it's worth the extra money. If someone is charging less, he or she likely either just started the business or is having a promotional period. This isn't always a 'you get what you pay for' kind of deal. So this is where #3 (referrals) will be of use. 

6. Someone who will provide a sample.
An editor should be willing to edit a sample of your own work for you. Some editors may charge for this, but some do not. In either case, it’s usually helpful to see what someone will do with 2000 words or so of your actual work before you make a decision. It shows the editor what they’ll be working with, and then sample will help you determine if you’ll make a good author/editor team. 
These are just my suggestions. You may find a gem of an editor who has no experience yet and doesn't reply to your emails for three days. If you are comfortable with that and feel good about it, go for it. These aren't hard and fast rules, but I've heard horror stories and cleaned up nightmares that might have been avoidable. I always want what's best for authors out there, and handing your manuscript over to the wrong person is not in your best interest.

 If you're interested in my editing services, please check out my website (www.mickeyreedediting.com) or email me (imabookshark@yahoo.com).
If you're interested in becoming an editor, please check out the vlog I did for the YA Word Nerds (http://tinyurl.com/lwny8w7).