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Writing a book is intensive work. It involves investing blood, sweat, and tears into your passion project. But completing the manuscript is just the beginning. To make your book publish-ready, you need to hire professional editing services.

In today’s article, we talk about the importance of an editor. We will cover topics like:

• Why are book editors important?
• Do you need a professional editor for a book?
• What exactly does a book editor do?
• How much do editors cost?
• Types of book editing services

Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of book editing.

What Does a Book Editor Do?

At the very basic, an editor will refine your manuscript to make it readable and sellable. As unartistic as the latter sounds, publishing is ultimately a business. Experienced editors can refine manuscripts to make them market-friendly.

This also means that editing is about more than editing for grammar. Any editor worth her salt would dive deep into your manuscript and review it for structure, tone, flow, and overall quality.

Here are the basic tasks of a book editor:

• Identifying plot holes and issues with pacing and character development.
• Making the writing clearer and smoother.
• Copy editing, which involves fixing grammar, spelling, and syntax errors.

You may wonder, why can’t I do this on my own? Of course, you can! But it is always better to have a professional go through your manuscript.

Types of Editing

Not all editing is alike. There are three main types of book editing that authors should know about:

• Developmental Editing

Firstly, a developmental editor takes a big-picture view of your book. For fiction books, it will be the plot, pacing, and character development. For non-fiction books, it will be the outline, main ideas, and the flow of thought.

Developmental editors ensure that your book holds together. This is also known as structural editing and substantive editing.

● Line Editing

Secondly, we have line editing, also known as line-by-line editing. This method of editing focuses on making the language of the book clear and concise.

A line or a content editor meticulously works on fixing the style and tone of manuscripts to make them engaging.

● Copy Editing

Thirdly, there are copy editing services. A copy editor focuses on typos, grammatical edits, and punctuation. Line editors ensure technical accuracy and make the manuscript consistent.

● Proofreading

This is the final stage of the editing process. At this stage, proofreaders are only checking for typos or punctuation issues before the manuscript goes for printing or eBook conversion.

Line editing is integral to the process

Why Editors Are Important

No matter how good or experienced you are as a writer, you can always benefit from a fresh pair of eyes.

Editing pros spend their days reviewing manuscripts, which means their eyes are trained to catch errors and plot holes that an author may miss after working on his manuscripts for months or years.

You may spot typos yourself but may miss plot inconsistencies. That is where editing services help polish your manuscript so that a high-quality book is launched on the market.

Benefits of Working with a Professional Editor

Here is why you can consider investing in book editing services:

● It improves the quality of your book

Writers can become attached to their writing, which makes it hard to be realistic about its quality. In this situation, a good editor provides a reality check and highlights the aspects of your writing or story that need improvement. This process can be rigorous and critical, but it ensures a literary standard for your book.

● It speeds up the publishing process

Let’s face it; editing takes time. If you self-edit a book, prepare to spend at least four weeks reviewing and editing your work. But with the help of freelance editors, you can save time and focus on other production and marketing aspects.

● It prepares your book for success

No one likes a book with typos or boring content. You may be able to self-publish a book without in-depth editing, but it won’t make any significant sales. Professional editing, on the other hand, ensures that your customers get the best reading experience, which can help maximize sales.

Finding and Hiring Professional Editing Services

Now that you know the importance and benefits of editing, here’s how can find an editor for your book.

What to Look for in an Editor

To hire the best editor, you should look for experience and specialty. It is not uncommon for editors to work in different niches. However, it helps to find a professional with a demonstrable history of publishing success in a particular genre or topic. You should be clear about what kind of editing you need (see above).

How Much Do Book Editors Cost?

The cost of book editing can vary based on the type of edit, the length of the manuscript, and the experience of the editor. Editors can charge per hour, per page, or word. Some editors may also charge a flat fee, which can range from $500 to $5,000 for one manuscript.

Working with an Editor: What to Expect

Now that you know how to hire an editor, here is what you need to know about working with editors:

Be Collaborative

As mentioned above, book editing is a time-consuming process. That is why you must maintain clear and prompt communication. It starts with setting expectations and deadlines. Your editor may take some time to give feedback, which is why you should follow up. Once you receive feedback, try to rework your manuscript within a reasonable time.

Be Open to Criticism

You must trust your editor's expertise. You may have to deal with criticism, but it is all part of refining your book. Approach the editing process with an open mind, and remember that editors are on your side. They want your book to do well. Their success also depends on it.

Be Patient

Finally, working with a book editor requires patience. Several drafts may be required to produce the finest version of your work. Approach the process with an open mind and be willing to make changes depending on your editor's feedback.

That’s all for now!

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the book editing process. This is especially true for self-publishing authors, who need quality editing services.

That’s where we come in.

Begin your publishing journey today!

Have you finished writing your manuscript? Let Crossroad Publisher take it from there! We will guide you through each step of publishing, including editing, formatting, design, and licensing.

But that’s not all! We also offer marketing services to maximize your readership. Contact us today to learn more about getting your writing published.