Professional book editing is necessary for books that are being prepared for publication or submitted to literary agents or publishing houses that require professional editing services.
The cost of the editor depends on the length of the manuscript and also what kind of service you want them to perform.
Book editing is the process of reviewing a draft manuscript and giving feedback on content, style, organization, grammar, language usage, consistency issues, technical concerns (such as font or figures), etc. to ensure that the author has produced an error-free text with high clarity.
Book Editing Services are not free. Professional book editors can be quite expensive. However there are some excellent non-professional editors who provide good services at more affordable rates.
1. Identify Your Needs
Word choice is an important part of writing. Editing for word choice can make your book read smoother, sound more pleasant to the ear, and be easier to understand. Some books need only a light edit for word choice; others require heavy editing of this type.
Before you hire an editor, it’s important to identify which of these categories your book falls into. Identifying your needs ahead of time will increase efficiency and save money in the long run.
If you’re new to self-publishing or want some feedback before submitting your manuscript to editors, there are places online where writers can get free copies reviewed.
These reviews won’t be as thorough or polished as paid ones would be but they’ll give you confidence that your book is ready for professional editing.
The most common types of word choice errors in books involve the following:
Homonyms and homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings (for example, there, their, they’re).
Writers often accidentally use the wrong one in a sentence because they sound alike.
Vocabulary is another important part of writing. Many times writers will use big, uncommon words when smaller ones could be used to convey the same meaning.
Using words that are too complicated for your audience can make your book hard to understand or boring because it sounds like you’re trying too hard.
If the reader is put off by your word choice, they might not finish reading your book. It’s good to know your book and industry needs before starting editing.
2. Know The Types Of Editing
Even if you are hiring a professional editor for your book. It is good to know the types of editing.
Proofreading
Proofreading is a later phase in editing. It is a type of editing. Generally, proofreaders read work already edited to check for errors.
Proofreading is usually done on paper before it is turned in, while editing can happen before it’s turned in, but usually happens on the computer.
A lack of attention because of typos and errors makes your readers less likely to read what you have written. Not only does this make you look unprofessional, it may also make your message unclear or confusing for them.
This is why having a proofreader can be extremely helpful before publishing anything on the web.
Copy Editing
Copyeditors, also called proofreaders or copy-editors, work on written texts. They correct errors of spelling and grammar, as well as style and usage concerns such as consistency in punctuation and capitalization.
These editors work on everything from marketing materials to novels to news stories.
Some people who work as copy editors also write and edit original texts.
The difference between copyediting and proofreading is that a copyeditor not only looks for errors in the text, but he/she also comments on possible changes to content–this is why copy editors are sometimes referred to as content editors.
Proofreaders, on the other hand, do not provide written feedback to authors or publishers; they focus strictly on finding and correcting errors.
Line Editing
Line editing is a type of editing. The process of taking a manuscript and making it ready for publishing.
Line editors check for errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax (sentence structure), style, mechanics, usage (diction), factual correctness, clarity of expression and appropriateness to the subject matter or genre.
Line editors often work for publishing companies, newspapers, magazines and other media outlets.
3. Understand the Process
Book editing begins when your manuscript is finished and ready.
This means it’s written in full, all your characters are fully developed, its plot wraps up at the end with no loose strings or confusing elements. There are no major errors—spelling/grammatical/punctuation/structure—and the overall quality is good.
Your work has undergone a few rounds of revision on your own before you submit it for review by an editor. It’s also read aloud, line edited for content as well as mechanics.
The story passes muster with you and your critique partners. It’s as polished as it’s going to be before you submit it to a publisher for review, but it still needs some work.
4. Get a Quote from An Editor
Editing is a long term commitment therefore it is important to choose the editor for your book wisely.
Get quotes from different editors to compare their rates in the market.
Also look for their work beforehand to check their expertise.
5. Compare Quotes and Select the Best One for You
Compare the quotes of different professional editors. It is a common believe that hiring a big fat editor will help you rank your book higher.
Book editing cannot be done in just one or two days; rather, it’s something that requires a long-term commitment, so you should look for options that are affordable yet good in quality.
6. Make Sure that you Can Communicate with Your Book Editor
Keep in touch with your editors throughout the editing process. Many people skip this step and leave everything to the editor. As a result, a lot of work piles up in the end.
Keep in touch with your editors to keep a check on everything and avoid mistakes later.
At the end of the day it’s your book not theirs.
Conclusion
Publishing a book is not an easy task; it requires a great deal of effort and analysis.
There are many steps involved from writing to editing to publishing.
It is the writer’s responsibility to keep track of everything.
Select your editors wisely and go for the most affordable options available.
