Why a Newbie Author Needs a Book Editor and How to Get One

The British love books. According to Kantar, 53% of UK adults read a book last year. Furthermore, 35% of adults who read books do so frequently (10 or more books per year).

So, this is an excellent time to sell your book-writing skills. It is also widely known that self-publishing a book is simple if you are willing to invest time, money, and effort.

On the other hand, book editing by freelance UK book editors is a much more involved and nuanced process.

Some authors begin their writing process with an editor’s help to ensure their work is polished. Conversely, most authors hire an editor near the end of the process, and a book editor may be required depending on the draft’s complexity.

Many questions arise, such as determining if you need an editor and how to obtain one. Let’s start with the basics.

Finding A Good Book Editor

You can find book editors in the UK online, whether employed by a company or working as independent contractors for a publisher.

Why Should You Hire A Book Editor

While you may contemplate proofreading your work independently, you should resist doing so. Self-editing might waste time and cause you to miss severe grammatical issues. However, there are other reasons to delegate the editing of your work to somebody else.

Here are some reasons why you should consider hiring a Book Editor:

1. Enhance Your Writing

Even if you are a fantastic writer, even the best authors continually recognize the need to constantly hone their skills. A professional book editor may advise you on various word usages to help you enhance your communication skills. They may also provide structural advice.

Find an expert book editor to proofread your work, especially if it involves a bibliography or a professional thesis. Choose an editor who knows about the vertical about which you are writing.

2. Helps Your Project’s Progress

Working with a skilled book editor might benefit you in areas other than writing. For example, a competent and intelligent editor has several contacts, such as those with publications or public relations agencies. These experts can assist you in getting your book to the industry and developing a book marketing strategy.

An editor who has already worked with many clients appreciates the process of having a book published. He can help you with more than just editing the text to suit professional standards.

What distinguishes a decent editor from a fantastic one is their commitment to your project. A professional editor will not only improve your writing but will also help your book reach more people.

3. Convenient

It might be time-consuming to spend hours, days, or even months refining your work. After all of the effort spent writing the text, this step may further delay the book’s publishing. Revisions can constitute a significant waste of an author’s effort after a certain point.

As you edit your writing, you may become fixated on specific ideas, research, or structural flaws. A good editor can assist you in avoiding this stumbling block. A new perspective helps the book editor identify difficulties you may have overlooked or ignored and those you’ve acknowledged and wrestled with.

4. Publicizing Excellent Content

Your career as an author is built on the quality of your work. Style flaws, grammar faults, and communication concerns all work against your work receiving the recognition it deserves.

It might be tough to go back and rectify mistakes or freshen up your book after it has been published. But, in reality, you may have to wait until the publication plans a new print run—and, based on sales, you may have to wait a year or more to correct your errors.

Know the Several Roles in Book Editing

Unlike company editors, most book editors offer their clients a wide range of editing services. Editors fall into the following categories:

Content Editors

They are willing to help you fix the story’s structure, characters, setting, etc. A content editor ensures an article’s audience and subject matter are accurate.

This type of editor is excellent for extensive editing.

Commissioning Editors

They help make your book sellable to many audiences or larger target audiences.

They are looking for books and articles that benefit the publisher. They scan the market for authors, book proposals, and new ideas. Pitch your novel or paper to a commissioning editor.

Copy Editors

These people can help you sound intelligent and eloquent.

You should also take note that copywriters and copy editors have significant differences.

Copywriting involves writing. They help an article persuade or advertise. But on the other hand, the copy editor corrects errors and polishes the piece for the intended audience.

Proofreaders

Proofreaders are the most common editor. After editing, it’s time to publish! Not content or quality, but obvious grammar and punctuation errors.

Are you concerned about your spelling, punctuation, or grammar? Proofread before publishing. Some proofreaders correct errors while others simply catch them.

7 Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Book Editor

Now that you know what you need, consider these if looking for the right person for the job:

1. Be Wise

If you’ve never worked with an editor before, learn the ropes.

Know your experience level. A professional editor will likely cost several hundred dollars. It takes years of training, skill, and practice to get it right.

If you need it, then avail an editor and edit your work. It’s best to revise your manuscript before sending it to an editor!

That means less time spent on mundane corrections.

You also don’t want to pay too early and get an edit with information or corrections you could have handled yourself.

2. How many beta readers have responded to your inquiry?

A lot of eyes are needed.

These amateurs will help you polish your work. Their overall book review will have some grammar and spelling corrections. Is it fl o Is the plot as expected?

Friends readers are a great help. Even if they miss typos and inconsistencies, they will provide you with constructive criticism.

3. What type of editing do you need?

After self-editing, computer editing, and obtaining beta readers’ feedback, you must decide what type of editing you require.

Prioritize significant issues first, then seek to fine-tune them—editing, rewriting, fixing, etc.

4. Your budget

If you realize that you require the services of an editor, you must determine whether you have the necessary funds to cover the costs of the work to be completed. Editing can be expensive, but it is worth it.

5. Their knowledge and experience

An experienced editor saves you time and money by being efficient and thorough. Before sending your manuscript to an editor, do online research and ask about their experience.

6. Revision Time

Editing might be more expensive for those working under a strict deadline who require a quick turnaround. Consider this along with the editor’s experience and your book’s requirements.

7. Their genre familiarity/speciality

Consider looking elsewhere if an editor only edits technical nonfiction, unless it is what you only need.

The majority of editors look beyond punctuation and grammar to other aspects of the manuscript. The more genre editing they’ve done, the better.

One Last Tip

It’s hard to find a professional editor at a fair price. So instead, request a free sample edit so they can assess your work and provide an estimate.

As you can see, there are several reasons why you should hire a professional editor for your book. First, producing a flawless final manuscript will make or break your book’s success.

A professional editor can help you avoid the irritation, time loss, and potential errors of reviewing your own work. Furthermore, you will be left with a polished manuscript that is ready to be sent to a publication.

They can also tell you if your manuscript needs editing. Because it’s your book, trust the editor.