The book editing process can be personal and it’s crucial to understand what is involved before you search for an editor. Regardless of the type of book you want to write, you need the services of a good editor so that you can have a book that readers would want to read.
Remember that a book editor can help to identify grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, typos, and many more. A book with these mistakes can discourage your readers from reading the entire story. This is because they may think that you are not a serious and professional author. This article discusses a book editor.
Hiring a book editor
You need to seek a second pair of fresh eyes to take a look at your manuscript, especially if this person is experienced when it comes to identifying what works for specific types of books. But the job of an editor is not to tell you what you need to do. Instead, book editors in the UK are there to help you bring your vision fully to life. This is the reason why reputable book editors are perceptive and patient. They can let your vision shine without pushing it in another direction or taking it over.
It can be hard to objectively look at your writing, especially when it’s the work that you have been doing for a long period. Therefore, you need the service of an editor to offer expert eyes on copy-related, developmental, and other concerns with your manuscript. A good book editor can notice things you may not have seen yourself. This is because you are too attached to your work. Your book editor can assist you correct overlooked issues that can weaken the readers’ experience.
The good thing is that many book editors understand how the publishing industry operates. Besides, a reputable editor may assist make your manuscript appeal to traditional publishers. This gives you the chance to sell your book quickly.
But if you decide to self-publish your book, then working with a book editor is still important. If you deal with traditional publishers, they can assign you book editors to work with you during the writing process. However, self-publishing can mean that you have to find your book editor to get your book in shape. You should not be tempted to send your book for publishing without someone to help to improve it. The best way is to get a professional editor.
When it comes to hiring a book editor, you need to consider your manuscript. Therefore, you should find a book editor who specializes in that specific genre. Also, you have to think about what the extent of editing the manuscript requires. For example, you can choose a person to edit every sentence or a person who can help to strengthen your themes and ideas.
Once you have figured out what you want to accomplish, you can ask around for a good book editor. Referrals can be a good way you can find a reputable book editor. You can ask your trusted friends and family members for a referral. The person they refer to can also know other skilled editors who specialize in the type of editing you want. For instance, if you want to self-publish a science fiction book, you can look for an editor who once handled a self-published science fiction book.
You can also search online by googling book editing services. You can then narrow your search by checking for a book editor with a lot of positive testimonials and experience to handle your book.
The editing process
When you complete the self-editing process, the initial stage of the editing process is called an editorial review. The aim of this review is to find out the extent of editing your manuscript requires before it gets ready for publishing. There are several kinds of edits and some manuscripts can need all of them, though some may not. Therefore, this first step can determine the edits that may be necessary for your manuscript.
In most cases, the editorial review can be returned to you within a couple of days, but remember every editor can be different. Hence, you need to agree with the book editor based on the type of book you are working with. After the editorial review, it can take a few weeks to do content edit or copy edit depending on the word count. Between rounds of editing, you can be allowed to review your manuscript.
A book editor can have a variety of charges depending on the kind of editing you desire. The heavy editing means that the book editor can spend more time on your book, and this can increase the cost. Some book editors can charge by the work while others charge by the word, or by the hour. If you choose some editorial services, you can have a collaborative team that avoids doing the guesswork from the editing process. A good editorial service also needs to be transparent with its prices so that you can know from the onset how much you have to pay for their services.
That said, most editors utilize Microsoft Word’s track changes to edit manuscripts. And, they can also place editorial comments in the manuscript. Therefore, you can decide to either accept or reject track change edits. You should also note that there are various common writing errors that you need to avoid, though there is also a period when you can choose to defend your writing structure.
If you choose to write a book for your family members or friends, then a couple of grammatical errors and misspellings can be acceptable. On the other hand, if you desire to sell your book and want to look professional, then editing and proofreading is necessary.
You need professional editing if you want to generate revenue from the book’s sales. A reputable book editor can provide invaluable recommendations to make the manuscript perfect. And, every writer needs to get a book editor, especially if you want to be a professional writer.
