5 Things Your Editor Wants You to Know

You've finished your manuscript, and now it's time to get the all-important editing process started. Once you've found the person you want to work with, there are things you can do before you submit your work that can help your editor get through it more efficiently. If the editor can concentrate on the content, you two will have a great relationship, and you’ll get a better book. Let’s take a look at how you can help.

1.   Make sure your work is complete. Editors don’t want to start on a manuscript that isn’t finished. It could mean a lot of extra work rereading chapters that have already been read once. And extra work for an editor means an additional outlay of cash for you. And don’t ask an editor to do things in chunks, chapter by chapter. That makes the process more difficult and time consuming. If the editor doesn’t have the entire manuscript at their disposal, things can get missed.

2.   Use a basic word program to submit your manuscript. Most editors use Track Changes in Microsoft Word to make changes to a manuscript. It’s the most effective way for both editors and authors to make and respond to changes. Don’t submit your manuscript as a Google Doc or a PDF. It’s much more difficult to edit in those programs, and it will be more difficult for you to follow the changes. Also, it’s generally not a good idea to send your editor a hard copy to edit by hand. There are too many things that could go wrong in that scenario.

3.   Take a little pity on the eyes of your editor and make your manuscript as easy to read as possible. When you submit your Word document, make sure to use a font that’s easy to read, like Arial. Make it 10- or 12-point, no smaller. And don’t put in a lot of different fancy fonts or sizes. Finally, be sure it is double spaced.

4.   Use beta readers or a swap with another author before submitting your piece for editing. These people will find things you may have done wrong that you can fix before submitting for professional editing. That can end up saving you both headaches and money when you work with your editor.

5.   Don’t rush your editor. Your project may not be the only one they are working on. And sometimes they have to step away from a manuscript for a little while to gain perspective, just as you have to do while you’re writing it. It’s best to agree to a timetable in advance and then stick with that. If your editor misses a deadline, then by all means check on them. But until that first deadline comes, leave them alone to do the work you are paying them to do.

Want to learn more about the editing process? Reach out to me at [email protected] and we can