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How to hire an editor
If you are serious about having your work published, you will be working with an editor. How do you go about hiring one? If you sell your work to a trade publisher or a magazine, the publisher who buys your work should pay an editor to work with you. In that case, the hiring is not in your hands at all. With budgets in publishing tightening, many publishers have had to cut editing staff. That means publishers expect better quality work than they did in the past. They don't have the resources to spend inordinate amounts of time grooming a writer. Because of this, many writers search out an editor to help get a submitted piece into better shape. Increasingly, people turn to self publishing. Costs there are dropping, and technological advances mean that anyone who can type can publish. Self publishing writers often skip editing, but shouldn't. After all, they have no one to tell them the truth about their writing. It's not fun to face criticism, but a good editor can save the bacon of someone who has a good message, but problems with delivery. So just how do you find and hire an editor? Know that anyone in the world can hang out a shingle and say, "I'm an editor." There is no universally accepted credential for editors. In the past, most who worked in the field worked their way up through the ranks in a publishing house. Training was on-the-job. Now, with the advent of the Internet, anyone who can type can claim to be an editor, put up a Web site, and start to charge money for editing services. The Internet is a great place to start your search. Just be aware that not everyone who says, "I can edit," actually can. Check for memberships in associations. Check for references. Check lists of clients. (Note that not all writers want to be exposed and ethical editors will not share information about clients who do not want to be quoted. It's safe to assume that if an editor has one reference, there are many more clients who have not opted to offer their names to the public.) Find out which dialect of English your editor is most familiar with. You can hire an editor who edits in a second dialect, but it will be easier for an editor working in his or her first dialect. Be clear about the level of editing you want. Editing can be much more than checking your spelling and punctuation. Choose the level of editing that will do the job you need for your project. Ask for a sample edit. This should be free or available for a minimum fee. Be sure you and the editor agree on the fees. Are you paying by the hour, by the word, or by the job? Each has its advantages. When is final payment due? How will you pay? In the end, you will want an editor with whom you can work comfortably. You want an editor who will be tough on your work and easy on you. You want an editor who hears your writing voice and who wants to make that voice as clear as it can be. Happy editor hunting!
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Contributor's Note
As an editor, I can assure you that I appreciate prospective clients who do their homework before hiring me. So do my editing colleagues. So if you have a question, ask! A good editor will happily answer.
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Editor's Association of Canada
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This intel was contributed by Audrey
Audrey
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May, 2012
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