How to Find a Book Editor In 8 Easy Steps

What do you do when you visit a new town? If you’re a gym lover, you would certainly look for the best gym, and if you’re a lover of coffee, I am sure you must have taken your time to look for the best coffee shop in your new town.

This is what authors do when they’ve written a new book. They set out to find the right editors, who will give their books the best edit.

In this article, ‘’how to find a book editor,” I’m going to be unveiling 8 easy steps to find a book editor.

# 1. What does a book editor do?

A book editor is someone who edits the entire content of a book and ensures that the story structure and content are in good shape. An editor’s primary responsibility is to bring out the best in a book using what has been provided by the author.

Here are some job descriptions for an editor….

1. They check sentence structure.
2. They work on dialogues.
3. They verify facts used in the book.
4. They rewrite when necessary.
5. They support authors in story development.

All of the above and more are what editors do when they lay hold of your book.

#2 Do you need to hire an editor for your book?

There’s no law saying you need to hire an editor for your book, however hiring an editor, either a freelance editor or one from an agency is, the best investment you can make for your book.

Here are some reasons why you should hire an editor:

1. They bring fresh eyes: When it comes to picking out unnoticeable grammatical errors you need an editor’s fresh eyes to be able to spot them.

2. They help improve your book: Like I earlier said, an editor’s responsibility is to bring out the best in a book. When you give your manuscript they help to improve it. An editor is the human touch that brings improvement to your book.

3. They help your book attract positive reviews: Reviews are what make or break a book. Once your book goes to an editor, your chances to receive positive reviews from readers increase.

4. They share great learning: Book editors are people who possess knowledge in matters related to books, and when you work with one they share this knowledge with you and help you to learn more about your craft.

5. They share industry tips: Just as editors are knowledgeable in book-related matters they also know industry tips and as you get to work with them, they share this with you.

6. They increase your chances of selling more:  The sound of more sales sounds good right? Yes, this is what an editor can help you achieve. An editor is not a book promoter but their input help your book shine and indirectly influences your sales.

7. They save time: There is no doubt that an editor saves you the time of going through the road of self-editing. And you need this time to indulge in other gainful activities.

8. They free you from frustration: It’s time-consuming and frustrating to edit a book. A book editor takes care of these and bears the frustration that comes with editing.

9. They help you improve your writing skills: An editor not only improves your book but also gives you tips that will help improve your writing skills. 

10. Take your book to the next level: Editors are not magicians, but they possess the ability to take your book from an ordinary manuscript to a book that tastes like new wine.

The benefits of an editor can never be over-emphasized, however if you don’t know the services of an editor, how do you find someone to edit your book?

Good question right? Let’s look at the services of a book editor…

#3. Book editing services

Book editing services are services editors carry out. There are 6 basic editing services rendered by editors and they are:

Developmental editing: As the name implies, developmental editing,” is a form of editing that takes place during the early stage of writing.

An author can hire an editor to help in developing their ideas and bringing things together. If you’re stuck either at the idea stage or outline stage, you can hire a developmental editor to spell out the path to take.

Structural editing: This form of editing is also called the manuscript critique. A structure editor looks at the structure, flow, completeness, and overall quality of your book. This is still surface-level editing.

Content editing: This form of editing is also known has developmental editing. When you request content editing, you’re invariably asking the editor to review content for flow, readability and understandability.

Line editing: As the name implies this is a form of editing whereby an editor edits your manuscript line-by-line, never leaving any stone unturned. They check for the flow and are more concerned about how you communicate your ideas.

Line editors, ensure that sentences align, there’s no sentence fragmentation, and clichés.

They go as far as eliminating jargon and ensuring that your sentences sound right and don’t imply the wrong meaning to readers.

Copy editing: This form of editing is the act of diligently sorting out spelling errors, punctuation, and grammatical errors. And it’s only a copy editor that can carry out this task. 

Copy editing is best applied to a completed manuscript. Copy editors not only look out for mistakes, they also check to see if your book follows the writing style appropriate for your genre.

Proofreading: A proofreader and copy editor are used interchangeably but they are not the same neither is a proofreader an editor. On this note, your book can only go through the proofreading phase when it has undergone all other forms of editing. Proofreading is the last stage a manuscript undergoes before final printing. It’s the job of a proofreader to review your book to see if there are still grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors that were missed.

For every editing service, there’s a price attached…

#4. How much does it cost for a book editor?

Editors charge differently based on their experience, some charge higher while some their fees are affordable. However you can decide to get your book edited for free by asking a friend or colleague to help you out or you can make use of editing software such as Grammarly and its likes.

However there’s nothing as effective as getting a good book editor to edit your book, but before you embark on your search for an editor, it’s better you know the various prices that editors charge for their respective services. Please note that these fees are not fixed.

Editor’s fee you need to know….

According to Editor World Developmental editing and Structure editing are the most costly form of editing.

Developmental editing	$0.15 per word
Structure editing	$0.8-$0.15 per word
Content editing	$0.05
Line editing	$0.02
Copyediting	$0.01 per word
Proofreading	$0.01 per word

Source – Editor World & The content panel

#5. How to find a book editor

According to publishdrive, a book editor is responsible for the quality of the manuscript by checking the words, punctuation, grammar, and overall story. In summary, editor fine tunes your book and get it ready for publishing.

Here is how to find a book editor:  

1. Know the editor you want to work with:

When looking for an editor, it is better you decide if you want to work with an experienced editor or if you’re ok with a newbie book editor. Deciding this will guide your budget and also help you figure where to carry out your quest for a book editor.

2. Know the different aspects of editing:

There are 6 basic aspects of editing and they are, line editing, copy editing, content editing, developmental editing, structure editing, and proofreading. All of these when carried out on a manuscript, bring life and correctness to your work. However, you have to determine which of these areas your book needs so you can put out your request the right way.

A proofreader is not a book editor; the task of a proofreader in respect of a book is to look out for spelling errors, and punctuation. An editor’s task is larger and it encompasses areas like content revision, structure editing, fixing language and grammatical errors, and ensuring style and tone stay consistent.

3. Know their specialization:

When it comes to book editing, there are different area of specialization. Every book editor out there has a specialization; a book editor who is good at fiction might not be interested in editing non-fiction books.

All editors possess unique skill sets and these skills are what they apply to their specialization.

Before handing your book to an editor you must clarify with the person what they specialize in; this will help you decide if they can actually edit your book and tailor it in the right way.

4. Work as a team:

In the writing industry what makes your book a success is when you build a team from the onset. You can’t write a book without aid, you need people of like minds to help you birth your dream.

Depending on your budget you can decide to have more than one editor in your team. While one editor may be good at structural editing, the other might possess a keen eye for grammatical errors. Having a team of experts makes your journey as an author easy and full of adventure.

5. Make use of Editorial Platforms:

Professional editorial platforms such as Reedsy, the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA), and the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals (AIPP) they serve as virtual marketplaces connecting authors with skilled editors. On these platforms, editors showcase and advertise their expertise.

You can explore these platforms to discover editors whose skill sets are tailored to meet your editing needs.

6.  Ask for Recommendations and Testimonials:

Often I have seen authors asking their fellow authors to recommend editors to them. You can tap into this method, by putting out a recommendation request on your social platform or in groups that you belong to. I’m certain you’ll be directed to a good editor, besides there’s a great benefit to this, you will be given trusted and experienced editors.

Likewise, this will serve as a filter for you and relieve you of the stress of searching through thousands of editors that exist in the virtual markets.

Recommendations always come with the editor’s testimonial, and this will aid you to learn about the editor’s communication style, reliability, and ability to bring out the best in a manuscript.

The best place to ask for recommendations and editor’s testimonials are platforms like Goodreads, Facebook groups for authors, and author forums. Here, writers share their experiences with editors, aiding in your decision-making process.

7. Request a sample Edit:

I’m certain you want to invest in a gainful adventure, this is why I will recommend you request a sample edit from prospective editors, before committing to a long-term collaboration. This allows you to gauge the editor’s editing style, attention to detail, and compatibility with your vision for the manuscript. Sample editing is a good measure to ensure that the editor not only improves your work but also takes cognizance of your authorial voice.

8. Build effective communication and relationships:

Nothing in life is more important than the ability to build effective communication and relationships. Your ability to do this, with editors, will foster the success of your book.

Connect with book editors who are likely going to understand your creative vision and also communicate their insights and suggestions clearly and constructively. Developing a strong line of communication and relationship with them will foster a collaborative environment, ensuring that your book undergoes the transformative journey you seek.

Getting a book editor is not a difficult task, and you can start looking for one even before you begin your book.

I have come to observe that those who speak out their needs are those who get quick help and those who carry out due research are eventually the ones that will discover what they are looking for.

To make this easier for you, and also cut down your search for a book editor, I have gone ahead to compile a short list of book editors I have direct connection with on Linkedin and on Twitter:

#6. Book Editors On Linkedin and Twitter

• Shamila Iyer is a South African based editor. She is mainly into developmental and line editing for non-fiction. But she also offers a comprehensive editing services to authors she works with. You can get in touch with her on her website.

• Boluwatife Segun-Oluwayomi is the creative mastermind of post2book. She is a Nigerian editor that specializes in editing fiction and non-fiction (non-academic). Get connected with her on Linkedin.

• Destyn Hehr a Canada based editor. According to her copyediting is her biggest and most successful services. She also offers developmental editing, proofreading, and blurb writing services. You can reach her on X.

• Eldes Tran helps writers and trade publishers with developmental editing, line editing, copy editing and proofreading. She is currently based in Manila, Philippines. You can reach her at her website.

• Angela Ankoma is a Ghanaian line editor and proofreader. She is active on Linkedin.

• Ifeoluwa Adekoya is a proofreader and structure editor. According to her she checks for grammar and flow. She is based at Newport, Wales, Uk. You can send her a DM at Twitter.

• Dorcas Fadele specializes on non-fiction developmental editing, copy editing, line editing and she is also a proofreader. Her brand name is the Flawless Editor. Dorcas is based in Nigeria. You can connect with her on X.

I implore you not to let your book remain at the manuscript stage; let any of these book editors take the wheel and you will get a well-refined book ready for your audience.

Having said this, I wish you all the best in your writing adventure and if you have questions or contributions, you can leave them in the comment section.