Tales from a Toronto Writer: How to Hire an Editor to Edit Your Novel Manuscript

So you've written the final draft of your book, now what?

There’s a phrase we use in the writing world called “kill your darlings,” it refers to getting rid of unnecessary story lines, restructuring sentences and strengthening your story, also known as editing. If you’ve made it to the final page of your first or second draft, you may want to consider hiring a manuscript editor.

At this point you’ve become well acquainted with your story, but the problem is that you can no longer see it from an objective perspective. There may also be parts of your story that you were unsure about during the writing process. Hiring a manuscript editor can also give your manuscript a competitive edge when it comes to publishing your book, because literary agents are more likely to acquire books that have been thoroughly edited.

A common misconception about editing is that it involves someone correcting your grammar and spelling mistakes, and while this is part of the process, editing goes beyond that narrow scope. Also when it comes to editing book manuscripts there are different kinds of editing services, including developmental editing, substantive editing and copyediting. It’s important to note that not all manuscript editors offer all three types of editing services, many specialize in one or two types.

More than likely you’ll have to hire at least two editors such as a developmental or substantive editor, and a copyeditor or proofreader. This is because if an editor has read a draft three or six times, they may become so familiar with it that they miss or overlook spelling mistakes. The more you read something over and over again is the more likely you are to lose perspective. Social media can be a useful tool when it comes to finding and hiring a manuscript editor, as many editors advertise their services on Twitter and Facebook. Referrals can also be another great method.

I'm a manuscript editor that offers developmental, substantive and copyediting services for novels and memoir. If you're interested go to my page to learn more about my services https://www.genellelevywritingworkshop.com/my-services

The main benefit of hiring an editor is to have someone who can offer you a fresh perspective, and sometimes two people are needed to accomplish this job. Below I break down the three main types of book editing.

Developmental editing: is when an editor takes a big picture approach to your book. They analyze the structure, themes and pacing of your book. They will analyze whether your scenes are communicating the themes and message that ties your overall story together. They can also offer feedback on whether your characters are fully developed and whether your plot structure needs work. Developmental editing is less focused on restructuring sentences, and more focused on analyzing broad writing craft issues. This feedback is usually offered in a two to ten page editorial letter.

Substantive or line editing: is when an editor edits your book line by line. This usually involves restructuring sentences for clarity, analyzing your use of word choice and notes on pacing and narrative structure. This type of editing is more focused on using language to strengthen your narrative. An editor will provide their feedback in a two to ten page editorial letter, but you will also see corrections and suggestions in your manuscript.

Copyediting: is when an editor fixes your grammar and spelling mistakes. It can also involve restructuring sentences. It’s important to note that if you hire an editor to do this type of editing they will not provide you with any specific feedback on your book pertaining to the story line or structure. They will solely be fixing your grammar and spelling mistakes. However, this type of editing is still useful and necessary, and should be implemented when you’ve completed your final draft. An editor will input edits and spelling corrections directly into your manuscript.

The relationship between an editor and a writer is similar to that of an actor and a film director. Both roles are needed to create a great story. There is no writer too good for an editor. Editing is part of the writing process, and if you’ve invested your time and imagination into writing a book hiring an editor can make your investment even more worthwhile.

Did you find this article helpful? Are you looking to hire an editor or improve your writing? Email me to inquire about editorial services at genelle.levy@gmail.com or sign up for one of my writing workshops here