Steps To Find The Right Editorial Services For Your Book

Picking the best editor can make a big difference on whether your book will get published or not. You do not want your book to turn out as a trash, so you will invest in the editorial services of a professional and experienced editor. The following are step-by-step instructions on selecting the right person for the job.

1. Identify your needs.

The right editor for you depends on the kind of help you need. Determine whether you need extensive editing or simple proofreading of your work. Figure out also if you need comments on different aspects the story in your book such as the plot, characterization, and resolution. Perhaps you have a concept or outline for a story, have done research, and are looking for someone who can ghost write for you. Some authors prefer a read-through analysis of their manuscript. This kind of service involves the editor reading the material and giving general advice for improving the work. Then based on the editor’s suggestions, the writer will make his own corrections on his manuscript.

2. Research around.

Search an editorial service provider who can meet your expectations based on the needs you identified earlier. Read feedbacks and testimonials from clients about certain editing and proofreading services to give you a clue as to which company or editor to trust. Be sure that the editorial service provider has more than one editor so that when one is not available for the time being, you have another editor to talk to regarding your manuscript.

It is also important to choose an editor with an expertise that matches your genre. An editor may be an expert in romance stories, but not in horror or children’s stories. But if you write across genres, it would be best to choose an editorial service provider with editors that specialize in multiple story genres.

3. Request for a sample edit.

Many editing companies offer sample edit, which is free of charge. You can use this to test the efficiency and professionalism of the editing company you will be working with. For instance, if your sample edit is returned the day after, then you can trust that company to meet deadline and reply quickly to your queries.

4. Ask for the price and quote of the services.

How much are you going to be charged for the services you will avail? Will it be paid per hour or per word? You will pay only a small amount for services that involve less work such as proofreading and read-through analysis, while you will be charged more for full-edit services. Also, ask the company the price of their extra services such as conferences and written analysis of your manuscript.

5. Go for an editorial service provider that allows for flexibility.

Check if the editorial services can give you the option to accept or reject any change it has made on your work without the need to rewrite the whole thing. It is best to ask the editor to use the word tracking option of Microsoft Word so that it will be easier for you to approve and deny changes on your manuscript with just some mouse clicks.