How to Find a Trustworthy Editor for Your Book (+16 Places to Search for One)
Skilled book editors help refine the plot, character development, and pacing in fiction or structure and argument in non-fiction.
This process not only increases a book's chances of publication but also builds an author's credibility and craftsmanship, ultimately delivering a higher-quality product to readers.
As an author, ask yourself not if you need an editor but how to find an editor for your book and, more importantly, where to find the editor in the book market.
Let's find out.
Key takeaways:
- A skilled editor improves clarity, consistency, and overall readability, transforming a raw draft into a polished piece of writing.
- Finding the right editor involves careful research and evaluation. Authors should consider factors such as genre expertise, communication style, industry knowledge, and pricing while exploring various platforms and resources to identify the best fit for their project.
A. Types of Editing Services
Take time to understand the different types of editing services available.
Each type of editing serves a specific purpose in the publishing process, and finding the right editor for your novel or non-fiction work depends on your editing needs.
1. Editorial assessment
An editorial assessment is often the first step in finding an editor for a novel.
This service provides broad, insightful feedback on major strengths and weaknesses in your plot, characters, or structure. It's ideal for authors early in the process or those unsure if their manuscript is ready for more intensive editing.
2. Developmental editing
Consider developmental editing if you need help with big-picture issues.
This type of editing refines ideas, shapes the narrative, and addresses major plot or character inconsistencies.
Developmental editors provide detailed feedback and suggestions for improving the overall structure and content of your book.
3. Copy [& line] editing
As you find a book editor, you'll likely come across copy editing services.
This step focuses on improving readability by addressing issues like word repetition, character inconsistencies, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Line editing focuses specifically on the style and flow of your prose. A line editor helps strengthen your writing style and ensure each sentence is as effective as possible.
4. Proofreading
The final stage in the editing process, proofreading, is essential before publication.
Proofreaders catch any remaining spelling or grammar errors and ensure the formatting is consistent throughout the manuscript.
💡 Fact-Checking [non-fiction]
While not always considered a separate editing service, fact-checking matters, especially for non-fiction works or novels heavily based on real events or scientific concepts.
B. How to Find an Editor for a Book
When it comes to finding the right editor for your book, consider these four strategies.
1. Evaluate sample edits
Request a sample edit of a page from your manuscript to see how they handle your writing style. You can also create an editing quiz with an answer key to compare multiple editors' grammar skills.
This helps you find a book editor who not only catches errors but also enhances your work and maintains your unique voice.
2. Require specific tasks
Try including hidden instructions in your job posting, like specifically asking for certain phrases to be inserted in the text. This subtle test helps identify editors who thoroughly read and follow instructions – a crucial skill for catching every typo, grammatical error, and style inconsistency in your manuscript.
3. Use referrals
Use your writing community to gather first-hand experiences about working with specific editors. Think of precise questions related to their professionalism, reliability, and the quality of their work, as well as accounts of discrepancies.
4. Assess new editors
Emerging editors may offer a combination of fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and more affordable rates.
Look for new talent in writing communities, social media groups, or freelance platforms. Just be sure to vet their skills thoroughly.
C. 16 Places to Find a Book Editor
Here is a list of places to get you started.
gives authors and publishers free, immediate access to a wide range of experienced editing professionals. Their job listing service offers another effective method to find a book editor who matches your specific project needs.
is a leading editing and proofreading service, helping global clients achieve their goals through quality writing support.
is made of globally distributed, highly skilled professionals with extensive journalism backgrounds. Their worldwide presence enables round-the-clock service, ensuring timely and impeccable project delivery for every client.
offers flexible, competitively priced editorial services catering to authors at all experience levels. Their à la carte approach allows writers to select specific editing services that best fit their needs and budget.
offers several services to support your writing journey. Editing, cover design, and ghostwriting are all designed to meet the needs of writers at every stage of their careers.
seeks to make publishing more inclusive by embracing diverse voices in the industry. Their team of editors and mentees has collaborated with many publishers and authors.
offers personalized editing services tailored to each client's project and budget. Sallianne Hines, founder of Quinn Editing, is a member of ACES, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
specializes in editing cozy mystery and romance genres, with a particular focus on sweet romance, romantic comedy, and romantic suspense. While she primarily works with independent authors, she remains open to collaborations across the industry.
exclusively focuses on editing Christian literature, non-fiction, select fiction (excluding explicit content), and web-based writing, providing specialized services for these specific genres and formats.
specializes in a variety of fantasy and science fiction subgenres, including fantasy romance, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, high fantasy, retellings, paranormal romance, sci-fi romance, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and space opera, offering guidance and support to writers seeking to improve their skills and confidence.
has 25 years of writing and editing experience, including her own 40 published books. She has worked extensively with authors and an indie publisher since 2013, holds advanced degrees in literature and psychology from prestigious institutions, and does ongoing professional development through additional coursework.
offers a blend of professional, personable, and affordable editing services, focusing on enhancing your story, refining your writing through careful editing, and perfecting your book's presentation.
is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in journalism, technical writing, education, and fiction, who has been helping authors refine their work since 2006. She specializes in narrative books across various genres, with a particular interest in elevating LGBTQ+ voices in literature.
offers professional editing services for both fiction and non-fiction, with particular expertise in fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction while remaining open to projects across all literary categories.
maintains a highly selective marketplace of experienced editors, accepting only the top 3% of applicants with at least five years of experience in prestigious publishing environments. Unlike generic editing services, Reedsy empowers authors to personally select the ideal editor for their book from a curated pool of industry professionals.
started in 2016 and specializes in fiction, particularly fantasy, while also working across various genres and media.
🔥 You can always ask for advice from other authors across various writing communities:
- Wide for the Win, a group for indies and hybrid authors who publish wide
- Write more, worry less. Self-publish with PublishDrive
D. What Makes a Good Editor?
When seeking to find a book editor, authors should look for the following key traits:
1. Attention to detail
A sharp eye for catching not only grammatical and spelling errors but also plot holes, character inconsistencies, and pacing issues is crucial.
A good editor should be able to analyze the structure of your work and offer creative solutions to improve it. When finding an editor, seek someone who can see the big picture while also focusing on the details.
Look for someone who can spot subtle problems that could derail a reader's experience.
2. Genre expertise
An editor well-versed in your specific genre understands its conventions, tropes, and reader expectations. For instance, a romance editor might not be the best fit for a science fiction manuscript.
When finding an editor, ensure they have a track record in your genre.
3. Strong communication skills
Clear, timely, and constructive feedback is essential in the editor-author relationship.
A good editor can articulate suggestions effectively and work collaboratively.
In finding an editor for a novel or any other piece of writing, look for someone who can explain their edits clearly and is open to discussion.
4. Industry knowledge
Experience in publishing offers authors valuable insights into market trends, reader preferences, and publishing standards.
This knowledge can help shape your book for better marketability and reception.
5. Respect for the author's voice
While suggesting improvements, a good editor keeps the author's unique voice rather than imposing their own style.
And Then, Publish!
You are now at the cusp of publication. With a polished manuscript in hand, you are well-positioned to navigate the next steps in the publishing process.
We have your back with a smart and fast way to get your metadata in order and a streamlined system that gets your book to over 400+ stores and thousands of digital libraries worldwide.