When Should You Hire an Editor? 3 Professional Editors Weigh In

Plus, learn how character peception can propel your plot. [Web Version "]( / wd-jfa-nl &p1=%40YYL2Tjz4f%2FE5QLgBPin3bkqkLeNhPAcvA%2F8CSuFdjOg%3D) [header]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Name]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [When Should You Hire an Editor? 3 Professional Editors Weigh In]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) Want to write the best possible book? You need an editor. Editors are critical for making your writing "tight" and immersive. But before you hire one, you must know the answers to these questions: - When should I hire an editor? - Why am I hiring them? - How do I find the right editor? We talked with three professional editors with experience in this tricky area. Here's what they said: "For novelists, an editor should be hired when the author believes the manuscript is as good as it can possibly be," says J. Thorn, founder of the Author Copilot. "Editors should not be a substitute for the planning, writing and hard work that goes into writing. Handing the cleanest manuscript possible to an editor will keep her focused on the big ideas rather than having to make corrections on mistakes that could have and should have already been fixed." [2nd Draft Critique and Editing Services can help you perfect your manuscript, query letter, synopsis and more.]( / wd-jfa-nl ) So how do you clean up a manuscript before hiring an editor? Ellen Brock, a professional novel editor, says, "It's a great idea to have at least two or three other people (preferably not friends or family) read your manuscript in its entirety before hiring an editor. This will help you address any obvious problems so your editor can focus on more advanced problems." When is it too early to hire an editor? Ellen strongly suggests that you "exhaust all free resources (like beta readers and writing groups) before hiring an editor." This will reduce costs while you are trying to polish your book. But if you want help in the early stages, she says some editors can help you there too: "Some editors, myself included, offer outline review services and mentoring services to help steer the writer in the right direction before they even create the first draft." Thorn wants you to think about why you're hiring an editor before your manuscript is finished: "Editors typically help writers who have an outline, proposal, or draft. It doesn't mean you can’t hire an editor in your work’s developmental stages, but seeking feedback that early in the process means you’re probably looking for a co-author or collaborator instead of an editor." Why are you hiring an editor? There are three broad areas of editing: - Line editing focuses on the flow and feeling of your language. - Proofreading seeks to fix only grammar, spelling and factual errors. - For fiction writers, a developmental or structural edit will focus on the plot, the characters and the story as a whole. Generally speaking, an editor will specialize in one of these three fields. So, you need to figure out what kind of editing will give your manuscript the most powerful impact. [Read More...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) Advertisement [MFA Web Banners ]( / wd-jfa-nl )Get It Free: 130 Perks and Freebies for Writers! Love to write? Free spa treatments … fitness programs … dinners at five-star restaurants … all-inclusive vacations … these are just a few of the perks and freebies you can get as a writer. Our newest guide uncovers 130 different ones AND shows you how to get them. [Discover 130 Amazing Perks and Freebies You Can Enjoy as a Writer]( / wd-jfa-nl ) / wd-jfa-nl [The Perception Gap: Using Character Perspective to Propel Your Plot]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 2]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)Your characters' views of the world can do much more than simply define who they are. Here’s how to use character perspective to propel your plot. [Read More...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [The Self-Publishing Path: It’s Often Anything But "Self"]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 3]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)As with so many things in the publishing world, the best approach to self-publishing depends on your goals and available resources. Here are key considerations authors must make when deciding on the right self-publishing path for them. [Read More...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [How Much Should I Say? Choosing What to Include in a Memoir About a Sensitive Topic]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 4]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)Choosing what to include in a memoir can be challenging—and doubly so when the topic of the memoir is particularly sensitive. Susan Burrowes, who wrote a book about her family's struggle with her teen daughter's addition, discusses her process and decisions. [Read More...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 5]( / wd-jfa-nl ) [Breaking In: Debut Author Lyra Selene on Perseverance]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 4]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)In our Breaking In column in [Writer's Digest]( / wd-jfa-nl ) magazine, we talk with debut authors -- such as Lyra Selene, author of Amber and Dusk -- about how they did it, what they learned and why you can do it, too. Here, Selene discusses the importance of perseverance when the going gets tough. [Read more.]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Writing Paranormal and Supernatural Phenomena Realistically and Authentically]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Story 6]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)Given the popularity and depictions of "paranormal and supernatural phenomena" in movies and TV, one of the world's foremost scientific experts on writing paranormal and supernatural phenomena explains how his expertise assists writers and filmmakers. [Read More...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Name]( / wd-jfa-nl ) [Your Weekly Writing Prompt]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [prompt]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)Secrets Within: The police come to your residence with a search warrant. But somewhere inside, there is something you don't want anyone to find, ever. [Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments here ...]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) [Jess Zafarris]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868)Jess Zafarris Follow [@jesszafarris]( / wd-jfa-nl ) Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more than eight years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of Writer's Digest. / wd-jfa-nl / wd-jfa-nl / wd-jfa-nl / wd-jfa-nl Please do not reply to this email. We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Please [click here to contact us]( / wd-jfa-nl ). This email was sent by: F+W, 10151 Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA [Unsubscribe or Manage Subscriptions]( / wd-jfa-nl &cid=DM67693&bid=692534868) | [Web Version "]( / wd-jfa-nl &p1=%40YYL2Tjz4f%2FE5QLgBPin3bkqkLeNhPAcvA%2F8CSuFdjOg%3D) We respect your right to privacy. [View our policy.]( / wd-jfa-nl )