Ask Your Editor - plot your novel

So you’ve finally finished writing the book, but that isn’t the end of the story. The next step is making sure what you’ve written matches your vision and is hopefully not full of plot holes, typos, and weird phrasing. There are a ton of professional editors who have the knowledge and skills to help you, so finding someone you like, should be easy. But once you’ve found an editor you’re interested in working with, there are a few things to ask before handing over your manuscript and your money.

Things to look for

If you’re going to pay someone money, you need to know they’re legitimate and not going to disappear or do a shitty job. Not every editor has a website, but there should be a way to verify their training and experience so check out their social media presence. Look for them online and see if the way their comments and posts vibe with you and whether they have positive feedback from their clients.

*If there are complaints about payments, deadlines, or the standard of work, think carefully about whether you want to proceed.

Sample edits

To make sure you like their style and the way they give feedback, ask them if they’d work on a short sample for you. Choose one of your more problematic chapters rather than Chapter One because we often polish the opening more than the following ones. A later chapter gives the editor a clearer picture of what your manuscript really needs.

Once you get back the sample, take time to review their edits before making a decision. Once you’ve made your choice, let the other editors know with a quick email. That way they won’t feel like they’ve been ghosted.

*Not all sample edits are free, so discuss this first. The editor might charge a small fee that’s later deducted from the total cost of the edit.

AI editing

Unfortunately, there are stories where the editor has just run the manuscript through Chatgpt or something similar and passed it off as their own work. To protect yourself, make a list of questions about the sample edit and arrange a quick video call. This is an easy way to confirm the editor knows their stuff and it also gives you a chance to get to know each other.

*If a call isn’t possible (time zones, etc.), send the list and go through their answers carefully. Ask follow-up questions if you don’t understand their explanations.

Feedback

Getting feedback can be painful, especially if it’s blunt or critical. I know because I’ve been on the receiving end and ouch, it can kill your motivation. You can generally get a feel for how they’ll communicate through emails, but a sample edit is the best way to see how they handle telling you something isn’t working and why.

Editors who provide line and copyediting often fix smaller issues like typos, spelling and punctuation errors without leaving comments. However, for grammatical problems, rephrasing sentences, tense issues, or organizing paragraphs, ask them to leave comments to help you make informed decisions about which changes to accept or reject.

Because proofreading comes right at the end, typically after formatting, they may only leave a few comments with questions for the author or typesetter.

If you are getting a developmental edit, the editor not only leaves inline comments, but also provides a written report with examples of what you are doing right, and if something isn’t working, how you can fix it. Not every developmental edit is the same so it’s essential you know what you’re paying for.

Here are a few questions to help but add anything you want to know.

How long does the edit take?
How many revisions are included?
What kind of comments do you leave?
How many pages is the report?
What things do you focus on?
Is a video call included?
How many follow-up emails included?

*Standard manuscript evaluations don’t usually include suggestions for fixing issues, which is why I include a 1-hour Creative Call to discuss solutions for any problems and help you figure out your next steps. Check out what else is included here.

Style Guides

Ask the editor which style guide they’ll be using. Most editors use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) to edit fiction and nonfiction manuscripts which covers grammar, punctuation, and spelling conventions. Style guides are not rule books and if you have a preference for some conventions, you should let the editor know before they start working on your manuscript.

*Ask if your editor would be willing to create a style sheet for spellings and other conventions for anything that doesn’t match the CMOS. This will come in handy for your proofreader and help to keep things consistent over a series.

Timelines

You may have a deadline in mind. Ask the editor how long it will take to complete their edit and how much time you’ll have to review all their suggestions and comments. This is really important if your publishing date can’t be changed. Some editors will take on rush jobs, but might charge you a higher fee.

Be wary of unrealistic delivery dates that don’t match up with the number of hours an edit usually takes. For example, when I work on an evaluation, it usually takes between 10 days and 2 weeks. This includes a full read-through, taking detailed notes and leaving inline comments, before organizing everything into a detailed 7-10 page report.

Communication

Ask how you are going to keep in touch during the editing process. Most editors prefer to communicate via email or messenger, and others offer a feedback call as part of their service. Discuss how long it should take to respond to any emails or messages. It can feel nerve-wracking waiting for days for someone to get back to you.

Sometimes editors use technical jargon and forget that other people might not understand. Don’t feel embarrassed about asking them to clarify any unknown terms.

Communication is probably the most important part of your working relationship. You need to feel comfortable asking questions about their edits and saying no if it doesn’t feel right. If things feel awkward, then this might not be the editor for you.

Fees

The Editorial Freelancers Association have tool to show you the 2025 editing rates, but remember, it is only a guide. Different editors have different rates, which they feel are appropriate for their time, experience, and skills. Generally, the more time and effort they spend on your novel, the higher the fee. However, just because someone’s rates are low doesn’t mean they are offering a bad service. They could be newly qualified, live in a country that has a lower cost of living, or have other valid reasons for charging less.

Many editors offer packages which can save you money. Others have payment plans spread over several months. If you find the fee beyond what you can afford, talk to the editor. They may be able to work around it or suggest another editor within your budget.

Contracts

You and your editor should sign some type of contract. They’ll usually provide one that explains their terms and conditions. Read everything carefully. Highlight any parts you don’t understand or would like to discuss changing.

Make sure you understand all payment details and deadlines. Ask about cancellation fees or whether there is a clause for rescheduling if something urgent arises. Don’t sign something you might regret later.

Some writers feel nervous about handing over their manuscripts to a stranger. Talk to the editor regarding any concerns about confidentiality. Professional editors take confidentiality seriously and will be happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Red Flags (in my opinion)

No online presence of any kind: website, Instagram, Threads, etc.
No training or experience
No projects in your genre
No testimonials or examples of previous projects
Superfast turnaround times + really low rates
Their advertised rates fluctuate wildly
Unsolicited DMs
Badmouthing previous clients online
Asking for the full fee upfront
No sample — not even a paid one
Their sample makes big changes without asking you
Can’t explain their edits in the sample
Website is a mess: poor formatting, grammatical errors, typos, etc.
No contract or one that has little protection for the client
Unrealistic promises: your book will be a bestseller, zero errors, you’ll get a publishing deal, etc.
Offers to do more than one level of editing in the same pass, e.g. developmental + line/copyediting
The same fee for any length of novel and all types of editing
No AI disclaimer

*Just one of these might not be a huge issue but if there are multiple, it’s probably best to walk away.

Final thoughts

If you take time to do a little research and ask questions, you’ll find the perfect editor to help you achieve your publishing goals. Don’t rush into things or focus on the fees without checking whether they’re a good fit.

You and your story deserve the best!

While you’re here, why not take a look at my services to see if there’ something I can help you with?