6 Tips for Finding the Right Editor for Your Manuscript

There are countless people out there offering fiction editing services, including many qualified professionals—and, unfortunately, many with no more experience than an English degree, out to make a quick buck. So how can you go about finding a qualified, capable editor that's right for your manuscript?

Photo credit: Nic's events via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

1. Ask for a sample edit
• Most professional editors are happy to do a sample edit of a few pages for you. (Touchstone Editing, for example, offers free sample edits of up to 5 pages.) Some editors will go as low as 3 pages, and newer editors may go as high as 10 or 15 to help offset their lack of professional testimonials. But getting sample edits means more than sending off your pages and seeing how many red marks an editor adds. You need to know what your priorities are in terms of editing style, and you need to know enough to recognize whether the editor's suggestions and changes are correct.* Getting a few different sample edits will help you evaluate each editor's strengths and potential weaknesses.
• * Many changes come down to style, especially in fiction, but grammar does follow strict rules that should only be broken intentionally, and there are certain basic conventions (like limiting filter words in subjective narration) that your editor should be able to catch.
2. Reach out to past clients
• If you heard about an editor from a friend or colleague, you should absolutely pick their brain about their experience. But maybe you're starting from scratch with an online search, or maybe you came across a specific editor through a writing forum or a social networking site like Twitter. Experienced editors should be able to list past clients or offer testimonials to help you get a sense of their expertise and style. Try reaching out to authors who've worked with the editors you're considering. Some may not have the time to respond to your questions, but the writing community is generally very good about supporting one another. Getting that firsthand account should help you determine whether an editor's style is right for you.
3. Evaluate the editor's experience
• Take a look at past projects that have been published, and of course consider the editor's industry experience. Ask the editor about experience with your genre and age category. An editor who focuses on Middle Grade may not be the right one for your Adult project, and vice versa.
• You can also take into account education, though that isn't always a good indicator. Someone with a biology degree may be an amazing editor, and someone with a literature PhD may be a terrible one. Having the information won't hurt, but make sure you also look at the bigger picture—and of course get that sample edit!
4. Get an estimate
• An editor should be able to provide a reliable estimate for the service you want, as well as a contingency plan if something throws off that estimate. (Touchstone Editing's approach to estimates is covered on the FAQ page.) Remember to look not only at the overall price tag but also at which services are covered, how many rounds of editing are included, and of course the quality. Make sure to evaluate the estimate carefully, balancing your budget with the value you'll receive. At the same time, don't mistake a higher cost for greater value.
5. Discuss your budget
• Editing is a business, yes, but a reputable editor will work with you to help you choose the service that will provide the most bang for your buck. For example, a developmental edit pretty much always costs more than an editorial letter, simply because it takes more time. But if you're just starting to revise your WIP (work in progress) or know you need big-picture help, an editorial letter can often be the best choice for helping you tackle the main issues in your story—especially on a budget. An ethical editor will focus on what your story needs, not on the potential money they can squeeze out of you.
6. Don't be afraid to ask questions
• Not only should you feel absolutely comfortable talking to someone who will have such an important role in shaping your manuscript, but you'll also be able to evaluate the editor's responsiveness and communication style. Of course, don't expect editors to respond the moment you send your email, but maybe stay away from the editor who takes weeks to answer a basic question. 

So there you go, an editor's tips on finding the person who will help transform your draft into a compelling and engaging read. Have tips of your own to add? Share in the comments!

Valentine's Day Romance Author Special!

Welcome to February! With Valentine's Day approaching, and in honor of stories celebrating the power of love, we're offering a special discount for romance manuscripts:

Book a romance project by 2/15 and get 15% OFF!
Details:

• Manuscript must be a romance. Any length or sub-genre counts!
• Project must be booked by February 15 and must be scheduled to start by December 31, 2017.
• Note that your project doesn't have to be ready by 2/15, but you do need to book a spot by then.
• A signed contract and a deposit are required to book a spot in our schedule. For more info, see our FAQs.
• The 15% discount will be applied to the final invoice.
• Only one promotion can be applied to any one service.

Questions? Ready to book? Get in touch!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Touchstone Editing!

Touchstone Editing wishes you a happy and healthy new year! We hope it will be a year filled with happiness and success for you, and we look forward to helping your writing dreams come true in 2017!

Happy Thanksgiving from Touchstone Editing!

Photo by Yainea 

Regardless of everything else going on, Thanksgiving as it's celebrated nowadays offers a wonderful opportunity to—at least temporarily—refocus on the good things in our lives. In that spirit of introspection and gratitude, we wanted to share a few of the things we're grateful for. Of course, that includes the support and kindness of our loved ones, but we're hoping they don't need to be mentioned below to know that.

So here are just a few of the things that we greatly appreciate having in our lives:

Jennifer:

• Having found a partner in Anya, in the best sense of the word. Someone who shares my aspirations and standards, knows where I come from and where I want to go, and wants to take those steps right alongside me.
• The trust writers place in me when they ask me to edit their work—and, even more than that, when the same writers come back to me for future edits, showing me that they believe their trust was well placed. There’s no greater compliment!
• Chocolate. (But seriously.)

Anya:

• Authors being willing to push past their protective emotional responses and dig into their work to make a story reach its potential. And then those same authors being eager to share their experiences working with me, to help fellow writers decide if my editing style will be right for them and their work.
• That day Jennifer and I met for coffee—only to find out neither one of us drinks coffee—and came away with the idea of Touchstone Editing. I'm so glad an offhand comment ended up bringing Jennifer, who'd been only a passing acquaintance, more firmly into my life, as both a business partner and a friend.
• Good wines. I live in California and temporarily lived in France. Need I say more?

What are you thankful for this holiday season? Share in the comments!

Jennifer's 5 Tips for NaNoWriMo

Greetings, brave writers! With one week left until the start of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), now seems like a perfect time to go over some last-minute tips. Whether it's your first or tenth time participating in NaNo, it never hurts to be prepared.

Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month

First, some background: The idea of having a month dedicated to writing a novel started back in 1999 among a small group of friends, but it caught on so quickly that within just a few years, hundreds of thousands of people were participating. The goal of NaNo is to write 50,000 words in the month of November, and the mass appeal stems largely from the positive community surrounding NaNo, as well as the mindset of "you don't have to write something good, you just have to write something."

That takes off some pressure, but writing 50,000 words in the span of 30 days can still be daunting. If you're in the US and celebrate Thanksgiving during November, that can make it seem even more unlikely that you'll have the time to knock out so many words.

But it can be done, and it can be a really positive, fulfilling experience if you keep a few things in mind.

Break it down

Sitting down and thinking I have to write 50,000 words might overwhelm you. Instead, think of it this way: you only need to write 1,667 words each day to meet that 50,000-word quota. That's really not so bad! NaNo offers some widgets to help with keeping track of your word count so you don't need to waste valuable writing time on that, and they also hold daily "competitions," if that's a good motivator for you.

Go easy on yourself

It's okay if you don't hit 50,000 words on November 30^th. Really. Plenty of people continue on into December, and no matter how many (or how few) words you write, it's better than zero.

Don't fret writer's block

If you're feeling stuck on a scene, don't panic. Remember that you can always skip that scene and come back to it later. If you're set on writing it, try looking around for inspiration: take a walk, talk to a friend, or use a writing prompt generator.

And when in doubt, check out the NaNo forums. You'll find nothing but encouragement and sympathy there, plus plenty of ideas to get your creative energy flowing!

Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month

Take breaks

No, really. Make sure you're well rested (or at least try to be). Go out with your friends, watch a movie, read a book. If you let NaNo consume you for the entire month, you'll feel miserable and will dread sitting down to write every day. Balance is important; set aside time to write, but don't neglect yourself to do so.

Socialize

I already mentioned the NaNo forums, but if that's not your thing, give Twitter a try. Some of the most popular hashtags to check out are #nanowrimo, #nanowrimo2016, #amwriting, and #writing. For advice and encouragement, follow the #nanocoach hashtag. In October, #nanoprep is a big one, and in December and January, #amediting skyrockets.

There are also local write-ins you can join, if you're craving some in-person interaction. You can find likeminded writers in the NaNo Regions Directory, or you can utilize meetup.com and find local writers groups in your area—I can pretty much guarantee that they'll be having some NaNo-related meetups. Some people spend the entire time writing during these events, and others value them for the chance to socialize; it's a great way to make new friends! Remember, there are no bad experiences. There are good experiences and then there are experiences that make good writing fodder. ;)

However you cope with the challenge of writing 50,000 words in a month, we're rooting for you! At the end of the month you'll have the start to a shiny new novel down on paper—or maybe even most of it!—and when you're ready to take it beyond the roughness of a first draft, we'll be here to help.