When you're a writer, you likely spend hours with your fingers poised atop the keyboard trying to figure out just the right way to say what you're thinking.
Whether it's creative writing, academic writing, corporate communication, or something else, writing can be a long, arduous process.
And it can be frustrating if, even after all your hard work, you find yourself struggling to reap the rewards you seek.
Why an editor? An editor is an essential component of successful writing.
I know what you're thinking: "It's my writing, and I know what I want, so why should I take someone else's advice?" Well, it's not always that easy.
A second, trained eye can catch grammatical, structural, and continuity errors that you might otherwise not have noticed.
What's more, an editor can serve as a trusted advisor for current and future projects.
Your editor can serve as a teammate and confidante to stick with you through all phases of the writing process--a compositional MVP, if you will.
Who needs an editor? Editors are great if you're a student or professional looking to polish your work, and they're also essential if you are an author looking to get published.
Even if you think your manuscript is flawless, your agent or publishing house will undoubtedly request a round of editing upon submission or acceptance, so why not get started on the process ahead of time with someone you can trust? OK, I know I could use one.
Now how should I select an editor? Naturally, then, you'll want to find an editor who specializes in your genre of writing--one with whom you can build a trustworthy, friendly rapport.
Sure, you could find a huge editing company on the web who will edit your work and return it to you, never to be heard from again, but why would you want to? You'll be surprised at how much you'll appreciate personalized editing once you find it.
What you should look for is a smaller company with qualified, degree-holding editors who will collaborate and regularly correspond with you so that you can see your project to its desired end, together.
A small team of editors may be preferable to a larger corporation because their size often allows them to work closely with clients over the long-term.
What's more, they may be willing to provide daily updates on your project so that you may stay abreast of changes (and offer feedback) at all times.
If you are writing in a specific or "niche" genre, you will probably want an editor who is familiar with your preferred genre; many editors specialize in areas such as fiction, academic writing, corporate communications, and others.
How much does an editor cost? Editing is an essential part of writing, but it does not come without investment (and it is a worthy one!) As with most anything else, however, you get what you pay for--one should be leery of individuals who offer edit for 25 cents per page.
Quality editing generally runs between $3 and $10 per page, depending on the extent of editing required and a client's requested turnaround time.
One of the great things about smaller editing companies is that their rates may be negotiable, so you can rest assured that you'll receive top-quality editing without breaking the bank.
Don't be shy about suggesting a price that is lower than an editor's base rate--within reason, any flexible editor in today's economy should realize that budgets are tighter than ever.
So what's my next step?