Are you finally finished with your manuscript? Writing a book is a labor of love, and it can take months or years of dedication to complete. If you’re holding the final product in your hands, it probably feels like a huge sense of achievement, and it is.
Before you give yourself a pat on the back, ask yourself this question. Were you working with an editor during the production process? No? Then it’s time to source one. Editing is a vital component of the manuscript production process.
The reality is even the best writers are flawed. Just because you’re creatively gifted doesn’t mean you’re an expert in the English language and its nuances. You might have a great vocabulary, but how are your grammar, sentence structuring, and spelling?
Chances are your manuscript has thousands of errors that you’re unaware of. What’s more, you could use some help with editing the storyline, plot, characters, and your writing voice. It’s common for writers to think they’re literary masters, but often they let their ego get in the way of the production process.
Hiring an editing team to review your manuscript improves the reading experience of your book, giving you a better chance of getting published. Let’s unpack the manuscript editing process and examine why it’s valuable to the production process. We’ll also give you some tips on where to find the best manuscript editing services.
Can’t I Edit My Manuscript Myself?
You can try to edit your manuscript, but you won’t get the same results as hiring an editing service to take on the task. There’s grammar software that can assist you with editing surface-level mistakes in your work, like spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar errors.
The real issue is you won’t find the in-depth errors involved with the storyline, plot, characters, flow, cadence, and overall feel of the reading experience. As the manuscript writer, you have an inherent bias to favor your work. That’s okay. All writers have that problem. It would help if you had fresh eyes on the manuscript to uncover these errors.
What is a Manuscript Editor?
A manuscript editing service comprises four components. Each element of the editing team has a specific function. While you can hire some of the four to review your work, it’s a good option to opt for the inclusive editing package. Each of the components in the editing process plays a significant role in the quality of the final product you submit to your publisher.
Let’s unpack each of the four elements of manuscript editing in detail.
Manuscript Proofreading
Proofreading is the most basic of the four components of manuscript editing. A proofreader reviews your work, looking for spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and formatting errors. These surface-level errors are easy to spot using grammar-checking software like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor.
Manuscript Copy Editing
Copy editing is the next step up from proofreading. It offers you a more in-depth review of your work, looking for errors involving the mechanics of the manuscript and checking it at the sentence level for style while providing suggestions for improving the overall quality of writing. Like proofreading, copy editing doesn’t offer any feedback on the creative impression of the manuscript.
Manuscript Line Editing
Line editing is where the editing process starts to take a holistic view of the project in its entirety. Feedback from this stage of the process involves comments on the storyline, plot, characters, readability, and writing voice. You get constructive feedback on improving these elements of your manuscript, giving you a broader perspective on what you need to change to enhance the reader’s experience.
Manuscript Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is the final piece of the editing puzzle and is the most important for aspiring authors. A qualified, experienced editor reviews your work, deep diving into the writing style and storytelling. Developmental editing looks at the overall trajectory of the plot and characters, giving you constructive criticism on how to evolve your writing and improve it for the reader.
How to Choose the Right Manuscript Editor
Freelancer of Professional Service?
You have options to hire a freelancer from sites like Fiverr or Upwork. Plenty of talented editors are available on these sites at a low cost. However, there are thousands of editors on these platforms, and sporting the wheat from the chaff is challenging.
It’s better to go with a professional editor or editing service with a solid track record. These teams have everything you need in-house to review your manuscript and improve your work.
Industry Experience
What industry experience does the freelancer or editing team have with working on similar projects to your manuscript. There are specialists available in different niches. Look for a team with experience working with similar material to your manuscript and review their client feedback to determine if they’re the right fit for your project.
Client Reviews
Look at the client reviews when considering a freelancer or editing service. Your prospective editor or service should have a solid track record of success with their clients. Don’t settle for a second-rate editing team. You’ll live to regret the mistake.
Cost of Services
Manuscript editing is expensive. There’s no way around it. If you want to shortchange yourself, you can avoid the line and developmental editing services. These two components of manuscript editing are the most expensive because they give an intensive overview of where to improve your work.
If you’re working on a shoestring budget, you at least need a copy editor or proofreader to review your work for basic errors. Skipping out on these two services would be a bad move. At worst, you could sign up for a grammar correction program and self-review your manuscript, but it’s not the ideal approach.
The reality is editing is a profession unto itself. As a writer, you don’t have the same skillset as an editor, and you don’t have the experience offered to you by a professional editing team. It’s better to hire editors for the task and use your time to do something else to raise funds required to cover the editing costs.
Where Can I Find Manuscript Editors?
You can find manuscript editors for hire online. There’s no need to walk the streets of New York to locate a top-quality editing service. If you spend some time following the abovementioned factors, you’ll land on the right editing team to handle your project.