Hiring an independent editor can be expensive. A thorough edit from an experienced editor can cost four or even five figures so you want to make sure that it is an expense you really need. Generally speaking we encourage our authors to seek out a manuscript appraisal in the first instance, as this is a cost-effective way of receiving feedback on the structure and general content of your manuscript. However, many authors feel that editing is the next stage that is right for them, and that’s okay too!
Editing is an important part of the writing process. If you’re self-publishing, and are serious about building a readership then editing is critical. As the self-publishing field matures, it’s becoming evermore crowded and competitive, and if you want to stand out from the crowd and give good value to readers, it’s essential that you present a professional product. Structural editing and copy-editing are an important part of that.
Editors also have a place if you intend to seek traditional publishing. A qualified editor will help you bring out the full potential in your writing and hopefully make it more appealing and marketable, which may make the difference between whether it is ‘publishable’ and not.
Alternatively, an editor might come in handy if you have been submitting (what you consider) your polished manuscript to literary agents for some time and are receiving positive comments, but still accumulating rejections. This might indicate that there is something lacking in your manuscript, but you might not be sure what it is. An independent editor may be able to help you identify the issue in order for you to move forward in your publishing journey.
The editing services we offer:
-
- Structural Editing (also known as development, content or substantive editing) focuses on structure, style, and content. The editor flags specific problems – structural difficulties, poor pacing, plot or thematic inconsistencies, dialogue concerns, undeveloped characters, stylistic troubles, lazy writing. The editor may assist with rewrites to fix the above issues to the MS by including this in the edit.
- Copy Editing: Editing at the sentence level, focusing on paragraph and sentence structure, word use, dialogue rhythms, etc., with the aim of creating a smooth prose flow. It also includes correction of common errors (grammar, spelling, punctuation), incorrect word usages, logic lapses, and continuity problems. The editor will also often fact-check the work to the best of his/her ability.
- Proofreading: Checking for typos, spelling/punctuation errors, formatting mistakes, and other minor mechanical problems.
What Editing Can’t Buy
When hiring an editor, keep your expectations realistic. There are things even the best editor can’t do for you. There’s no set formula for dynamic plots or well-rounded characters or even good prose. And even the most accomplished editor can’t turn a bad manuscript into a good one, or a mediocre manuscript into a blockbuster. They can only work with what’s already there.
Good editing can improve your manuscript, but finding publication depends on more than just the quality of your work. Effective targeting of your submissions, editors’ judgment of readers’ tastes, the perceived marketability of your book, and what the publisher is already publishing all play a part.
An excellent, polished manuscript is essential, but it’s just one piece of the total picture. There are no guarantees that it will secure you a publishing deal.
Who are our editors?
Our editors are professionals with a vast experience in the publishing industry and in the wider book industry. We have editors who specialise in a number of different genres – this means we should have someone who will suit your manuscript genre and style.
Please note: we use the Style Guide (published by John Wiley & Sons) and the Macquarie Dictionary – if you have any other style you would like us to adhere to, please feel free to discuss this with us.
I am keen to work with you to edit my book, what are the next steps?
We would love to work with you, so please feel free to shoot us an email and start the conversation. We will then look at a sample of your manuscript and provide you with a quote for the service you require.