How Dirty Do You Like Your Editing?
When it comes to edits, most serious authors expect to pay between $1600 and $2600 (between $35/hr. and $55/hr.)for content and line edits for a 60,000 word novel.
These content and line edits are often lumped into one pass although they are distinctly different—they both serve a different purpose and are executed differently in the manuscript. Most editors can do both at the same time without breaking their flow, so some of the difference often shows up in the way the edits are actually done in the manuscript itself.
Content editing is editing the manuscript for details and story consistency. We watch for character descriptions, dialogue style, setting details, emotional pacing, etc. Some of these are addressed in the lines themselves, such as crossing out one color descriptor for eyes and replacing it with the correct one, but many of these are addressed in the comment margins as questions and comments to which the author will need to respond with their own changes in the text.
Line editing is editing the document for smoothness, readability, and any grammatical corrections that can be addressed during this pass when chunks of sentences are being moved around. Line edits should be done in the text itself with the processing program that is hosting the manuscript set to track changes.
Now, as an editor, I personally like to get down and dirty. If I can change what needs to be changed in the text, then I will make the computer dance through the words with red lines and type out my own suggestion for rephrasing a description or a different word option. I save the comments bar on the side to either explain what I did in the text, or mark an emotional beat in the story, or leave a question regarding something that has me confused enough that I can’t fix it myself.
In receiving my own edits, that’s also my preferred way to work with an editor. I like it when they get knee deep in my metaphors and are willing to kick a little ass in my fight scenes. Comments are also helpful, especially when they mention something that I did well. 😊
I have some author friends who have different preferences, and I have heard both excitement and frustration over working with different editors. The frustration is often the result of an author working with an editor whom they did not choose, such as an editor assigned by their publishing house. And I have heard excitement over finding an editor that worked as hard as they did to make their story amazing.
To find a compatible editor, make sure you get a few pages back with sample edits before you hire them. We all expect to spend part of our work week doing these sample edits. You can also ask for references from other authors, although there is a degree of confidentiality when it comes to editing and references might be hit or miss.
Regardless of the details of an editor’s comment or line edit style, there are a few things every good editor should do when they go through your story:
1. Offer Solutions
An editor is being paid to find and fix what they perceive are problems in a manuscript, and I can tell you that we take that very seriously. A good editor will offer an alternative way to phrase something or a solution to something in the story that isn’t working rather than just point it out.
2. Point out the Positive
It can be hard to get a set of edits back and read only what’s ‘wrong’ with your story. It can make you feel like hiding in the backyard, reading horrible poetry, and eating worms. A good editor should point out what you did well in your story, not just what you need to fix.
3. Communicate
A good editor will be there for your questions as you go back through your manuscript and puzzle through their suggestions. An even better editor will add explanations in the text or comments column that will help you understand why they did what they did. In a sense, we’re all working to become better at this grand art of telling stories and you should feel like your editor is on your team and not just the umpire.
Do you have a question about the editing process? Leave a comment or send me an email at nielsoneditingco@gmail.com.