What should I do before hiring a book editor?
- A self-edit pass before paying anyone.
- A one-page goals + audience summary for the editor.
- A sample package: first 50 pages plus synopsis.
- 3-5 candidate editors with genre experience.
- A sample-edit ($50-$200) before committing.
Before hiring a book editor, run a self-edit pass (structural plus line plus copy), write a one-page summary stating your goals and target audience, prepare a sample (first 50 pages plus synopsis), and research three to five editors who work in your genre. Most authors who skip prep spend 30-50% more on editing than necessary.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Editors charge based on the manuscript state they receive. Sending a polished draft means cheaper structural editing; sending a messy first draft doubles or triples the cost. Five days of pre-editor prep saves $1,000-$4,000 on the editorial bill and produces better feedback because the editor is working at the level you need.
Chapter ii·What to include
- Self-edit pass for structural and line issues.
- A goal statement: what kind of book is this, for whom?
- A first 50 pages plus synopsis sample package.
- 3-5 genre-experienced editor candidates.
- A budget: $2,000-$8,000 for developmental, $1,000-$3,000 for copy.
- A sample-edit ($50-$200) to verify fit.
Chapter iii·Example
A debut author preps for her developmental edit over five days: self-edit on continuity (8 issues found, 6 fixed), one-page goal statement, first 50 pages plus synopsis, list of 6 candidate editors from EFA. She picks one after sample edits. Her editorial bill is $3,800 (down from a $5,400 quote for the original unpolished draft) and the feedback is more structural and less mechanical.
In WriteLoom
Three editors, in the order professionals use them
WriteLoom's Edit studio runs your pre-editor self-edit and packages the manuscript for handoff — so the editor's bill stays low.
Not ready for a workspace yet? Get the free six-part series on winning the writing game: finishing drafts, editing in the right order, querying with real math, and launching on a runway.