My first book release is successfully behind me! It turned out better than I hoped, and I can’t wait to do it again. All week I have been mentally shifting my mind toward the next project. The hurdles I faced publishing book one were many, but the largest hurdle of all was editing. The number one necessary evil that everyone who self-publishes should spend money on is an editor.

If you’ve followed other posts, you already know my feelings on editing. My experience with Nicca’s Light was extremely anxiety-inducing, and I didn’t relish a repeat experience. As I searched for the right editor for book two, Sophia’s Moon, I took steps to find an editor that fit my needs better. 

Let’s face it. Having work edited will never be a fun process. It’s always going to hurt a little; however, I was determined to make this time around easier. I think I got it right this time, and I wanted to impart some things I learned when finding an editor so that you can learn from my mistakes.

1. Steer clear of family/friends: No matter how intelligent your friends or family are, I do not recommend hiring them to edit your work. There are too many ways this can blow up in your face. There is very little chance someone who loves you will be brutal enough and criticize your work the way it needs. If they do, hurt feelings will be in play, and if they don’t and you get bad reviews because of it, hurt feelings will also be in play. 
2. You get what you pay for: There’s a chance you could find someone just starting out with real talent that charges low fees while building references; however, my experience has shown me a massive difference between an editor that charges .0022 per word and one that changes .02 per word. I know it’s a lot of money, but I highly recommend hiring an editor from the highest experience level you can afford. The experience you pay for isn’t only for their ability to edit, but also their ability to maintain your voice and make suggestions with professional respect.
3. Your editor should love your specific genre: I made this mistake twice, unfortunately. The first editor I hired to developmentally edit my fantasy novel hated fantasy. It wasn’t a question I even thought to ask. She knew it was a fantasy so, in my mind, I figured she wouldn’t have applied for the job if she wouldn’t like the story. I was wrong, and it caused a nightmare. She was never going to like my story, no matter how well written it was. Her suggestions were colored with her dislike of the genre. She kept trying to change my story into something else so different. Once I got over the initial shock, I could see what she was trying to say to me about the story’s issues, but her suggestions of how to fix them were so off the mark that none of it was helpful, and I walked away feeling like my story was no good.The second time I thought I was smart and asked if she loved fantasy. She said yes, so I thought I was good. Wrong. Fantasy is a huge genre, and I learned the hard way to be more specific. She didn’t like my story tropes. She hated broody alpha protectors. Her suggestions were sarcastic and borderline mean. And again, she tried to change my voice. It’s important to get specific. Don’t just ask if they like fantasy or paranormal. Ask if they like enemies to lovers, or a slow burn, or age-gap romance. (whatever tropes your story has) Ask for some of their favorite authors they read for pleasure. They could tell you they love paranormal so you give them your vampire story only to find out too late they can’t stand the ancient being/young woman trope. 

When it comes to finding an editor, there are several options. 

1. You can find a good editor on sites like Upwork and Fiver, but I recommend using caution. Ask lots of questions and use someone with established reviews and an online presence.
2. Going through a professional editing service will be more expensive, but will offer you a layer of protection. Many now offer payment plans. 
3. Any worthwhile editor will be very upfront about their fees and offer a sample edit. 
4. Most will ask for a partial deposit to hold your place on their schedule and require the rest upon completion. 
5. Almost all editors I’ve worked with require a contract. Read everything before signing.
6. Generally, they will have you send them your story as a Microsoft document and will return it to you with track changes and suggested edits.

I think I’ve found the right editor this time around, and it’s made me excited about moving forward. Don’t get me wrong, the rewrite won’t be fun, but because she loves the story, her suggestions will be a thousand times more helpful. My end product will be better because of it.

If you have reached the point of hiring an editor, I suggest you go to some of your favorite Facebook groups and ask for suggestions. Then start asking questions until you find the right fit for you. Don’t rush it. You’ve worked too hard. Good Luck!