Every editor operates a bit differently. Some editors are too busy to allow for more than the barest level of personal communication. Others prefer to spend extensive time getting to know their clients’ priorities and unique challenges, with multiple Zoom or in-person meetings during the course of a project. In my opinion, the best editorial relationships come to resemble a mentorship, with the editor intentionally investing time and energy to guide the author through the next steps on their book’s journey.
Regardless of how each individual editor operates, here are a few basics you should expect from any editorial relationship.
The Consultation
Every relationship begins with a consultation, where both the editor and author can ask each other questions and discuss what services the author wants and needs. This can be done asynchronously, with communication only taking place via email or through online questionnaires, or synchronously, through a videoconference, a phone call, or even in-person if proximity allows. These approaches can also be combined, with the editor asking the author to fill out a questionnaire in advance of the synchronous consultation.
The editor may choose to charge for this initial consultation process or provide it as a courtesy. A consultation may last anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the project and the scope of information the author and editor need to decide to work with each other.
Most editors will want to see a brief sample of your project before, during, or shortly after the consultation in order to help them provide a fair and accurate quote for their services.
The Quote
The way an editor quotes for their services differs from editor to editor. Some charge by the word while others charge by the hour. Alternatively, some editors prefer to quote a flat fee for the entire project.
It’s also not unusual to see a broad range of prices for editorial services. Some editors are well-established in their careers and can command higher rates, while others are still gaining experience and might offer more modest rates.
One of the most frequently-used references for pricing various editorial services is this chart and calculator put together by the Editorial Freelancers Association. While it’s a great starting point to understand how editorial pricing works, it should be noted that this data doesn’t necessarily reflect the full range of rates editors may charge.
The price can also fluctuate based on the time frame the editor is given to work within. If an author requires a quick turnaround, the quote will reflect the time the editor will need to take from other clients and other commitments in order to complete their work on time.
Sometimes, an editor might prepare a few different quote options for the client to choose from based on their budget and their priorities. This can be especially helpful for authors working with a smaller budget or who aren’t sure how much they want to invest in editorial services.
Additionally, there’s also a wide variation of ways an editor may choose to charge for their services. Some may require a deposit before work begins. Some require payment upon delivery of their edits, while others require full payment after they have completed their edits but before they deliver them to the author. Still others ask for payment within a certain period of time after their edits have been completed.
There’s no right or wrong way for an editor to put their quote package together, but what is important is that the author and editor clearly define what services the author is paying for.
The Agreement
A good editor will want to ensure that their work, as well as their clients’ work, is legally protected through a signed contract or agreement. Some editors will have more extensive agreements than others, but here are a few features that should be included in every agreement:
Scope of Work. This is a clear statement of what the editor will be working on and a definition of the work they will complete. It should also state the procedure for changing the scope of work in any way.
Terms of Payment. The agreement should state the payment amount, whether it will be paid in one installment or more than one, and when it is due. It should also specify that the editor will be paid for their work regardless of the author’s satisfaction with the editor’s work. As long as the editor has completed the defined scope of work, the editor should always be paid what was agreed.
Statement of Confidentiality. Since the author is trusting the editor with their copyrighted work, the agreement should state the editor’s commitment to protecting the author’s work from any copyright infringement.
In any editorial relationship, a signed agreement between both parties is always a good idea. This helps the author and the editor know what to expect from each other, ensures that their work will be fully protected, and prevents (or, occasionally, resolves) any disputes that may arise.
The Feedback
The editorial feedback an author will receive varies depending on both the editor and the type of edit agreed upon. However, they almost always come in the form of in-text comments, direct edits, and editorial letters.
The editorial letter typically addresses the most pressing issues the editor noticed and ideas for possible solutions. However, the depth and length of the letter will vary depending on the type of edit performed. An editor typically writes very lengthy letters to unpack a developmental edit on a full manuscript, but they may only need a page to touch on the issues addressed in a copy edit.
While there are a few editors who still edit on paper, it’s much more typical to receive in-text feedback and direct edits through the Comment and Track Changes features on the word processor. Editors favor Word, Google Docs, and occasionally Adobe.
Many editors also provide an opportunity for the author to ask questions about the editorial feedback in a follow-up meeting or email exchange. This allows the author to clarify any of the editor’s changes or suggestions and brainstorm possible solutions for their manuscript’s main issues.
Wrapping Up
While there are just as many variations of editorial processes as there are editors, working successfully with a qualified editor boils down to a few basic requirements: that the author and editor feel mutually secure and respected in their professional relationship, that expectations on both sides are clear and agreed upon before any work begins, and that those expectations are fulfilled.
However, a good relationship ideally reaches beyond these things. Writing should not be a solo endeavor; even the best authors need editors who support their vision and can help them take their work to the next level. This is what working with an editor is really all about—expanding your writing community and finding the support you need to achieve your goals.
Happy writing!