If something seems too good to be true, then it usually is. Here’s a few red flags to watch for when searching for an editor for your book.

1. No Knowledge or Experience

Anyone can create a Fiverr profile and claim to be an experienced editor, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.

Having a degree or certificate in creative writing and/or editing, as well as proven experience and expertise in the field is important for a quality edit. Make sure your editor demonstrates knowledge of the various rounds of editing and what order they come in, understands exactly what you’re needing, and can clearly communicate what you can expect when working with them (see point three below). Do they have a portfolio of books they’ve edited and testimonials from previous clients you can check out? How long have they been editing professionally? Do they have any specialities (type of editing, genres they prefer to work with, or special knowledge of specific industries that apply to your book)? After all, a jack of all trades is a master of none.

2. No Website

Another key factor is whether your editor has a professional website. This is a preview of what you can expect from them. Your editor’s website should give you the chance to get to know them a bit better, demonstrate their attention to detail and writing skills, describe their services and specialties, display previous work and client testimonials, show their qualifications, and more.

Yes, a website costs money and takes a tremendous amount of time to build and put together. But really, the cost is pretty minimal and once it’s all created, the maintenance is minimal as well. If your editor isn’t willing to invest in their own business, why should you? A website signifies a level of professionalism, and if you are going to invest in hiring an editor, you want someone who takes their work seriously.

3. Poor Communication

I can’t tell you how many horror stories I’ve heard from authors who paid good money only to be ghosted by their so-called editor. Even in other industries, once a sale is made, the aftercare is practically nonexistent these days—the salesman who was once all ears and smiles soon disappears or acts like you are now a huge inconvenience. Customer service has drastically gone downhill since the good ole days, but I believe good customer service is the key to not only securing a new client but also having them return to you time and time again. Want a good testimonial, referrals to new potential clients, or a long-term/repeat client? Treat your customers well. That starts with good communication skills.

On that note, is your editor responding to you quickly and in a timely fashion? Are they clearly communicating what you can expect if you were to hire them? Pay attention to the grammar, spelling, rhythm, etc. of your editor’s communication during the inquiry and onboarding process, as this will clue you in to their skillset. Don’t be afraid to ask whether they edit in their primary language (for example, if they edit US English, is that their first language?). You want someone who fully understands all the dialects, slang, idioms, adages, proverbs, and cultural expressions that come with a specific language. Your editor should be happy to answer any questions you have for them regarding their process, what their service entails, and what you can expect if you hire them, and that includes during and even after your project is complete. And finally, testimonials will let you know how the entire experience was for other authors who have previously worked with your editor.

4. No Contract

If your editor does not require a contract, run as fast as you can in the other direction . . . especially if they ask for money up front. Yes, most editors require a deposit to secure your spot on their calendar, usually in the vicinity of 50 percent. But without a contract in place, your so-called editor might be scam artist who plans to take your money and run.

But what should be on the contract? Besides all the regular nitty gritty and legal jargon, ensure your editor’s contract includes an NDA and an intellectual clause, both of which protect you as the author. The NDA, or nondisclosure agreement, means your editor is legally bound to secrecy when it comes to your book. They can’t discuss it with other people, either privately or publicly, without your permission until it is published. The intellectual clause means they acknowledge that although they are editing your book, the work still belongs to you as the author. Your editor has no rights to publish your book or claim it as their own work.

5. Inexpensive Services

Neil Gaiman, author of such great works as Coraline and Stardust, gave an incredible keynote address for the graduating class at the University of the Arts in 2012. In it, he pointed out the three key factors when hiring someone: cost, time, and quality. You will not find someone who is fast, cheap, and who does quality work. You can find someone who is fast and cheap, but don’t expect the quality. Or you can pick someone who is fast and does a quality job, but expect a higher price point. You get the idea—you must pick your top two priorities.

If your editor offers a crazy bargain on their pricing, it could simply mean they are new to the industry or perhaps they require lengthy turnaround times since they only edit as a side gig. But buyer beware: You could be sacrificing quality in favor of that lower cost. In any industry, someone who values their work and knows what they bring to the table should be charging accordingly. In addition, someone who edits full time rather than as a side gig likely takes their work more seriously, has certificates or degrees in the field, and invests in their business. As such, they need to turn a profit on their business in order to earn a living, and that means charging a more realistic price point for their services.

This topic is worth digging into a bit deeper. Let’s say Josie asks her editor to perform a line/copyedit on her 75,000-word manuscript. That would take her editor approximately 75 hours for the first pass, assuming they do quality work. That doesn’t include the second pass (if her editor includes more than one pass in single editing round), the editor’s overhead, time spent communicating with Josie, or back-office tasks like drawing up Josie’s contract and invoice, bookkeeping, etc.

So, let’s break down the cost. If Josie finds an editor who offers to edit her 75,000-word manuscript for $300, that’s only $4 an hour for a quality edit. Even at $1,000, the editor earns a mere $13 per hour—that’s still less than the current minimum wage in California, which is where Red Quill Editorial is based. And again, neither of these hourly numbers include anything beyond the first pass, such as communication with you, back-office tasks, or overhead.

That’s right, a professional full-time editor doesn’t pocket their entire hourly fee. There’s overhead to run any business, including website hosting, credit card processing fees, hiring a tax or accounting professional on top of annual taxes due, fees for programs they may use, advertising and marketing, memberships to editorial associations like the EFA, memberships to writing groups such as the RWA, continuing education to keep their skills sharp, and much more.

Therefore, we can conclude that an editor who charges such low pricing isn’t likely to spend 75 hours on Josie’s manuscript, which means she’s not getting the quality she’s expecting either.

6. Error-Free Guarantee

Yes, we editors try our best to rid your manuscript of any errors, but we are still human, just like you. Well then, why not use AI rather than an editor? After all, there are so many options out there like ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or Hemingway Editor.

While using such programs prior to handing it over to your editor may help make their job easier and secure you the best price, using these programs alone will not catch all the things an actual human editor can. In fact, if you aren’t careful, AI programs can actually introduce new errors to your work (hilarious autocorrects, anyone?). This is because the English language is full of complexities and nuances that AI simply can’t pick up the way a real person can. Remember when I discussed the importance of your editor editing in their primary language to catch all the dialects, slang, idioms, adages, proverbs, and cultural expressions? AI does not have the capacity to handle this the same way a flesh-and-blood person can.

So, what is the best way to get your work to be error-free then? The short answer: You can’t. Even traditionally published books, after passing through the hands of countless editors, are likely to have lingering errors when published. It’s nearly impossible to have a book without a single error in it. The good news is a few minor errors are not going to ruin your readers’ overall experience.

That being said, the best method to minimize the errors left behind in your book is to put it through both a copyedit and a final proofread, using a different editor for each round. To learn more about how many errors you can expect to be caught versus missed with this method, check out my article on why I recommend hiring both a copyeditor and proofreader.

7. Immediate Availability

Sure, we all have a slow season. For book editors, it seems to fall during the winter holidays when everyone is busy with family and traveling. You may be the lucky author to snag an editor’s first opening of the New Year. Or maybe your editor had a cancelation or reschedule request, freeing up an immediate opening. And we all occasionally have an unexpected slow period with the ebbs and flows of running our own business. But most high-quality editors book out for a few weeks to several months at a time for much of the year. So, while immediate availability isn’t necessarily a reason to turn heel and run, it is something to keep in mind as you continue conversing with your editor to determine whether they are the right fit for your book.

8. Speedy Turnaround Times

Understand that reading a book is very different from editing a book. While you may be able to read a full-length novel in a week or two, editing it can take two to four times as long, depending on a variety of factors. Your editor will need to use their knowledge, research skills, and editorial programs to ensure your book gets properly edited. And chances are, if you hire an editor, you expect them to do a quality job with your book baby. That takes time.

If Josie’s editor says they can complete a line/copyedit of her 75,000-word manuscript within three days when a manuscript that length should take more like twenty-three days for a quality edit, how can they possibly be giving her book the time it truly deserves? In fact, Josie might wonder whether that editor is simply running her book through an AI program like those mentioned in point six above, and couldn’t she have done that herself for far less money? Absolutely.

Referring back to the fifth point on this list regarding cost, time, and quality, it is impossible to have all three. Sad, but true. Now, if Josie’s editor offers to charge a higher price point (or a rush fee) to get her manuscript back to her in, say, fifteen days instead of twenty-three, that’s much more realistic and her editor should still be able to perform a quality job in that timeframe. What is likely happening in that case is her editor is working round the clock including weekends or putting in longer days to shorten the overall turnaround time. Charging more to compensate for the editor’s overtime and sacrifice they are making with what should be their personal time is an extremely reasonable expectation. After all, if you were to work overtime at your job, you would expect the same.

So, while speedy turnaround times are possible, there is a price to paid for such a service, and don’t expect much more than a 20- to 40-percent faster turnaround time for the quality to remain.

The Bottom Line

If you’re here, you already know Red Quill Editorial’s professional website openly displays the books I’ve worked on and client testimonials, discusses my specialties and services as well as what they entail, tells who I am on a personal level and explains how Red Quill Editorial came to be, and even offers free value adds on the Tips for Writers tab, like this article! Red Quill’s website has a FAQs page as well, where you can learn more about my editing-related qualifications, my editing approach, and much more. My contact page guarantees a response within two business days (though it’s usually the same day), and I tell you upfront on my welcome page what you can expect when working with me.

At Red Quill Editorial, I have a contract in place with each of my clients, which includes an NDA and intellectual clause to protect my authors. I offer competitive pricing with discounts and specials and a payment plan option to help you afford the quality edit you deserve. I pride myself on my high-quality feedback and attention to detail, giving every manuscript two passes per round (meaning I read through it twice prior to handing it back to you) to ensure the best quality.

As a full-time editor, I offer reasonable and realistic turnaround times, always providing the exact date that I will be starting on your book as well as when you can expect to have it back in your hands. I welcome open communication throughout the whole process, and if your book requires more than a week to work through, I send weekly updates to keep you in the loop with my progress. At the conclusion of our project, I am happy to be able to offer my clients some fun value adds, including swag, publishing discounts, and help with promotion via my website, Facebook page, and monthly newsletter!

If this is what you’re looking for in an editor, let’s discuss getting your book on my calendar today! With a large Rolodex of happy and repeat clients, I often book out a few months at a time, so be sure to contact me with plenty of time before your publishing deadline.

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Red Quill Editorial LLC

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