by Hannah de Keijzer

Thousands of freelance editors are poised to work on your manuscript. But whether or not the editorial process elevates your book and enlivens you as a writer hinges in large part on the person you pick. You need someone who can deliver edits to professional standards, of course, on time and within your budget.

But you also deserve to work with a communicative editor whose method fits your brain and preferred ways of working. Look for someone who gives you confidence in yourself and in your manuscript as it develops. That’s a matter of process and feelings fit as much as one of professional skill.

By Hannah de Keijzer

Having your manuscript edited is a chance to clarify your ideas, develop your writing craft, and make your book the very best it can be. Here are tips and prompts to help you take full advantage of this opportunity.

Your manuscript can go through several kinds of editing as it progresses from idea to publication:

• developmental/substantive editing for structure and argument;
• line editing for voice, clarity, and flow; copyediting for consistency and correctness; and
• proofreading for that final cleanup of lingering errors.

Not all publishers offer editorial support at every stage.