How to find a good editor?

Your book is done. You wrote your story, but it is not ready for publishing. Why not? You need an editor. Before you assume it is easy to find, I offer some tips to save you from liars, cheaters, and opportunists.

What kind of qualities a good editor should have?

It must be an American or British editor. Don't think you can find a good editor in your country if you are not a native English speaker. Those who are Americans or British know the best about their culture, habits, phrases, and they will make a benefit for you.

Your editor must have a testimony. It is praise from readers, usually made on their website, about their work.

A good editor will communicate with the author. It is not like, I have done your book, give me the money. No! You must talk to your editor about your sentences, emptiness in your story lines, things that are not logical, and make a common agreement on what is missing in your book. It means, your book should go to the editor at least twice.

A good editor will not write a private message to a person he never communicates with. They have their website, so if someone offers you editing services under your posts or sends you a private message, reject it. Those are amateurs who wish your money.

A good editor is not always an expensive editor. For a book with 100 pages is reasonable to pay 70-100 dollars, depends how much is word counting.

A good editor respects deadline. If your editor is getting late, if they need more than 3 weeks to set up your story, this is not professional.

A good editor must have an attitude. He should not praise your work if that is not good. He should be critical and motivate you, to do it better. A good editor is your coach.

Now, what kind of pranks you can expect from editors?

In some cases, they will do their work in half. It means, they could take your money, but editing is not good. You will edit after him, and it will cost you bonus money.

They can get late. You have a deadline to publish your book, but they are not done. Beware to set up your pre-order link in Kindle at least 3 months before, in case you have unpredictable circumstances.

Some people will pretend friendship, and they just want to earn money on you. If a person never edited the book for money and offers you help, be sure he is not the right one.

You want free editing? That is not a good move. Someone can give you free editing, but it will not be good enough.

There is a saying, amateurs will cost you more than professionals.

Comments

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Rebelious rules by Kristina Gallo

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