I want to:
Edit my Manuscript
Editing is the process of polishing and revising your manuscript to make it the best possible
product it can be before pitching it to publishers or agents, or placing it in front of a public
audience.
An editor’s role is to help your book reach its full potential. As with manuscript assessment
services, hiring an editor does not guarantee publication, it just means the completed draft will
be a polished product.
An editor doesn’t have the right to change your work, they can suggest changes, but you are
the author of the work, so the final decision is yours.
Structural editing considers the big picture of the manuscript such as plot, character
motivations and behaviors, the sequences of scenes and the author’s voice.
Copyediting corrects grammar and spelling, otherwise known as line edits. Copy editors and
proofreaders are sometimes interchangeable.
Proofreading is the process of reviewing a text and checking for typos and formatting errors,
and may also include correcting errors in grammar and consistency.
Editing Services
Professional editing on a full manuscript can be expensive, but it pays to have your manuscript
in the best possible shape to be seen by industry professionals. Keep in mind that should a
publisher decide to publish your work, there will be another stage of editing undertaken at the
publisher’s expense.
If you are self-publishing and want your book to be read by a wide audience, then a
professional edit is highly recommended.
Always keep a copy of your manuscript. Some editors are happy to work on an electronic file
and will use the track changes function. Discuss this with your editor to make sure that you are
working in a way that’s comfortable for both of you.
Where to find an editor
Find out first if the editor is available and interested, and then send a sample of your work
along with a project brief, detailing the word count, what you want to get out of the editing
process and when it needs to be completed by. It’s best to get a quote for the full project
rather than asking for their hourly rates as people work at different speeds. It may also be
worth asking for a sample edit. You will have to pay for this, but you will see how the editor
handles the work and how they communicate. Rapport between the editor and the author is
essential.
Edit my Manuscript / 2.
The Society of Editors (Queensland) Inc. is an association of professional editors, and other
professionals in publishing and communications with a Freelance Register available on their
website. www.editorsqld.com
The Australian Writer’s Marketplace (AWM) is Australia and New Zealand’s comprehensive
resource providing submission guidelines and contact information for the publishing industry,
details of support organisations and information services, a range of writing courses and
workshops, literary events and competitions, and services for each stage of the writing, editing
and publication process. www.awmonline.com.au
What to pay
As a guideline only, a proofreader will probably charge you around $40 per hour. Editors’ fees
are around $80 per hour. Keep in mind that editors and proofreaders operate as businesses, so
they are able to set their own rates.
QWC recommends asking the following questions when contracting a professional service:
what is the project, and how much work is there to be done (you may like to provide a
sample), what is the hourly rate, or rate per page etc, how long will it take to complete the
work, when can you expect the work returned, and what format would you like to receive it in
(email file, USB/flash drive, printed pages). It’s always best to get a few quotes and compare
these before putting down a deposit.
Further resources
Year of the Edit is a year-long program made up of five masterclasses and ongoing support to
edit a book-length manuscript. www.qwc.asn.au/events
Strategic Editing is outlined in this article by Charlotte Nash. http://www.qwc.asn.au/help-forwriters/blog/2014/03/13/strategic-editing-%E2%80%93-more-love,-less-angst/
Editing: an overview is outlined in this article by Jodi Cleghorn http://www.qwc.asn.au/helpfor-writers/blog/2014/02/26/editing-an-overview/
Still have questions? Contact Queensland Writers Centre on 07 3842 9922
or email qldwriters@qwc.asn.au