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Choosing the Right Book Editor Means a Lot

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The independent publishing boom that shows no signs of letting up creates significant opportunity for authors along with increased responsibilities -- self-publishing means directly handling many things previously taken care of by publishers. They range from finding a creative book cover design to hiring a professional editor. When indie authors sell their books in the mainstream, they face the same reader (and critic) expectations as traditionally published books do. Editing gives a book polish, makes it easy to read, and earns respect from readers. Leaving mistakes in the text hurts readability and reputation.

Professional editors are, in a way, the guardians of the authors who they edit. Their goal is to improve the quality of a writer's work and help them be regarded as accomplished subject-area experts. An editing check is a sample read conducted by an editor for a small fee to recommend the optimal service level for each manuscript. Proofreading is the most basic service and covers typos, spelling errors, and minor grammar mistakes. If you go up a notch to line editing, it adds additional suggestions like sentence structure and rewording phrases to read more smoothly and improve the text quality in general.

If you're a self-publishing author who is interviewing editors, expect to be offered a service agreement describing the editing to be provided and its cost. Because a lot will happen once the project gets underway, it's essential to be clear upfront about the scope of the work. Make sure to find about the editors you're considering, including their experience in your genre. If another writer has given you a recommendation, don't hire someone impulsively without doing your own research. No two authors and editors are alike, and you must find someone you feel is best for your book project.

An increasing number of the best editors in the business today work freelance and handle books in multiple genres. You can check to see what they've worked on already in your genre and how well those books have sold. The biggest determiner of your book's success will be what you've written as the author, but good editing goes a long way toward improving your chances for success. It's why you want to have a good rapport with your editor and respect their opinion. If you have a difficult time working with someone or question the validity of their input, it can diminish the value of their editing suggestions.

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