Working With Editors: Questions to Ask Before Signing Up

Here's the last post in the series on working with editors.

Before hiring an editor, ask these questions:

• How long have you been doing this?
• What's your specialty (fiction or nonfiction, and genre)?
• How much do you charge, and how do you charge (by the hour or the page)?
• What books have you edited? Would I know any?
• Can I give you a four- to five-page writing sample to edit free of charge before committing?
• What's included in your price (character development, plot, transitions, etc.)?

Bottom Line: At some point, all of us work with an editor, maybe more than one at various stages of the work — before your agent sees the manuscript and before publication. So, it's important to understand and make the most of the relationship. Remember that balance is key, and when in doubt ask before assuming.