When to Hire an Editor and What You Can Expect to Pay

I have a confession to make. My family watches Entertainment Tonight almost every evening. It’s not like we seek it out; it’s just what comes on after we finish watching the local news, and inertia usually takes over. As a result, I know a lot more about Meghan and Harry and JLo and Ben than I want to. A few nights ago, the hosts noted that a couple of celebrities had books coming out, and my 15-year-old quipped, “Clearly, they have a ghostwriter. Otherwise, no one would want to read it.”

Not to cast aspersions on the writing abilities of minor celebrities, but I reminded my son that no one writes a book on their own. Everyone has an editor. If you have ever been published, you’ve been edited. If you aspire to be published, you will be edited. And yet, some writers might resist the idea of hiring an editor—either because they presume it’s not done, because they are unsure what the editor does or how to find one, or because they think it will be cost-prohibitive.

In this blog post, I’ll describe some points in the writing process when you might want to consult an editor, the kinds of services the editor provides, and what you might expect to pay for those services.

When to Engage a Copy Editor

Copy editing is probably what most of us envision when we think of editing—the act of fixing spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. In addition to these surface-level corrections, copy editors may also check that figures in tables total correctly and match those in the manuscript text. In addition to these more technical issues, the copy editor can conform the manuscript to a prescribed stylistic convention (e.g., APA style, Chicago)—sometimes called a stylistic edit. Finally, the copy edit may include a correlation edit or cross-checking the coordinating parts of a manuscript (e.g., in-text citations against the reference list) to ensure they match. Copy editing is most effective when you have a fully developed draft with logically organized content. Think of this as the final polish before submitting your manuscript for review. Almost all manuscripts will benefit from copy editing.

In some cases, the text may need more than the cosmetic corrections described here. In those cases, the copy editor might provide a substantive edit, sometimes called a line edit, which will address word- and sentence-level issues impacting clarity and logic. A line edit may identify and suggest revisions related to

• passive voice

• unintentionally repeated words or phrases

• wordiness

• language that is not inclusive

• awkward phrasing

• transitions within and between paragraphs

• headers that are missing or don’t accurately forecast the text

• sentences or paragraphs that don’t advance the argument

• areas where additional support or development may be needed

This more in-depth copy edit hones the power of the manuscript by attending to the author’s goals, the central message, and the readers’ needs. Ideally, you would address these issues before submission. Still, suppose reviewers or the publication editor have pointed to word- and sentence-level problems in their feedback. In that case, you might enlist an editor to complete a line edit before submitting a revised manuscript.

When to Call a Developmental Editor

While copy editing tends to happen just before submission, an author can benefit from the support of a developmental editor at any point in the writing process. For example, a developmental editor can help you shape a proposal for a longer manuscript, craft an outline, or simply process your thoughts. They may also work with you to create a plan for drafting the manuscript based on an outline. The developmental editor can support the drafting process by providing feedback on the structure and organization of a specific chapter or section (e.g., the literature review) and evaluate a fully completed draft. In reviewing the complete draft, the developmental editor might identify issues similar to those that arise during line editing, but they will also attend to the organization, balance, coverage, and pacing of the manuscript as a whole. They can also help you write more effectively to genre conventions. Finally, if a journal editor, publisher, or committee chair has recommended large-scale revisions, the developmental editor can help you make sense of and accomplish the suggested changes.

How to Choose an Editor

Editors often specialize by genre, form (e.g., journal vs. book-length projects), and topical areas. As you think about choosing an editor, consider whether they have experience working with manuscripts like yours in scope, genre, or topic. Also, consider the kind of services you might need. For example, if you just need someone to ensure that you have successfully adopted the latest APA style, you probably don’t want to hire an editor who works almost exclusively with Chicago.

Many editors will offer to complete a sample edit (5 to 10 pages at most). That process helps the editor make a recommendation about the kinds of modifications a document may need, and it also provides the client with a sense of the editor’s style and whether it will be a good fit for their needs.

Both the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and ACES: The Society for Editing have searchable directories of freelance editors on their websites. EFA also has a job listing service where you can solicit bids for editing projects.

What You Can Expect to Pay

EFA surveys its membership annually about their rates and work pace for different genres and editorial services. You can find median hourly and by-the-word editing rates here. Editors differ in how they price services, but many editors I know charge by the word because editing pace is affected by many issues that may not be apparent from the initial sample reviewed. The median rate for copy editing academic manuscripts is between $.04 and $.05 per word (STEM and highly technical manuscripts might be slightly higher). Developmental editing services for similar manuscripts are $.07 - $.08 per word. For comparison, Taylor & Francis provides editing services ranging from $.06/word for copy editing to $.09/word for developmental editing.

Based on the median rates reported by EFA, you might expect to pay an editor $300 to $350 for a technical and stylistic edit on a 7,500-word journal manuscript. A line edit on that same manuscript might cost slightly more. If you need more significant support related to structure, organization, or other large-scale revisions, you will likely want to enlist the help of a developmental editor, who may charge $525 to $600 for the project.

One other note about payment: when working with individual clients, an editor will frequently require a partial payment before starting a project. They will also likely require payment in full before sending edited files. The editing contract will spell out the rate, the services included, payment terms, and delivery dates.

Is It Worth It?

A recent episode of the #AmWriting podcast addressed the benefits of working with an editor. In short, enlisting the support of an editor can give you greater confidence in your finished product, help you hone your skills by modeling effective writing strategies, and increase the likelihood that your manuscript will be accepted for publication. Given that scholarly productivity is tied to hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions, working with an editor can be a wise investment in your professional development and future earning potential.

If you would like to learn more about working with an editor, please reach out to me at hello@tracylskipper.com.