How to Make the Most of
Editorial Services
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Editorial services are essential components of any successful writing project, but not everyone realizes how important these supports can be. However, not every writer has access to a professional editor, or the budget for quality editorial services. Let’s take a look at how you can make the most of editorial services and get your work in top shape.
Know When to Engage Editorial Services
When it comes to getting feedback, developmental editing, and even proofreading, make strategic and intentional choices. Make sure that you’ve taken your manuscript to completion, or as close to completion as you can. When you bring in professional editorial services, you’ll want to have one or two rounds, rather than getting stuck in an endless cycle if you keep making large-scale story changes. Not to mention, of course, that most editorial services take time. So you're adding weeks or months to your process for every editing round. (While you can also invest in editorial services early on in your writing process for developmental editing, this tends to be more of a freeform engagement.)
Set Goals For Editorial Services
Before receiving editorial services, make sure that everyone is on the same page about what kind of work needs to be done. If you’re looking for a proofreading round, but your structure needs a lot of work, an editor might recommend some broad strokes feedback first, before you dive into changes on the sentence level.
When you approach a professional for editorial services, make sure you and the editor connect on the type of editing that you want and they are qualified to provide. Some editors specialize in grammar and punctuation while others specialize in content organization—some do both.
By clearly outlining what you want from engaging editorial services before starting a project, you can rest assured that your investment of time, money, and energy will pay off. A lot of editorial services entail having clear expectations, and hiring an editor should entail an open exchange of information and communication, especially about the scope of work.
Setting Up For Editorial Services Success
Before turning over any project materials to editorial services, make sure that everything the editor needs is included in your offering. You can provide your editor with a style guide (if applicable), as well as information about any deadlines or previous feedback that you’ve worked to incorporate. Include reference materials, which can be invaluable for an editor who may not be familiar with certain topics or subject matter (this is especially relevant for nonfiction. Finally, be sure to contextualize your goals for the piece, and your ideal outcome for the editorial services engagement.
With just a bit of preparation up front, you can benefit from editorial services and level up your manuscript.
Click here to purchase Writing Irresistible Kidlit, my book on fiction craft for MG and YA novels, out from Writer's Digest Books. This will show you my writing craft philosophy and give you lots of valuable advice, including tips for the novel revision process and self-editing. There are over 35 example novels cited and discussed throughout. It’s a valuable resource for any writer’s toolkit.
Click here to purchase Successful Query Letters, my book on query letters, including over forty examples with comprehensive notes on each one. There’s a ton of submission advice, best practices, and insider information in these pages, and you’ll really enjoy seeing what other writers are doing in the slush.