Whatever stage of the writing process you’re in, whether you have a finished first draft, or a work in progress… you may be thinking of hiring an editor.
But what does an editor actually do?
And at what stage do you hire one?
Is it best to get an editor at the beginning of writing your story, so they can help you while you write it?
Or should your manuscript be finished and relatively polished before you hand it to an editor.
What kind of editor is best for your stage in the writing process?
In today’s episode, I’m going to break down 3 different types of editors to help you decide what’s best for you at whatever stage of development you’re at.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Episode at a glance:
[2:03] The Developmental Editor
A developmental editor gives you a global view of your story structure, plus a micro view of all the moving parts: character, point of view, setting, scene building, plot, sub-plots, suspense, or any other elements at play in your story. The primary goal is make sure all your story’s elements cohere in a unified narrative.
[6:35] Learn how much a developmental editor costs, what it includes, and at what stage of your work’s development you should hire one.
[9:17] 2. Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation gives you a high level assessment of what works in your story, and what needs deeper development. Learn how a manuscript evaluation differs from a developmental edit, what’s included, and what’s not.
[11:35] You can opt for a full manuscript evaluation or a partial manuscript evaluation. Learn the pros and cons of full evaluations vs. partial, what to expect to pay for each, and at what stage of the drafting process you should hire one.
[13:14 ]The Book Coach
A book coach is not only less expensive, they can help you avoid systemic mistakes in your book that will cost you more time and editing expense in the long run. A book coach can help you plan and outline a new writing project, or help you bring an existing project into clear focus.
Learn what you can expect to pay to hire a book coach.
Link mentioned in this episode:
Episode 98: Should You Hire An Editor?
Also listen to:
Episode 101: A Four-Step Strategy For Self Editing Your Story
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