Working with the Right Editor: A Writer’s Best Investment
Working with the right editor is more than a tip or advice for the writing community – it’s a way of (work) life. We’ve spoken about how to find the right editor before, but understanding the why is just as critical to helping you find your perfect fit.
The benefits of finding the right editor are vast: from enhancing clarity in your text and highlighting your unique voice to spotting every tiny typo and ensuring the final draft is suited to your dream audience.
Need some proof? We present three case studies from different writing genres to assess exactly how working with an editor is a writer’s best investment. Let’s get to it.
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Table of Contents
Why Does Working with the Right Editor Matter?
An editor is a specialist. In medicine, you don’t expect a GP to perform brain surgery. Similarly, you can’t expect an editor with a general understanding of your niche to edit your writing with expertise.
You have to find someone well-versed in your genre if you want the best service. When it comes to the details, your editor needs the proper knowledge and experience so they can perform their tasks with finesse. They must be able to comfortably:
- Enhance your writing’s clarity, flow, and style. To do this, an editor needs to understand your goals for the text and its value in your genre.
- Recognise and highlight your writer’s voice rather than stifle it. Your editor must have a good grasp of how to appropriately maintain your voice while still doing what’s best for the text.
- Spot and correct inconsistencies throughout the text. Your editor must fix inconsistencies and know which version is the correct one.
- Ensure the final draft is tailored to your target audience. It’s essential that your editor knows your target audience and understands them well to ensure your writing is a perfect fit.
The Risks of the Wrong Editor
If working with the right editor is crucial, then working with the wrong editor can be detrimental. While many editors may be equipped to do a basic edit of your work, they aren’t all necessarily going to do a great job if they don’t know what your text needs to succeed. But what are the real risks?
Firstly, an ill-suited editor may change parts of your manuscript that are intentional if they don’t understand the purpose of the text. You’d have to return to the text and re-insert all your hard work, setting you back in time and money. Worse still, these edits could make you doubt yourself and trust the editor, leading you to omit essential elements in the final draft.
Using the wrong editor can also mean they miss errors because they’re unfamiliar with your genre. For example, if your editor isn’t experienced in academic writing, they might overlook incorrect formatting in your dissertation’s case studies. This will lead to poor results and, again, a waste of time and money.
The Proof is in the Pudding: 3 Case Studies
Nothing drives advice home like the facts. Whether you’re prepping to submit an article to an educational publication or are about to launch a bold new website with some fanciful copy, every writing situation will flourish when working with the right editor.
Case Study 1: Acing Journal Submission Guidelines with Academic Editing
The Scenario
Luke, a master’s student in psychology, decides to take a career leap and writes an academic article for publication in the African Journal of Psychological Assessment. The topic is part of his dissertation, so he’s confident the content will be an instant asset to the journal. Once he completes the article, Luke edits and proofreads it several times, checking spelling, grammar, and references. He submits the article, expecting instant approval.
The Problem
The article is not approved. The journal editor points out that Luke didn’t adhere to the submission guidelines. Specifically, the formatting is inconsistent, and the tables and figures are incomplete.
The Solution
After sufficient recovery time, Luke hires an academic editor. The editor has worked with writers in the psychology field for 10 years and knows the publication well. The editor spent a week reviewing the paper and correcting all the errors before returning it to Luke.
The Result
Luke submitted the edited version of his article and swiftly received an email announcing his success.
The Takeaway
Although Luke could’ve gone through his article and tried pursuing the editing process on his own, it was more productive to partner with an editor who:
- Has extensive experience in the relevant field
- Is familiar with journals and their submission guidelines
- Has a track record of successfully working with academic writers
Case Study 2: Improving Pacing and Character Growth with Developmental Editing
The Scenario
First-time author Lia finished her debut novel. However, she senses that something fundamental is amiss.
The Problem
The issue is two-fold:
- The pacing of her dual-timeline plot is off.
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- She’s struggling to master her characters’ development as they travel between the two timelines.
She keeps going back and forth with rewrites. After a year, she realises she underestimated the editing process.
The Solution
After conducting some research, Lia discovers she’ll benefit from a developmental editor’s help (specifically one who specialises in her fiction genre). Once hired, the editor helps her simplify the connection between the two timelines.
In doing so, the editor also assists in propelling character growth as the changes provide new plot points that benefit the characters.
The Result
After Lia receives the edited manuscript, the final plot pieces fall into place within one month. She brings the novel to a satisfying conclusion with far less stress than in her original attempts. Two months later, she submits the final draft to publishers globally.
The Takeaway
There’s no way to know how much additional time Lia would’ve spent reworking the manuscript on her own. Potentially, she might have abandoned the project altogether. Involving a developmental editor meant:
- A fresh pair of eyes to spot elements that can be improved
- The professional opinion of an editor familiar with the genre and the job
- A reliable collaborator who sticks to deadlines and briefs
Case Study 3: Boosting Website Traction with Copy-Editing and SEO Skills
The Scenario
Taryn owns a small catering company, which she launched a year ago. This includes a company website.
The Problem
Writing is neither Taryn’s forte nor her passion. She gets by producing her own website content and blog posts for her business to maintain her current client base. However, she no longer just wants to get by – she wants to thrive. As a non-writer with no experience in this area of running a business, her website is only seen by those who already know her. Taryn’s content isn’t strong or strategic enough to reach new audiences.
The Solution
Taryn is introduced to a copy-editor specialising in website content and SEO writing. She explains to the copy-editor that she wants her website to gain traction online and attract new clients and followers. The editor spends a few weeks with Taryn, working on new content, elevating the existing copy, introducing effective keywords throughout the website, and improving the SEO.
The Result
Within 8 weeks:
- The website’s organic visits are up by 34%.
- Taryn’s client database increases by almost 50%.
In addition, the editor teaches Taryn how to track her website’s activity and do her own research as trends change
The Takeaway
It’s worthwhile turning to an editor with the necessary technical skills to solve a technical problem, especially if you don’t possess those skills. The editor helped Taryn achieve quantifiable results that tangibly contributed to her business.
Qualities of the Right Editor
So, you now see why working with the right editor makes all the difference. If the ‘how’ is still unclear, we have a few snippets of advice to share before starting the new leg of your writing journey.
Your ideal editor will be mindful of your vision and communicate efficiently until they comfortably understand what you need. They’ll have a solid background in your genre or niche and a strong understanding of the standard styles and conventions accompanying it.
The right editor will be well-balanced in their technical and creative expertise, and value both equally. Most importantly, despite these strong skills, your dream editor should be flexible and adaptable.
Finding an Editor That Fits
Thanks to online resources and platforms, there are multiple ways to vet an editor before signing them on. Before choosing a professional to edit your work, we suggest these steps:
- Search for editors that have experience in your genre or field.
- When someone seems appealing, look through their reviews, testimonials, and portfolio.
- If you’re still interested, arrange a preliminary meeting to get to know them better and discuss your project. Ensure they understand your project scope, needs, budget, and expected turnaround time.
- If they look more and more like the right fit, ask them to do a sample edit.
This method, particularly having an editor deal with a sample of your work, will equip you to confidently decide if they’re going to be your editor. If they’re not, you begin again and trust the process.
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Become a Better Writer by Working with the Right Editor
You wouldn’t take the cheapest and most convenient choice if you needed life-changing surgery. Your writing should be treated with the same level of importance. Finding and working with the right editor can be the difference between failure and success, and for many writers, it has been.
It’s not just about fixing errors; it’s about giving your writing the quality care it deserves. So, take the time to find an editor who truly aligns with your needs. It’s one of the best investments you’ll make in your career.
Blue Leaf Team
The Blue Leaf Editing team has over 15 years of combined editing, publishing, and book industry experience. We’re passionate about content and storytelling, and sharing our knowledge with others.
info@blueleafediting.com