So far in my series on publishing GOLIATH FALLEN, I’ve covered my budgeting process and how I plan to get my book cover designed. Now, the time has come to find my battle buddy—the book editor. Finding an artist for my cover wasn’t an easy task; it required me to hone my vision and figure out exactly what I needed. After fumbling my way through Reedsy and talking with lots of people for days on end, I finally found a great designer to move forward with. As expected, finding an editor didn’t get one bit easier. This is the person who will dissect my draft and help me (hopefully) craft a bestseller, so it was critical I find the right person.
I have a few things to consider before settling on a book editor:
- I suffer from impostor syndrome — My manuscript has its flaws, but it has received praise from its beta readers. Still, it’s irrationally hard for me to convince myself that it’s good enough in its current form.
- I’m a non-native English speaker writing a science-fiction epic in English — My beta readers have pointed out plenty of passages that either read awkwardly or just out right don’t make sense. I need to ensure these kinks are ironed out.
- I’m writing science fiction — My manuscript leans a bit heavy into physics, engineering, measurements, and other subjects that are specific to the genre. I want to make sure this language is accessible to casual readers.
- I’m a perfectionist — It’s cliché for an author, but it’s true. I have a high standard for quality, and I refuse to settle for less.
These are the challenges I’m looking to overcome with the aid of a talented book editor. I need someone to help me settle my insecurities, tighten up my writing, and erase the awkwardness. However, such a thorough, premium book editing service sounds like it will surely drain my bank account (insert cash register sound effects here).
Figuring out my needs (again)
Book editing involves multiple phases, each with its own specific set of tasks. I turned to Google to figure out what a typical editing process entails, which helped me understand what I actually need from a book editor (to the best of my knowledge):
- Developmental editing — During this phase, the editor reads the entire book addressing structural elements like plot, narrative, characters, pace, etc. They dissect the story, break it down, and put it back together into something that actually makes sense. Developmental editing is recommended if you’re not entirely sure of your story or if you haven’t received enough feedback yet.
- Copy editing — The editor goes through the book revising sentences, vocabulary, syntax, and grammar to ensure everything is stylistically sound. This is the awkwardness eraser.
- Proofreading — Once everything is said and done, the editor reads the whole thing one last time to check that nothing has been left out and that it’s ready for publishing.
Whether each of these phases is required or not depends on the project. Considering the list of challenges and needs mentioned above, GOLIATH FALLEN requires the whole shebang, which means I can expect to spend around $0.06 per word. Given that Goliath Fallen is 92,500 words, that would translate to $5,500 in editing costs.
Unfortunately, that’s way out of my budget. Not losing hope, I paid another visit to Reedsy, a freelancing platform for self-published authors. I found the talented Alejandro Colucci there for my book cover, and I thought I would try my luck again to find a qualified book editor as well. Quotes for a novel of my length ranged between $600 and $1,200, and, in some cases, included developmental feedback in the form of inline comments. This price was better than I expected, but I wasn’t really feeling it. Also, I realized it’s crucial to search for an editor who specializes in the genre of my book. This is especially true in science fiction, where the editor should be able to comment on any inconsistencies in worldbuilding and the science itself. With this in mind, I narrowed my search to only science-fiction editors.
Finding my book editor
I found some really good options on Reedsy and other freelancer platforms, but it was Philip Athans who really caught my attention. His track record as an editor and writer is impressive, from working with sci-fi heavyweights like R.A Salvatore as managing editor at Wizards of the Coast to writing a bestseller novel that’s set in the D&D universe. Needless to say, a newbie like me could benefit from his specific experience.
His editing process sounded very collaborative and includes developmental editing, copy editing, a Skype call, help with a query letter (if required), and other additional materials—all for only $0.03 a word. Quite a bargain if you ask me!
I’m a strong believer that things need to “feel right,” and since I first contacted Philip, it has indeed felt right. He was very nice, professional, and patient, and he took the time to answer all my questions (like with my cover artist). I requested a sample edit, and it was very thorough with all his suggestions hitting on the spot. I took some time to consider his offer, since, after all, it’s a good chunk of cash. But, in the end, it “felt right,” so I ended up hiring him. Unfortunately, his schedule was pretty jam-packed until the end of 2021, but hey, Goliath Fallen has been in the works for over six years; it can wait a few more months. And actually, the timing will work out better that way. I’m still waiting for feedback from my critique partners at New York City Writer’s Critique Group, and I will need time to incorporate their suggestions and give my draft one last pass before it’s ready for my editor.
Alright, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Next up, I need to find a stellar blurb writer. Stay tuned for updates on the book editing process as it unfolds.
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