FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does a book edit cost?

My fee is one-cent per word per software word count plus $20 for return of your manuscript. (EXAMPLE: 75,000 word manuscript is $770)

Other editors with comparable experience may charge more, but that doesn't mean that their edits are greater in scope. I don't incur large advertising costs to recover through increasing my fee, nor do I pay anyone to maintain my web site. As a result of my minimal expenses and the fact that I'm an honest man, I'm in a position to charge a far more reasonable fee for an in-depth edit that includes manuscript markup and a detailed written report that explains what you'll need to do to improve your manuscript to publisher standards. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Also, I don't just point errors; I explain them, providing you with an education to enable you to perform a stronger rewrite. For instance, if your manuscript includes point of view violations, a major reason for fiction rejection, I offer a thorough explanation of the concept and provide easy to understand examples.

Check out my testimonials from prior clients. None were solicited; I asked permission to use these quotes only after the client voluntarily chose to thank me for my services. More information is available at Schedule an Edit.

Why do I need a book editor?

If you plan to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers, you should eliminate all possible errors in advance. Manuscript submissions may be rejected for the simplest of reasons. Likewise, you could be unknowingly committing major errors. You have only one opportunity to make a first impression on a publisher; a professional edit will maximize the impression you make.

If you plan to self-publish, you'll want your printed book to compare favorably with traditionally published books, all of which are subjected to thorough edits; that's what assures consistent quality from one book to the next. To maximize your self-publication experience, have your manuscript professionally edited and avoid potential embarrassment by correcting all errors prior to printing.

What can I expect from a book edit?

My edit includes marking up your manuscript and providing a thorough report that is rarely less than ten single-spaced pages in length and is usually closer to fifteen, depending upon the number of problems I detect. You'll need to correct all of the marked items on each manuscript page, then address the major concerns in a comprehensive rewrite. This could involve considerable rewriting, depending upon the degree of the problem(s).

An edit alone will not impact your chances of publication. The quality of your rewrite incorporating the editorial advice will determine your level of success. An edit doesn't excuse you from further work on your manuscript; in fact, the opposite is true. You'll need to perform a thorough rewrite following an edit to vastly improve your manuscript.

Consider an edit a learning experience. If you're unwilling to learn, save your money -- but don't expect to be published.

What is the most important consideration in selecting a book editor?

If you plan to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers and hope to avoid rejection, how can someone who has never rejected manuscripts for a major publisher know how to warn you about problems that could lead to manuscript rejection? The Internet abounds with editors eager to attract your business but the overwhelming majority have never actually worked in an editorial capacity for major publishers. Punctuation and grammar are only two of many reasons for rejection. Without actual professional experience, an editor cannot know what those other reasons are.

Don't confuse editing with proofreading. Any decent English professor can proofread your manuscript to correct/identify poor grammar, punctuation errors, incomplete sentences, etc. My edit includes all of these, plus a thorough assessment of your manuscript that involves "reading between the lines" to evaluate your focus, cohesiveness, structure, characterization, etc. English professors are not qualified to address a manuscript through the eyes of the publishing industry. Few English professors, if any, have had commercial editing experience.

How long does book editing take?   

I can often start a book edit the day you initially contact me, but in any case turn-around time is rarely longer than two weeks. I'm a full-time editor, so a day job doesn't interfere with my editing schedule. I often devote weekends and holidays to editing as well.

Why is manuscript format so important?

If your manuscript doesn't look the way publishers expect it to, they are likely to reject it without reading a single word. Publishers have specific format requirements that will be revealed to you through my edit. I require basic manuscript formatting reflective of industry standards. This gets you, the author, accustomed to formatting your manuscript properly and the editing process easier for both of us. For you, a properly formatted manuscript provides more white space for editorial notations, thus it's easier for you to read my notes. And from my perspective, properly formatted manuscripts are easier on my eyes, which makes me more effective in spotting errors. To learn proper manuscript format, CLICK HERE.

Why should I avoid sample edits?

Even the weakest of manuscript editors can appear deceptively strong on the basis of marks on a few pages of text. Inexperienced editors encourage "sample" edits because it gives them a deceptive opportunity to compete with more seasoned editors who don't have to "prove" anything. If an editor has actual experience with major New York publishers, what more could you want from a prospective editor? Besides, there is no accurate way to judge the depth of a potential editor's skill based upon the results of a few pages alone. Many major manuscript issues cannot be "marked," but must be explained in a report. Again, when a prospective editor can prove that he/she has actually edited some of the literary giants of the world, what more assurance could you possibly need that this editor can deliver quality professional results?

Where can I find out if an editor I'm considering has been involved in dishonest practices?

For your own protection and peace of mind, you should verify a prospective editor's credentials. Also, check Preditors and Editors, a site devoted to warning you about dishonest people in the publishing industry.

 Should a manuscript be given a complete reading first before the actual edit commences?

Since your success with a publisher will ultimately depend upon the first impression that you make on a publisher, your editor should approach your manuscript based upon first impressions as well. For example, an editor who reads through a manuscript first, then edits, will likely leave an issue alone if he/she feels that you cleared the matter up further into the text. There is an inherent problem here, however. Your manuscript will likely be rejected by publishers when the issue first surfaces. Expecting publishers to continue reading after identifying an issue of concern is impractical. Publishers are bombarded with submissions and simply don't have time to read every word of every manuscript submitted. In the overwhelming majority of cases, manuscripts are rejected at the first occurrence of an issue of concern. It's essential for new writers to make an unblemished first impression; therefore, editors should base their feedback on initial reactions rather than opinions formed after the fact. An "edit as you go" approach is far more effective in terms of making a solid first impression.

How does a manuscript edit affect my potential success as an author?

Consider this analogy. Imagine a NASCAR racer. His car is finely tuned and runs at its best when all allowable additives are injected into its fuel. Even with his car at top performance, however, it's still up to the skill of the driver to maneuver around the other cars, take the curves most efficiently and win the race.

How does this relate to you, your manuscript and your editor? The driver represents you, his car is your manuscript and the car's fuel additive is your editor. If you were a racer, and attempted to compete using only plain unleaded fuel, you would be at a decided disadvantage to the other drivers who used the additive. Your car would perform sluggishly, and you'd be unlikely to win any races relying upon your basic driving skills alone.

Your additive as a writer is your editor. He/she tells you what your manuscript needs in order to make the best impression on publishers. This feedback alone, however, like the racer's additive, is not enough to get you published. You've got to effectively incorporate the editorial suggestions into your manuscript before it can perform at its maximum. Only you can accomplish that; not your editor.

Don't rely on an edit alone to determine your level of success. If you fail to adequately incorporate your editorial advice, you've wasted your money on a manuscript edit.

What if a potential book editor's credentials are difficult to verify?

Move on to someone else. Don't take anyone's word for his or her credentials. Verify it in black-and-white. For instance, to verify my credentials, go to AMAZON.COM and search for Michael Garrett. I'm not the only author / editor by that name, but you'll readily find the books that I've written -- my novel, KEEPER, my non-fiction book on the writing profession, THE PROSE PROFESSIONAL -- and the internationally published HOT BLOOD books listing my name as co-editor on the covers.

Are you affiliated with any other editors?

Absolutely not. I'm a one-man operation and personally edit every line of every manuscript. I never sub-contract your work to someone else.

An editor whom I'm considering has very little work experience but a strong academic background. Which is more important, actual work experience or academic credentials?

Academic background carries little weight in the editing of manuscripts intended for commercial publication. For instance, a high school or college English professor could examine the grammar and punctuation of your manuscript but entirely miss commercial issues important to the publisher, factors that are neither recognized nor taught by the academic community. If academic credentials were essential to commercial publication, most English teachers would be best-selling authors. Successful authors generally come from entirely different walks of life; John Grisham, for instance, was an attorney prior to becoming a best-selling author.

Why is total payment in advance necessary?

To get the best, most accurate evaluation of your work, an editor must be totally honest and candid in his/her remarks. If paid half up front and the remainder on completion, editors may have a tendency to sugar-coat their comments to assure receipt of the final payment. Remember, you're paying for honest criticism. You may not agree with everything your editor says about your work. Sometimes the truth hurts, but only total honesty from your book editor will prove helpful. Editors who allow payment plans cannot be as forthcoming in their comments as those who require full payment in advance.

Do book editors ever sub-contract their work to lesser qualified people?

Yes, some editors incorporate deceptive practices in attracting business based upon their own credentials, then subcontract manuscripts to lesser experienced individuals for the actual work. Ask any book editor whom you're giving serious consideration if he/she performs all of the work himself/herself. I edit every word of every manuscript myself. I'm not affiliated in any way with other book editors.

My agent insists that I hire a specific book editor to edit my manuscript, yet the editor he is pushing has less impressive credentials than others and is more expensive. What could this mean?

It's not unusual for a publisher or literary agent to recommend that you seek the help of a book editor; however, when one specific book editor is heavily endorsed, there could be a kick-back arrangement going on wherein the referring party receives a percentage of all referral business. In this case, you typically lose because the recommended editor may not be the best/most qualified professional to edit your manuscript. Use caution; it's typically best to find your own book editor. I receive no referral fees from any source.

Likewise, publishers are in the business of publishing and agents are in the business of agenting. If either urges you to pay for their editorial services, go elsewhere. Rarely are they qualified to offer such services.

Are book editors usually qualified across the board or do they specialize in specific areas?

As is the case with most other professions, book editors are typically experienced within only a few specific categories. No one is qualified to professionally edit everything. For instance, a children's book editor would be of little help in editing a science fiction novel. I often turn business away when I don't feel that I'm the best editor for someone's manuscript. In such cases I urge potential clients to investigate other editors before deciding on me.

Is there a down side to hiring a book editor to work with my electronic file and make all changes/corrections for me?

Hiring an editor to work directly with your electronic file actually excludes you from the learning process you would otherwise experience by making corrections to the manuscript yourself. If you're serious about a career as a professional writer, you should take the time to learn what your editor points out to you so that you won't make those same mistakes in the future. I will work with electronic files, but must charge a higher fee.

Should I copyright my manuscript before sending it to a book editor?

If you're concerned about the security of your manuscript during the editing process, visit the U.S. Copyright Office's FAQ page. You'll find that your work is protected by law even without formal registration. It's highly unlikely that your manuscript will be plagiarized by anyone.

Could an unscrupulous book editor steal your idea? It's possible, but highly unlikely. Serious writers rarely wish to write someone else's idea; in fact, all writers whom I know have more ideas of their own than they'll ever have time to write. The theft of an idea is essentially a needless fear.

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