Manuscript Editing Services: Beware of Cheap Editors!

After you’ve finally completed your book, the next step for many writers is to seek out manuscript editing services. Getting a professional eye to look over your work can be invaluable, but how do you know if you’re getting a good deal from your professional editor? At what point are editor rates simply too good to be true, and why should you be cautious of what seem to be overly cheap editors?

Why Cheaper Isn’t Always Better: What to Expect from Professional Editor Rates

How Much Does an Editor Cost?

First things first, how much do editors charge for their services? As with any industry, the numbers can vary widely.

Remember, every editor is going to charge using a slightly different method. Some charge a set rate per page, others opt for a per-word rate, and others still charge hourly. The kind of edit affects the final price as well. Whether you’re seeking proofreading, copy editing, or content editing is likely going to change the editor’s rates.

With all that being said, it’s reasonable to expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $60 an hour (or about $3 to $7.50 per page) for professional editing services.

How a Cheap Editor Can Cost You More in the Long Run

OK, say you’ve found a novel editor online, and you’re really excited because he or she is offering a great deal. This is the time to look before you leap!

If you commit to an editor just because the rate seems too good to pass up, this can end up circling back and hitting you where it hurts—in the wallet.

There are two major ways a cheap editor can end up costing you more.

1. The editor is inexperienced and delivers a poor end product.

Manuscript editing is just like any other industry: you’re going to have to pay for quality and experience. If you’ve found an editor who is charging ludicrously cheap rates, that’s a good indication he or she is new to the business, inexperienced, or not fully qualified.

Writing and editing are notoriously competitive fields, and somebody just entering either professional arena tends to have to charge low rates in order to get in the door, and if you choose to work with one of these inexperienced editors, you run the risk of getting a low-quality edit.

If the level of edit you receive is poor enough, you might even end up having to pay a second editor in order to get a polished document. Paying for two editors means you will have essentially wasted all that money invested into the first edit.

2. A cheap quote for your manuscript edit might be a deceiving number.

You have to be really careful about making sense of the quotes you get from professional editors. For example, if an editor tells you he charges $20 per hour, you might be jumping at the chance to work with him. However, if he’s new to editing and works at an inordinately slow pace, even a short edit could end up costing you much more than expected.

The last thing you want when you open an invoice is an unpleasant surprise. Make sure you know exactly what kind of pricing structure you’re committing to when working with any given editor. Otherwise, that quote you thought was such a steal could end up costing you a lot more than expected.

How to Successfully Hire a Book Editor

When hiring an editor, follow the same protocol you’d use for any other service.

• Get multiple quotes (at least three), and throw out anybody who’s charging drastically less or more than others. Low quotes could indicate poor quality; high quotes could indicate poor value.

• Ask lots of questions to ensure you’re comfortable with the experience, knowledge level, and reputation of that editor. You want to be confident you’ll get a high-quality edit.

• Ask for references to confirm the editor’s abilities. An experienced editor should have no problem providing reviews or testimonials that confirm his or her quality within the industry.

Remember, the key to getting the right editor is to think not in terms of cost but value. Who is going to provide the best level of service for the most reasonable price?

Want a free, no-obligation quote for your project? Reach out today.