How to Choose the Right Editor for Your Nonfiction Book

Choosing the right editor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an author. A skilled editor not only enhances your manuscript but also respects your voice and vision. With so many options available, how do you find the right fit for your nonfiction book? Follow this guide to make an informed choice.

Understand Your Editing Needs

Before you start looking for an editor, it’s crucial to identify what kind of editing your manuscript requires. Nonfiction books often need all of the following:

• Developmental Editing: Focuses on big-picture elements like structure, organization, and content.

• Copy Editing: Improves grammar, style, consistency, and readability.

• Proofreading: Catches typos, punctuation errors, and formatting issues.

Understanding your needs will help you narrow down your search and find an editor with the right expertise.

Look for Relevant Experience

Nonfiction covers a wide range of genres, from memoirs and self-help to academic works and cookbooks. Choose an editor with experience in your specific genre. For example, if you’re writing a memoir, look for someone who understands narrative pacing and personal storytelling. If it’s an academic text, find an editor familiar with citations and scholarly tone.

Check Qualifications and References

A professional editor should have relevant qualifications, such as a degree in English, communications, journalism, or a related field, and experience working with published authors. Don’t hesitate to ask for references or testimonials from previous clients. Reading reviews or reaching out to authors they’ve worked with can give you valuable insights.

Review Samples of Their Work

Many editors offer sample edits or portfolios. Reviewing these can help you gauge their editing style, attention to detail, and familiarity with your genre. A sample edit also gives you a chance to see how well they understand and enhance your writing without altering your unique voice.

Consider Compatibility

Your relationship with your editor is a collaboration, so it’s essential to find someone you feel comfortable working with. Schedule a consultation to discuss your project, goals, and expectations. Pay attention to their communication style and willingness to listen to your concerns.

Evaluate Pricing and Turnaround Times

Editing rates can vary widely depending on the editor’s experience, the level of editing required, and the length of your manuscript. While budget is important, remember that quality editing is an investment in your book’s success. Clarify turnaround times and ensure they align with your publishing schedule.

Finding the right editor for your nonfiction book takes time and research, but it’s a decision that can significantly impact your book’s success. By understanding your needs, evaluating qualifications, and considering compatibility, you can choose an editor who will bring out the best in your writing.

Ready to start your search? Contact me today to learn how my editing services can help your nonfiction manuscript shine!

The Cost of Skipping Professional Editing: Why It’s Worth the Investment

When it comes to publishing a book, whether traditionally or independently, professional editing is often viewed as an optional expense. However, skipping this critical step can lead to costly mistakes that far outweigh the initial investment. Let’s explore the hidden costs of forgoing professional editing and understand why it’s an essential part of the publishing process.

First Impressions Matter

In a competitive publishing landscape, first impressions can make or break a book’s success. Readers, reviewers, and industry professionals are quick to judge a book based on its clarity, consistency, and polish. Errors in grammar, spelling, or formatting can distract readers and diminish your credibility as an author. A poorly edited book risks negative reviews, low sales, and a tarnished reputation.

The Cost of Reader Trust

Readers expect a professional-level product when they purchase a book. If your manuscript is riddled with errors or inconsistencies, readers are less likely to finish the book or recommend it to others. This lack of trust can lead to missed opportunities for word-of-mouth marketing and repeat readership, both of which are crucial for an author’s long-term success.

Lost Sales and Missed Opportunities

For independent authors, poor editing can hurt your chances of being featured on major sales platforms, bestseller lists, or promotional campaigns. Similarly, traditionally published authors may struggle to secure a publishing deal if their manuscript isn’t up to par. A professionally edited book stands out in a crowded market, opening doors to better sales and future opportunities.

Professional Editing Adds Value

A skilled editor does more than catch typos. They enhance your writing by improving structure, flow, tone, and clarity. Developmental editors help refine your book’s big-picture elements, while copy editors and proofreaders ensure it’s polished to perfection. The result is a book that meets industry standards and resonates with your target audience.

The Financial Investment

While the cost of professional editing may seem high upfront, it’s important to view it as an investment in your book’s success. A well-edited manuscript is more likely to attract positive reviews, build reader loyalty, and generate long-term revenue. In contrast, the hidden costs of skipping editing—such as low sales, poor reader engagement, and lost opportunities—can add up quickly.

Skipping professional editing is a gamble that most authors can’t afford to take. Investing in a professional editor ensures your book is polished, professional, and ready to make an impact. By prioritizing editing, you set yourself up for success in an increasingly competitive publishing world.

Ready to take your manuscript to the next level? Contact me today to learn more about my professional editing services.

The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Manuscript for Professional Editing

Preparing your manuscript for professional editing is a vital step in the publishing journey. A well-prepared manuscript not only saves you time and money but also ensures a smoother and more effective collaboration with your editor. In this guide, we’ll cover essential steps to get your manuscript ready for editing so you can maximize the value of the editing process.

Why Preparing Your Manuscript Matters
Taking the time to prepare your manuscript before submitting it to an editor can significantly enhance the editing process. Here’s why preparation is so important:

• Save on editing costs: A clean manuscript allows editors to focus on deeper, more substantive issues rather than surface-level corrections.

• Speed up turnaround times: Organized and error-free content is quicker to review.

• Improve your manuscript’s quality: Editors can concentrate on refining structure, flow, and readability when basic issues are already addressed.

Steps to Prepare Your Manuscript

1. Self-Edit Your Work
Before sending your manuscript to a professional editor, conduct a thorough self-edit to address common issues:

• Fix spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

• Cut out unnecessary words or repetitive phrases.

• Ensure clarity, consistency, and a uniform tone throughout the manuscript.

2. Format Your Manuscript
Proper formatting makes your manuscript easier to navigate for both you and your editor:

• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman, size 12.

• Set 1-inch margins and double-space your text for readability.

• Include page numbers and a title page with relevant details.

3. Organize Your Content
A well-structured manuscript ensures that your editor can focus on enhancing its quality:

• Divide your content into clear sections or chapters.

• Include a table of contents for nonfiction manuscripts, if applicable.

• Attach supplementary materials like appendices, bibliographies, or notes.

4. Identify Your Editing Goals
Communicate your expectations and concerns with your editor:

• What are the main areas you’d like the editor to focus on?

• Are you looking for help with structure, tone, or grammar?

• Do you have a specific target audience or publishing goals?

What to Expect During Professional Editing
Understanding the stages of editing can help you prepare for what’s ahead:

• Developmental Editing: Focuses on overarching elements like structure, plot, and content organization.

• Copyediting: Polishes language, grammar, and style while ensuring consistency.

• Proofreading: Corrects minor errors such as typos and formatting inconsistencies.

Final Checklist
Before submitting your manuscript, double-check these key points:

• Have you reviewed and revised your work thoroughly?

• Is your document correctly formatted and easy to read?

• Have your goals and concerns been clearly communicated to the editor?

Preparing your manuscript for professional editing is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure its success. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll save time and money, streamline the editing process, and enhance the overall quality of your manuscript.

Ready to elevate your work with expert editing? Contact me today to take the next step in your publishing journey!

10 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them: Tips From a Professional Nonfiction Editor

Good writing communicates ideas clearly, engages the reader, and achieves its purpose. However, even the best writers can fall prey to common mistakes that weaken their message. Professional editors play a crucial role in catching these errors and polishing a text to perfection. In this article, we explore 10 common writing mistakes and provide practical tips for avoiding them.

1. Comma Splices: A Common Punctuation Pitfall
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma. This error can disrupt the flow of a sentence and confuse readers.

Example: “I love writing, it’s my passion.”

How to avoid: Use a period, semicolon, or conjunction to separate the clauses:
“I love writing. It’s my passion.”
“I love writing; it’s my passion.”
“I love writing, and it’s my passion.”

2. Misplaced Modifiers: Avoiding Confusion
Modifiers must be placed next to the words they describe. Misplaced modifiers can lead to unintentionally humorous or confusing sentences.

Example: “Running down the street, the flowers were beautiful.”

How to avoid: Ensure modifiers clearly refer to the intended subject:
“Running down the street, I noticed the flowers were beautiful.”

3. Overuse of Passive Voice: Write With Impact
Passive voice makes sentences less direct and engaging. It can also obscure who is performing the action.

Example: “The cake was eaten.”

How to avoid: Use active voice for clarity and impact:
“The child ate the cake.”

4. Wordiness and Redundancy: Keep it Concise
Wordy sentences tire readers and dilute your message. Redundancy, such as saying “12 noon,” is another common issue.

Example: “The reason why is because he was late.”

How to avoid: Be concise:
“He was late.”

5. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: Stay Grammatically Correct
The subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number.

Example: “The list of items are on the table.”

How to avoid: Identify the true subject:
“The list of items is on the table.”

6. Lack of Parallelism: Maintain Consistency
Parallelism ensures consistency in lists and comparisons.

Example: “She likes reading, to write, and painting.”

How to avoid: Use the same structure for all items:
“She likes reading, writing, and painting.”

7. Incorrect Word Usage: Choose Words Wisely
Using the wrong word, such as “effect” instead of “affect,” can confuse readers.

Example: “The new policy will effect change.”

How to avoid: Understand the meanings of commonly confused words:
“The new policy will affect change.”

8. Inconsistent Tone and Style: Stay Cohesive
Switching between formal and informal tones disrupts the reader’s experience.

Example: “This study examines important data. Anyway, let’s move on.”

How to avoid: Define your tone at the outset and maintain it throughout.

9. Overuse of Adverbs: Strengthen Your Verbs
Adverbs like “very” and “really” weaken writing when overused.

Example: “She ran very quickly.”

How to avoid: Use stronger verbs instead:
“She sprinted.”

10. Unclear Antecedents: Ensure Clarity
An antecedent is the noun a pronoun refers to. If unclear, the sentence becomes confusing.

Example: “When Jane met Sarah, she said hello.”

How to avoid: Rewrite for clarity:
“When Jane met Sarah, Jane said hello.”

Writing is an art, and even the most skilled writers make mistakes. Professional editors bring a fresh perspective and a trained eye to catch and correct errors that might escape the writer’s notice. But by looking out for these things in your manuscript before sending it off to an editor, you can save on editing costs. Ready to perfect your work? Let’s get started!

The Importance of Proofreading for Independent Authors

As an independent author, you are ultimately responsible for and in control of every aspect of your book, from the writing itself to the final formatting and layout. While this can be liberating in many ways, it also means that you need to be extra diligent when it comes to ensuring that your work is polished, professional, and error-free. One of the most important steps to ensuring this is proofreading.

Proofreading is the process of reviewing a manuscript or document for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. It is the final step of the editing process, and it is essential for creating a finished product that is polished and error-free. Here are a few reasons why proofreading is so important for independent authors.

When you've been working on a piece of writing for a long time, it can be hard to see it with fresh eyes. A proofreader can help you to catch errors that you may have overlooked, such as typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors. It’s harder for the author to catch these types of errors because they know what they are meaning to say, so that is what their eyes see. So getting fresh eyes on the manuscript is very important.

A proofreader isn’t a menacing villain out to gain pleasure in catching mistakes. They are on your team and really want to improve your book. This comes in the form of objective feedback on your writing, which can be invaluable. They can offer non-judgemental constructive criticism, which can help you to improve your writing and grow as an author.

Proofreading can be a time-consuming and tedious process. As an independent author, your time and energy are better spent on writing new material rather than pouring over your old work looking for mistakes. By working with a proofreader, you can save time and energy, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of writing or your next project.

When you publish a book or other piece of writing, you are putting your name and reputation on the line. Even one or two mistakes can damage your reputation as an author. Professional proofreading can help ensure that your writing is polished and error-free, improving your reputation and making it more likely that readers will recommend your work to others.

Also, an error-free book is more appealing to readers than one that is riddled with mistakes. When you get your book professionally proofread, you can help ensure that it is well-written and professional, making it more appealing to potential readers.

Hopefully you can see why professional proofreading is an essential step for independent authors who want to create the best possible work. A proofreader can provide fresh eyes, objective feedback, save you time and energy, improve your reputation, and increase your book's appeal. Don't let mistakes detract from the impact of your writing!

Is your book ready for proofreading? Reach out and let me know. I’d love to help make your book the best it can be!

The Importance of Copy Editing for Independent Authors

Copy editing is a crucial part of the writing process, and is important for independent authors who are self-publishing their work or who are planning to look for publishers after the editing process. Copy editing involves checking and correcting errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, formatting, and style, and it helps ensure that the final product is polished, professional, and error-free. Here are some reasons why copy editing is not a step to be skipped.

One of the primary reasons that copy editing is important for independent authors is that it helps to ensure professionalism. When readers encounter errors in a book or manuscript, it can detract from the overall reading experience and make the author appear less professional. By investing in copy editing, independent authors can help ensure that their work is polished and free of errors, making it more likely that readers will view them as credible and professional.

Copy editing also helps to improve the clarity of the writing. By correcting errors in grammar, syntax, and punctuation, a copy editor can help ensure that the writing is clear and easy to understand. This is especially important for indie authors who may not have a traditional publishing team to provide feedback on their work. A copy editor can help to identify areas where the writing may be unclear or confusing to future readers and suggest revisions to improve readability.

Copy editing also helps to ensure consistency in the writing and storyline. A copy editor can help ensure that the writing adheres to a consistent style guide and that all formatting and layout are consistent throughout the manuscript. They will also identify inconsistencies in the story, such as a character having blue eyes in one chapter and brown in another. Catching these things helps to create a more professional and polished final product.

Ultimately, the goal of copy editing is to improve the reader experience. By helping to ensure that the writing is polished, error-free, clear, and consistent, indie authors can create a more enjoyable and engaging reading experience for their audience. This can help to build a loyal following of readers who will be more likely to recommend the author's work to others and buy their subsequent books.

Hopefully you can see why copy editing is an essential part of the writing process for independent authors. By investing in copy editing, indie authors can help ensure that their work is polished, professional, and error-free, improving their credibility and the overall reading experience for their audience. And that’s what all authors (and readers) want!

If your book is ready for copy editing, reach out and let me know. I’d love to help polish your hard work!

Tips for Authors on Self-Editing

To cut to the chase a bit, yes, you still need professional editing if you edit your manuscript yourself (and you should!). However, you can keep editing costs down by doing some important work before you hand over your book to an editor. But self-editing can be a challenge, especially if you’ve been staring at your manuscript for months on end. Here are some tips to help you effectively self-edit:

1. Take a break

   After you finish your first draft, take a break before you start editing. This will give you a fresh perspective and help you approach your work with a more critical eye. You can take a few days, a week, or even longer, depending on the length of your work, your schedule, and how much of a break your brain needs. When you return to your writing, you'll be able to see it with a new perspective and identify areas that need improvement.

2. Read aloud

   Reading your work aloud is a great way to spot errors and identify areas that need work. When you read aloud, you'll be able to hear the rhythm and flow of your writing and identify awkward phrases or sentences that need reworking. You can also use text-to-speech software to have your work read aloud to you, which can be helpful for identifying errors that you might miss when reading silently. Conveniently, Word has a read aloud feature under the Review tab.

3. Focus on one thing at a time

   When you're editing, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of things that need to be fixed. To make the process more manageable, focus on one thing at a time. For example, you might focus on eliminating passive voice, improving sentence structure, or correcting grammar errors at different times. By breaking down the editing process into smaller, more manageable tasks, you'll be able to make more progress and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

4. Use online tools

   There are many online tools that can help you self-edit your work. Grammarly, Hemingway, and ProWritingAid are just a few examples of tools that can help you identify errors and improve your writing. These tools can be especially helpful for new writers who may not be familiar with the rules of grammar and punctuation. But please note these are not substitutions for a professional, human editor. There are elements and nuances that only a human being can pick up on and correct.

5. Seek feedback

   Finally, seek feedback from others. This could be from friends, family members, or other writers. Ask them to read your work and provide feedback on areas that need improvement. You can also join writing groups or online communities where you can share your work and receive feedback from other writers. You could also hire a beta reader—they usually don’t cost too much. Feedback can be tough to hear sometimes, but it's an essential part of the writing process and can help you become better at your craft.

Self-editing is an important step in the writing process. By taking a break, reading aloud, focusing on one thing at a time, using online tools, and seeking feedback, you can improve your writing and make the editing process less daunting. Remember to be patient with yourself. Editing is hard work!

Do you have a self-editing tip that has proven to be beneficial? Reach out and share it with me!

Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes. What's the difference?

I mean, they’re all little straight lines, right? True, but they all have different meanings and should, therefore, be used in different circumstances. 

Hyphens are the smallest line and look like this: -. You’re probably already aware that they’re used to, drumroll please, hyphenate things. Some examples:

• Her eight-year-old daughter wanted a chocolate birthday cake.

• Self-care is essential in creating balance in your life.

• It turns out that the family heirlooms had been stored in a long-forgotten trunk.

En dashes are a little bit longer than a hyphen and look like this: –. They are called en dashes because they take up the same amount of space as a lowercase n. They are used to display a range or in place of the word to. Some examples:

• You can find the subject addressed in chapters 3–6.

• The meeting will take place from 1:00–3:00.

• The game allows for 2–6 players.

In addition, and to quote a Grammarly blog post, “en dashes should be used for clarity when one of the elements in a compound adjective is an open compound (made up of two words with a space between them) or when both elements contain hyphenated terms. In terms of clarity, this is especially helpful when one of the terms is a capitalized proper noun.” The blog gives the following examples:

• Amanda only decorates with Ming Dynasty–style furniture.

• I plan on wearing my great-grandmother’s World War I–era dress for my wedding.
  

*Helpful Hint: To insert an em dash on a PC, type alt+0150. On a Mac, type Option+Minus+-.

Em dashes are longer than en dashes and look like this: —. They are called em dashes because they take up the same amount of space as a lowercase m. They are very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways.

A pair of em dashes can be used in the place of commas and are commonly thought of to be more emphatic than commas.

• When they were finally able to go on a vacation—after saving up for several years—they made sure to go to the places highest on their list.

A pair of em dashes can also be used to replace a pair of parentheses when a writer wants to draw attention to what is inside the em dashes.

• After trying samples of ice cream—all 32 of them—she finally decided on what flavor she wanted.

Em dashes can also be used in place of a colon.

• The tinted windows, the good gas mileage, and the heated seats—that’s why he chose that car.

Em dashes can be used in place of a semicolon.

• She asked him to go to the store—he went without hesitation.

Additionally, em dashes can be used to indicate a sudden change in the direction of thinking.

• Can you please bring me my glasses—no, wait, they’re right here on my head.

*Helpful Hint: To insert an em dash on a PC, type alt+0151. On a Mac, type Option+Shift+-.

Hopefully, this helps clarify things a bit for you. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I’m always up for talking about punctuation!

What Type of Editing Do I Need?

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the editing phase. That’s huge! But now you’re not sure what’s next or what type of editing is needed. Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered!

If you’ve never had an editor look at your work, you probably need developmental editing. This is a big-picture, birds-eye-view look at your manuscript. This type of editor will evaluate if things are in a logical order, if the current structure and flow are working, if scenes can be improved upon, and if there are any plot holes, among other things. Be prepared to do some rewriting at this stage. This is the first time someone is reading your book like your audience will, and their feedback will be invaluable.

Line editing is next and focuses on the way language is used and whether it’s working well or not. A line editor will point out words that are overused, redundancies in the text, paragraphs that can be tightened up, places where the pacing isn’t quite right, and passages or phrases that might be confusing to the reader. Line editing isn’t always needed. But if your developmental editor suggests that your manuscript could benefit from it, they’re probably right.

Copy editing is a more technical look at your writing and looks for things like inconsistent details (Sally had a red car in chapter one, but it’s blue in chapter five with no mention of her getting a new one); inconsistencies in spelling, numerals, hyphenations, numbering, etc.; and spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. A copy editor will also fact-check to make sure there are no factually incorrect statements. Copy editing is always needed after a developmental edit and/or a line edit.

Proofreading is the final editing phase before your project is ready to be published. The proofreader is the last set of eyes that will check for any errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation, that were missed by the copy editor. They will also check for things like inconsistent numbering or formatting. Proofreading is always needed after a copy edit.

I offer the final two stages of editing—copy editing and proofreading. While I offer both, I shouldn’t do them both for the same manuscript. Why? It’s the same reason as why you need editors. Once we work on something for a while, we are too close to it to see all the errors and inconsistencies. So if I copy edit your manuscript, I’m not a good candidate to proofread it unless some time has passed. However, if you’d like, I’ll be happy to find you someone who is.

Remember that all of these people are on your side and want your manuscript to be the best it can be. Yes, the editing process can be long and frustrating, but it’s absolutely necessary to ensure your audience has a smooth reading experience. The irony of all of this is that when readers read a well-edited book, the thought of editors never even comes to mind! It’s when they read a book that hasn’t been edited well, or at all, that the need for editors crosses their minds. You don’t want that to happen with your book!

Why Do I Need an Editor?

You’re a good writer. You have a comprehensive understanding of English grammar and punctuation. You’ve already edited your work several times. So why do you need an editor?

The simple answer is that you are too close to your work at this point to view it from an objective standpoint. You need fresh eyes on your document to spot things you have missed, even though you’ve really, really tried not to miss anything. The trained eye of an editor reading something that is new to them is a great combination to help fine-tune your work. You’ve done a lot of hard work! It’s now time to turn it over to someone who can’t wait to read it and make suggestions on how to make it even better for your readers.

You want nothing but a smooth and positive reading experience for your audience. And that’s what editors want too! Editors aren’t grammar police out to judge you. We genuinely care about your work and want it to be the best possible version of itself. We’re on your side! And who couldn’t use more people on their team?