Everyone Needs an Editor

Jeff Herman’s book includes a section titled “The Independent Editors.” I’m seriously considering hiring one. My brother, and actual published author, tells me everyone needs an editor. He writes

I have cursed editors for stupid mistakes, but more often I have blessed them for improving my prose and keeping me from making a stupid error

With no track record, no experience, just a story and an abundance of nerve, a professional eye seems just what my book needs.

I put somewhere between 200 and 300 hours into writing the manuscript and at least another 60 doing edits. Add fifteen hours for cover design and twenty researching and completing the publishing process. Since publishing I’ve logged forty hours on the forums, book blogs, facebook, Goodreads, Shelfari, Umenow and others.

When I think of what my time’s worth, shelling out for an editor seems pretty small by comparison.

One organization Jeff Herman mentions is the Independent Editor’s Group. Their resumes look great. One frequent poster on the Kindle Direct Publishing Forum used them and recommended them highly. I read through their respective CVs and chose one whose experience and interests seemed a good match. I sent a query email using the format recommended on the IEG website.

That was two weeks ago. Since then, niente.

I sent two more queries to independent editors I found on the forum. Both have been responsive and courteous, each of them editing a sample of my book.

This is all so new to me. I didn’t know what to expect, but I like it. Both of them had a number of edits, and all of them are good suggestions. It was an eye-opening, challenging, and altogether enjoyable experience.

I’m sure I would get along with either of these editors, but I’m leaning in one direction. I’ll let you know how it goes.