How Editors Operate

Because most writers are too close to their work to be objective, an editor is often the best judge of a manuscript’s needs.

What Kinds of Work Do Editors Do?

Editors ply their trade in a variety of media. Many editors work with novels, short stories, poetry, biographies, historical texts, theatrical scripts, and screenplays. However, the majority of editors edit nonfiction materials that range from medical, biotechnical, and technological to academic and marketing collateral.

Who Hires Editors?

Most large companies use editors. Banks, government entities, universities, research laboratories, public utilities, real estate agencies, and successful business entrepreneurs depend on editors for their public relations materials, annual reports, and research articles. Computer companies and manufacturers need editors for their technical manuals, as do hospitals and educational institutions that publish for the public as well as their own personnel. Newspapers, magazines, and small presses also hire editors, copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers to ensure that their products are of the highest quality.

Regardless of their industry, smart businesses hire editors to review documents, manuals, marketing materials, Web sites, and the like. Editors ensure the quality of any document, whether it is to be used internally or distributed to clients or the general public.

What Are the Benefits of Working with Freelance Editors?

Freelance editors are flexible, adaptable, and available. They are able to work for both small and large publishers, corporations, small businesses, and individuals. They work with authors who are self-publishing, researchers who are submitting papers to journals, and students who need help with their dissertations and theses. And thanks to the networking opportunities offered on the Internet, freelance editors are not restricted to their geographical area.

What’s Ahead?

Multimedia is the new trend in publishing. Multimedia publishers are adding editors to their staffs and building relationships with freelance editors to edit hard-copy instruction manuals, on-screen text (e.g., software, CD-ROMs, and Web sites), and tomorrow’s newest technical innovations.

How Do Editors Charge for Editing Services?

Most editors will evaluate a manuscript for a reasonable fee. Once the client and editor agree on the level of editing required, the editor can usually estimate the time necessary to finish the entire job by editing a small portion of the manuscript.

Instead of charging an hourly rate, some editors may charge by the page or negotiate a flat rate for the entire job. In some cases, freelance editors ask to be reimbursed for expenses such as mileage, postage, and long-distance telephone calls. Extra services, such as rush jobs, will entail additional fees.

What Kind of Working Relationships Do Editors Have with Clients?

A client and an editor should clarify their working relationship before the editor begins work on the manuscript. Upon request, an editor will work closely with the client at every stage of the editing process, communicating frequently and discussing proposed revisions before proceeding. At the other extreme, an editor will pick up a manuscript and reappear on the specified date with the finished product.

The most effective working relationship lies somewhere between the two extremes. In most circumstances, an editor will consult with an author before making major revisions and will return the edited manuscript for final review and approval.