EDITORS AND TEAMS
How to work with a freelance book editor
The different types of editing, how to choose and brief a freelance editor, what to agree in advance, and how to get the most from their feedback.
A good editor can transform a manuscript. A poor match can cost money and confidence. Knowing what kind of edit you need, how to choose an editor and how to work together makes the difference.
Know which kind of edit you need
Editing happens at different levels, usually in this order:
| Type | What it covers | When |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental (structural) edit | Plot, structure, pacing, character arcs, point of view | After your own revision of the first draft |
| Manuscript assessment | A report on the big issues, without line-by-line changes | A lower-cost alternative to a developmental edit |
| Line edit | Style, clarity, rhythm, dialogue and flow, sentence by sentence | Once the structure is settled |
| Copy edit | Grammar, consistency, spelling, facts and style | After the line edit |
| Proofread | Final errors in the formatted text | Just before publishing |
Paying for a line edit before the structure is fixed is a common and expensive mistake: lines you pay to polish may later be cut.
Find the right editor
- Look for genre experience. An editor who loves epic fantasy will understand its conventions better than one who mostly edits memoirs.
- Ask for a sample edit. Many editors will edit a few pages so you can see their approach.
- Check what is included. Number of rounds, a call to discuss feedback, an editorial letter.
- Ask for references or testimonials from authors in your genre.
Agree the details in writing
Before work starts, agree:
- The type of edit and what it includes.
- Price and payment schedule.
- Deadline for the manuscript and for the returned edit.
- File format and how changes will be marked.
- Whether a follow-up question round is included.
Brief your editor well
Send a clean manuscript, a style sheet and a short brief explaining your genre, readers, concerns and anything you do not want changed. Our guide on organising a manuscript for an editor has a checklist.
Receiving feedback
Editorial feedback can be hard to read, even when it is good news overall.
- Read it all, then wait a day before reacting.
- Look for patterns rather than reacting to individual comments.
- Accept, adapt or reject each suggestion deliberately. It is your book.
- Ask questions if a comment is unclear. Good editors welcome them.
Make changes carefully
Work through changes one at a time and keep the previous version of each chapter, so you can compare before and after. Avoid accepting every tracked change in one click; some may not fit your intentions.
Keep collaboration organised
If you work with an editor regularly, or with several people (editor, proofreader, cover designer), keep the manuscript, comments and decisions in one shared place. It saves repeated explanations and lost feedback.
How Gold Prints helps
Gold Prints Publishing Studio lets you invite an editor into a team workspace with an appropriate role. They can comment on chapters, you can resolve comments as you address them, and tasks with due dates keep the edit on schedule. Every saved change keeps the previous text in version history, and the Change Room lets you compare versions side by side.