EDITING FAQs: How Do I Choose?

With great care – just the way an editor works

The business relationship between a writer and an editor can often develop into a personal one. As my Clients and Testimonials page shows, the people I work for regularly don’t just prize my grammatical and stylistic talents – they also appreciate my linguistic skills, strong work ethic, and lively sense of humour.

Here’s what a few of them have to say:

A good personal match is certainly one vital aspect of the professional relationship. As with most people you collaborate with – from your tax accountant to your handyman, your personal assistant to your chiropractor – you probably prefer to be around people you actually like.

That’s why character counts as much as professionalism when you choose an editor to work with. You want someone who’s reliable, enthusiastic and sensitive. Other important factors to consider are:

• Editing Style. Some editors may just lightly skim over your text; others (like me) give it the deep-massage treatment. Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, you may find that one mode suits your taste more than the other.
   
• Editorial Skills. If your needs are really specialized, you may find that only a few professionals have exactly the abilities you’re looking for. The website of the Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC) lists the most commonly requested skills.
   
• Subject Expertise. Like most editors and writers, I’m a competent generalist, with a smattering of knowledge in a wide variety of fields. (For a list of these, check out my Subject Areas page.) But if you need an editor with an in-depth knowledge of Canadian health-care legislation, for instance, or an advanced understanding of Elizabethan drama – then your field of “possibles” shrinks.
   
• Physical Location. The Internet now makes it possible for a client in B.C. to have a cozy working relationship with an editor in Newfoundland, so proximity is not the issue it once was. Still, your project may require you to gather your team around the table at regular intervals; or you may simply feel more comfortable hiring someone you can sit down to have coffee with.
   
• Price Range. Much as we might like to afford the very best services, that’s not always feasible. Often you need to shop around thriftily for a good rate, just as you do when you rent a car or hire a caterer. Be warned, though: the adage “You get what you pay for” applies as much to editing as it does to everything else. (So does the saying “Nobody ever regretted buying quality.”)
   
• Availability. You may find a simpatico editor with exactly the skills and knowledge you need, located a few streets away from you, who charges competitive rates. But she’s booked solid for the rest of the year. How frustrating! You may have to compromise on other aspects to get your work done just when you need it.
   
• Professional Qualification. The EAC has recently launched a certification process, which is gradually being adopted by many editors. Within a few years, the designation Certified Professional Editor will almost guarantee you gold-star editing services. For now, belonging to the professional association is always a good badge of quality. (I’ve been an EAC member for almost a decade.)

Of course, if you’re reading this page, you’ve probably already solved the problem of how to locate a good editor: you’ve found me!

But if you’re looking for an editor with very different skills – someone to solve equations in a math textbook, for instance, or to compile the index for a tome on supply-side economics – your best resource is the Hire An Editor page of the EAC website. It allows you to browse through the profiles of some 1,800 members across the country, searching by name, location or editorial specialty. (Check out my own page there for a synopsis of my skills.)