[Link] Editing for Self-Published Authors: Types of Edits and How to Find the Right Editor

by A.C. Williams

Your manuscript is written. You’ve celebrated. You’ve done your research and prepared for every potential scenario, and now it’s time to start working on the finished product. Right? 

Wrong. There is more to producing a competitive quality novel than just writing it and making sure it has a good cover and that you know where it’s being distributed. There’s a very important step that you would be remiss as an author to overlook: Editing. 

So far in this series on self-publishing, we’ve talked about setting your goals, understanding your legal rights as a self-published author, ISBNs, distribution channels, market research, and book cover design. But before any of that happens, you really must have some kind of edit. 

Editing has many variations, and you might need one variation more than another. But no matter which kind of edit you opt for, you really need another pair of eyes on what you have written. When you have lived and breathed your story for a long time, you become blind to its shortcomings. You can’t see the problems. You might recognize that it isn’t perfect, but you can’t see how to fix it. That’s why you need an editor. 

However, there are some caveats to consider before you hire out this important element of producing a book. 

Here are some questions to ask before you get started with an editor. 

1. Does this editor understand my genre? 

While many editors have experience in editing multiple genres, not all of them do. Some editors have specialties. It’s not a good idea to give your historical romance manuscript to an editor who specializes in suspense/thriller editor. Additionally, if you write science fiction or fantasy, giving your manuscript to someone who only edits contemporary romance won’t end well. Those genres all contain specific elements that are unique to their genre, and an editor who doesn’t understand those genres won’t know to look for them.

Read the full article: https://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2025/09/editing-for-self-published-authors.html