The last thing you want is to have a bad experience with the copy editor you hire to edit your precious manuscript that you’ve spent days and nights on. So here are four questions to ask before you hire a copy editor.

If you’re satisfied with your answers, hire away! If you’re not, exercise caution.

Let’s go!

• Do they specialise in your field? You want to make sure your copy editor knows what they’re doing or understands the context of your manuscript and the nuances of your field. The copy editor may not necessarily have an academic background in that field but they can gain specialty by editing books in that field over a period of time. If they’re not specialists in your field, ask whether they are open to doing research (checking words they’re unfamiliar with or checking with you before making changes) if they’re ever unsure about a concept. If they tick the yes box, you should be good to go.

• Do they match your vibes? Are both of you a good fit for each other? You don’t want to work with someone you’re not on the same frequency with; it makes the process laborious for you and the copy editor. If you think you both can’t find common ground on whatever issue (particularly if it’s specific to your book), it’s best to find someone you’ll enjoy working with, which would foster a good working relationship. You and your copy editor should not be like a square peg in a round hole.

• What’s their communication style and does it fit with yours? Do they want to keep in touch every step of the way, or do they want to contact you at the end of the project? This relates to author queries or any other form of clarification they may need. Do they fancy minimal interactions? Do they want to always carry you along? Do you want to be carried along every step of the way? Do you want to be contacted only when it’s necessary or for every little thing? Do you want frequent check-ins? Effective communication is key if you don’t want to get frustrated during the editing process, and you both have to come to an agreement on how information will be communicated.

• How are they with deadlines? And are they flexible? This is a two-way street. Deadlines are a big deal when it comes to publishing a book, so you want to be on the same page with your copy editor. First, you want to make sure you have realistic deadlines, and you also want to make sure they can meet that deadline. For instance, you can’t expect a two-hundred-page book to be copy edited in two weeks; that’s not realistic. They may also be preoccupied with other projects, and you have to work around each other’s schedules to find common ground and set a realistic deadline.

If you are satisfied with the answers you got from these questions, then you’ve found your copy editor. If you’re not satisfied with all the answers, you might need to keep searching for a copy editor who will be a good fit for you.

Now that you know the questions to ask, let me tell you a bit about my area of specialty so that you, at least, have an answer to the first question. I edit general interest books, as well as academic books in humanities and social science. If this is what you write, and I tick your boxes, let’s work together. Send me an email.

You can also check out this post on “What to Expect When You Contact a Copy Editor: The A-B-C-D of the Copy-Editing Process.”