How to Find a Trustworthy Book Editor

How to find a trustworthy book editor is a question I see repeatedly on social media. Finding an editor you can trust shouldn’t be difficult, but I know a lot of authors are concerned about being scammed. They are worried that an editor is going to take their money and do a runner, or do a poor edit, or just not provide them with the service that they think they’ve paid for.

So how do you avoid the scammers, and find a legitimate, trustworthy book editor to help you polish your book?

1. A trustworthy book editor will be a member of an editorial organisation

Anyone can set themselves up as an editor. It’s an unregulated profession, and an editor requires no accreditation to set themselves up in business. However, there are organisations that DO provide accreditation. Here in the UK, we have the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Membership at Professional Level and above means that an editor has achieved certain editorial standards, and must maintain certain professional methodologies.

It’s not just a case of paying more money to gain a higher membership level.

I’m a Professional Member, and to achieve this, I had to demonstrate that I had spent a significant number of hours editing (I’m talking hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours!), plus I had to take (and pass!) an editorial test, and I also needed references from people in the publishing industry (people who know what a decent editor looks like). All these things demonstrate that I am a trustworthy book editor.

Of course, there are similar organisations in other countries – but they might not do any kind of editorial screening, so make sure to check this out.

The Alliance of Independent Authors also provides a degree of vetting (although it’s not as strict), and when an editor signs up to ALLi, it means that they are demonstrating commitment. They’ve had to pay a fee.

2. Do they have a website?

Most editors will have a website. Have a proper look at it. Does it look friendly and approachable? Is it regularly updated? Do you like the way they explain things? Is it answering questions that you wanted to ask? A website is a good indicator of how an editor is likely to communicate.

Does the editor list their prices on their website? Not all editors do – and this is, of course, absolutely fine. Every book is different, and therefore every manuscript requires a different level of support which will in turn result in a different fee structure. I choose to list my prices prominently on my home page because when I’m looking to buy a service, I personally would rather know a rough idea of the budget before I start discussions.

If your prospective editor lists their prices, do their fees seem very low compared with other editors? This might be a sign that they aren’t going to provide you with the service that you are after, OR, it might mean they are a newer editor who is just starting out.

Do their prices seem very high? This might be a sign that they are going to rip you off, OR (more likely) they are a very experienced editor who has a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to your manuscript.

3. Do they have a social media presence?

Is your prospective editor active on any social media platforms? Do you like the posts they write? Do they have a face? A voice? Are they a real person? A good editor will never share an author’s work, so if your chosen editor seems to post snippets for critique, this is probably an editor to walk away from.

4. Do they provide a sample edit?

Not all editors provide a sample edit, and some editors will charge for them – this is, of course, fair enough, seeing as it takes time out of their working day. A sample edit is just another weapon in your armoury. Do you like what they’ve done with your extract? Are you happy with the way they are communicating? Do their explanations make sense?

In Conclusion

How to find a trustworthy book editor – one final point. The majority of editors are lovely people who are in this industry because they love books. They are not in it to make a fortune (because, believe me, we don’t!), or to rip anyone off. We are genuinely in your corner, and just really want your book to have the love and attention it deserves.