Start Your Search Early

Finding a good book editor can be difficult. And finding a good book editor with availability is even harder. Be sure to begin your search a few months in advance of when you anticipate having your manuscript ready for editing.

Review the Editor’s Website First
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​Try to review the editor’s website before contacting them. If the site is comprehensive, you’ll find the answers to most of your questions before needing to contact them. When you have a good idea of whether you’d like to work with that person, it’s a great time to inquire about their interest in working with you, their prices, and availability. Many editors schedule projects weeks or even months in advance and often require a deposit, which can range from a few hundred dollars to 50% of the project total, to reserve time on their calendar.

​Why Editors Sometimes Don’t Respond

Authors sometimes mention how difficult it can be to receive responses from editors during the inquiry process. While every situation is different, there are several common reasons this can happen, and it should rarely be taken personally. Always allow several business days for a response, especially over weekends. If you do not hear back within a week, the editor may be fully booked and unable to keep up with new inquiries, dealing with personal matters that delay responses, or may simply have never seen your message because it was filtered into spam (I cringe every time this happens). It is also possible that the inquiry was not the right fit for their current workload or interests. In any case, a polite follow-up message is appropriate before moving on.

Make a Strong First Impression

To improve your chances of a positive response, focus on making a strong first impression. Present your inquiry clearly, professionally, and concisely. A disorganized or incomplete inquiry can unintentionally suggest that the manuscript itself may require significantly more work, which can make an editor hesitant to proceed. Putting your best foot forward communicates respect for both your work and the editor’s time.

Look for Mutual Fit

Editors should demonstrate the same professionalism in return. If an editor appears uninterested in your project, it is best to move on rather than trying to persuade them. A productive editorial partnership works best when both parties are enthusiastic about the collaboration. Editors typically know fairly quickly — after reviewing your inquiry, answering preliminary questions, and examining a sample — whether the project is a good match.
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Expect to Provide a Sample

Most editors will request a sample of your manuscript, often five to ten pages, before confirming interest or providing a formal quote. This sample gives the editor insight into your voice, style, and the level of work required. Some editors may eventually request the full manuscript, but typically only after initial discussions have progressed.

Be Transparent About Sensitive Content

If your manuscript contains provocative, sensitive, or potentially triggering material, it is wise to mention this early and confirm that the editor is comfortable working with such content. Transparency at this stage helps establish trust and ensures that both you and the editor can move forward with confidence.

Understand the Types of Editing

It is also helpful to familiarize yourself with the different types of editing — developmental, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading — so you can approach the right professionals. At the same time, remain open to the editor’s assessment. Many manuscripts benefit from multiple stages of editing, and experienced editors can recommend the combination that best prepares the work for publication.

Respect Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries are an important part of the editorial relationship. Editors do not need to know which elements of a fiction manuscript are based on real events to evaluate the writing effectively. For nonfiction projects that include personal or sensitive material, however, it is essential that you feel comfortable sharing unpublished work with the editor you select. Confirming confidentiality expectations early can help ensure peace of mind.

Choose an Editor Who Preserves Your Voice

When reviewing sample edits, look for an editor who strengthens clarity, flow, and readability while preserving your voice and intent. Editorial suggestions should enhance the work, not reshape it into someone else’s style. If feedback feels driven primarily by personal preference rather than craft-based reasoning, the editor may not be the best fit for your project.

Maintain a Professional Working Relationship

Finally, remember that editing is a professional service. Editors are not typically available outside business hours, and maintaining clear professional boundaries helps ensure efficient communication and timely project completion. While genuine friendships sometimes develop naturally over time, professionalism—not personal closeness—is what leads to the strongest editorial results.

Beginning the process with a concise inquiry and a willingness to provide a sample edit sets a productive tone for the collaboration. From there, a skilled editor will guide you through the next steps and help prepare your manuscript for its best possible release or submission to agents and/or publishers.

Enjoy the journey!