It can be hard for independent authors to find a good and reliable editor not attached to a publishing house. With so many scams and faulty credentials, it’s a risk to contact anyone. However, there are trustworthy and reputable editors and organizations worth it! A few of them are included below, so read on to learn more.
Reedsy
Reedsy has publishing professionals in 30 countries around the world, so there’s sure to be an editor (or designer or marketer, etc.) for everyone. They offer editorial services such as developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment for a variety of projects. Editors cover a variety of topics from children’s fiction to travel pieces to cartoons, so any genre or type of work can find a place. They also have blogs about the writing and publishing process to help writers on their journey. There isn’t a set price for their service, as each editor will quote different costs depending on experience and project length, so always check around and look at other editors, too.
Scribendi
Scribendi has been around since 1997 and offers editing and proofreading services for academics, students, authors, businesses, and more. The editors themselves are top-class, many with master’s degrees and PhDs or who are already published authors and academics. The main goal for this company is to help others, not only communicate clearly but also accurately and consistently. The cost for these services depends on the word count and how soon you need it edited, and this cost will be provided in their calculator before you send it in. They only accept works written in English so this won’t be a great fit for everyone.
ServiceScape
ServiceScape was established in 2000 and provides services for businesses, academic writing, books, line editing, general editing, and so much more. The process is based on transparency and communication, and it’s easy to talk to your chosen editor before, during, and even after the project to discuss any concerns. You can hire an editor and assign a due date on their profile, and their prices will also be listed plainly, so you can view them before hiring the editor. It is catered to English speakers; they work with anyone, but the end product and communication are all done in English.
Editorial Freelancers Association
The Editorial Freelancers Association is an organization with top-quality members from researchers to editors. Their members edit a variety of projects from blogs to academic papers to recipes, as well as a variety of content like accounting, fitness, and psychology. They all have expertise in their respective fields and work hard to enrich clients’ projects and help them get into the world. Each editor sets their rates, though the website has an estimator based on some of the members’ reported rates, so you can get a decent idea of a price range.
Book Editing Associates
Book Editing Associates has been around since 1998, and while the team is small, they’re all highly skilled individuals put through rigorous testing. They help with developmental edits, line edits, proofreading, and query letters, and they want to work with you to go through your manuscript rather than just send feedback. You can either send in a short submission to specific editors or they can match you with one, and then your editor will send in a quote. They also have a blog to help advise on the writing and publishing process.
There are lots of great places to check, but these five should be a start. It’s important to find one that fits you, so don’t be afraid to look around first!
Click here for an article about the role of a book editor.
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