Table of Contents
Explore Blogs
Trending on Ebook
How to Spot a Bad Editor: Red Flags to Watch Out For
Michael Adams
As someone who enjoys Reddit threads where people boldly share their opinions and engage in heated debates, I find all the drama quite entertaining. One day, while casually exploring various threads, I came across a thread about a reader who was frustrated with a book he was reading due to its grammar and contextual errors. The poor editing was so off-putting that it made him put the book down.
What really made me laugh was when I read, “though the plus side is that I’m sure it could be used effectively by teachers who want to show their students first-hand what not to do.”
Never thought about it like this – this is a cool way to use badly edited books! But as an author, I am sure you don’t want your book to be a part of such a Reddit threat, right?
This is why it is important that you hire a professional and good editor who can refine your voice, sharpen your ideas, and take your prose from decent to exceptional. I mean, that’s why we hire editors, right?
But here’s the problem! With the market being so saturated and multiple “best books editing services” out there, how are you supposed to filter out the ones that are bad or amateur? As a writer myself, I can completely understand your concern. After investing your time, energy, and creativity into your book – you can’t let a bad editor ruin it. This is why I have rounded up x red flags that you must look at and check when hiring an editor for your book.
Key Takeaways
- The bad editors can spoil the reading experience. Even small mistakes, like using the wrong word, can make readers stop and re-read, which disrupts their flow and turns reading into a chore.
- Good editing involves more than just checking grammar. It includes improving the structure, pacing, tone, and clarity and keeping the writer’s unique style.
- Bad editors who lack genre knowledge and those who rewrite your voice or offer no real solutions— read my warning signs, as they can save your book (and sanity.)
- Learn the qualities of a good editor, such as someone who offers constructive feedback and sharpens your work instead of replacing it.
- There are different types of editing. Understand the differences between developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading before you hire professional editing services.
Why Good Editing Matters So Much for Your Book?
Simple – it sucks out any enjoyment from the book.
Yes, poorly edited books that have grammatical mistakes, spacing issues, or spelling mistakes truly disappoint readers who picked up the book with so much love. Some writers assume that editing simply begins and ends with putting commas or fixing typos. That’s why they feel like hiring the best professional editing services is a waste of money.
If you are also thinking the same thing – well, hear me out! When I collaborated with good editors for my book, I got to know that there are two types of editing that editors handle.
- Surface-level: This includes grammar, typos, wrong words, punctuation, etc.
- Structural/Story Editing: In this, editors basically check the pacing, plot structure, character consistency, tone, clarity, and even fact-checking.
An editor doesn’t just trim the fat or unnecessary content; they help ensure your book reads the way you intended it to be felt.
You might think, “Hmm, what could a simple wrong word, for example, ‘accept’ or ‘except,’ destroy? It is such a minor mistake. Readers won’t even spot it, and even if they do, they’ll understand the context.”
Yes, they will understand it, but it takes them time; they will have to reread the paragraph again and again – which will make reading your book feel like a chore and not a relaxing activity. As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
I interpret Twain’s words as follows: Editing is not important for clarity, but it is vital for rhythm, flow, and the overall reader experience. When the language falters, even slightly, it pulls readers out of the story.
Red Flags That Will Help Will Help You Spot Bad Editor
1. They Have No Experience in Your Genre
Editing isn’t the same for every type of book. For example, a romance story has a different flow, style, and word choice than a sci-fi adventure or a nonfiction book. If an editor doesn’t know your genre well, they might suggest changes that don’t fit—or even remove the things your readers enjoy.
Always ask to see samples of books they’ve edited that are similar to yours. You can also ask how well they know the common themes and trends in your genre.
2. They Refuse to Do a Sample Edit
A sample edit basically shows how the editor you are planning to hire will work with your writing. The sample is usually 500–1000 words, and it is just to test if their style matches yours. Shows you how the editor works with your writing. If someone refuses to do one, it might mean they’re hiding their inexperience—or they simply know that they are a bad editor, and they don’t want you to know that.
Most good editors either offer a free sample or charge a small fee for it. In case they don’t offer samples, just simply ask for testimonials or before-and-after examples from their previous projects.
3. There’s No Written Agreement or Contract
Talking verbally can cause misunderstandings later. Without clear details, you may not know what is included, when things are due, or how much money you owe. If something goes wrong, it’s hard to prove what was agreed upon.
It’s a good idea to get a simple contract that shows what services are provided, how many revisions you can make, payment details, and the timeline. Even a clear agreement in an email is better than nothing.
4. Their Communication Is Poor or Confusing
You might wonder that poor editing is what makes someone a bad editor, right? Well, yes, but their confusing communication is also something that you should keep in mind. If your chosen editor takes too long to respond, send short, confusing emails that have typos, or are irritated by your questions – just know that working with them will be stressful.
Writing a complete book is overwhelming, and if you have to deal with an impolite editor who doesn’t communicate properly, think for yourself about what kind of editing you’ll end up with.
5. They Only Point Out Mistakes, Never Give Solutions or Blame You
A helpful editor doesn’t simply point out what’s wrong; they provide clear explanations and suggest constructive solutions for improvement. If you are receiving only a list of criticisms, it can be discouraging.
A good editor acts as a partner. If they adopt an attitude of always being right while you are always wrong, the entire process will become tense and unproductive. Editing should be a collaborative process where feedback feels like a two-way conversation instead of a scolding.
6. They Try to Rewrite Your Entire Voice
Another way to spot a bad editor is that they will come across as a frustrated writer. They will seem interested in showing what writing skills they have. This is why they will probably change your voice or tone – something that makes your writing yours.
A good editor helps you sharpen your voice—not replace it with theirs.
7. They Make Big Promises (Like Bestseller Status)
Please don’t fall for misleading promises about achieving bestseller status. Becoming a bestseller requires much more than simple editing. No matter how immaculate the editing may be, it cannot guarantee that your book will reach bestseller status. If an editor makes bold claims like this, they are likely not being honest.
Look for editors who are realistic about what they offer. Good editors talk about improving your book—not making it magically perfect.
8. Their Turnaround Time Is Too Fast to Be True
As discussed above, editing is much more than just surface-level grammatical correction. It takes time! If let’s say, you have sent a full-length novel, and the editor sends it back in one or two days, that’s just super quick, which means they are rushing and not doing their job properly.
9. They’re Always Missing Deadlines
Publishing a book requires proper planning. This means that every task you schedule must be completed on time. Missed deadlines can throw off your entire plan, especially if you are arranging a launch or taking pre-orders for your book.
Hire an editor that is transparent. Ask about their average turnaround time and what happens if they’re running late. A one-time delay might be okay, but repeated excuses are not.
10. One Round of Editing with No Follow-Up
Editing is a process where you and the editor communicate back and forth. If the editor sends you the document and then isn’t available, how can you ask questions or fix things that aren’t clear?
Make sure to ask how many times you can revise the document. Most editors include at least one follow-up round to explain their notes or make small changes.
11. They Rely Too Much on Editing Software
The biggest sign that shows if someone is a bad editor is when they heavily or completely rely on programs like Grammarly.
Don’t get me wrong, Grammarly is great for catching basic grammatical mistakes, and it also expedites the process, but understand that it does not fix the story logic, awkward dialogue, or style issues. If an editor uses only software – it’s something you can do too, right?
This is why I always ask the editor about their process. Tools can provide support, but they can never replace human judgment and thinking.
So, if you’re wondering what makes a good editor? It’s simple—a good editor is someone who doesn’t carry any of the red flags we just discussed. Instead, they bring clarity, structure, and cohesiveness to your manuscript without overshadowing your voice.
Qualities of a Good Editor
I have talked a lot about bad editors, but you must also look at the qualities that make an editor good. Apart from just knowing grammar and being good at communicating, there are other qualities that the editor should have as well. Knowing these will help you find the right and perfect one for your book.
- They provide constructive and respectful feedback.
- They are organized and are able to catch inconsistencies, such as if a character name is spelled two different ways.
- They understand formatting rules and style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style to make sure your book meets industry expectations.
- They strictly maintain confidentiality.
- They avoid plagiarism.
4 Types of Editing You Must Know Before Hiring Anyone
Wanting to get your entire manuscript edited is a different thing, but if you want some particular type of editing – hiring the wrong type of editor could waste both your time and money!
Here’s a quick breakdown of the four main types of editing that affordable book editing services offer:
1. Developmental Editing
Structural editing, also known as content editing. In this, editors basically look at the overall story rather than just the details.
It focuses on important elements like plot holes, pacing, character development, and the story’s overall structure. This type of editing usually requires significant rewrites and big changes to scenes. It’s most helpful for early drafts that need feedback on how the story is shaped.
2. Line Editing
Line editing concentrates on making your writing smoother, clearer, and more enjoyable to read.
As the name implies, line editors work closely with each sentence to enhance the flow, tone, and overall readability while keeping your unique voice intact. This type of editing is perfect when your story is good, but the writing seems awkward or rough.
3. Copyediting
A copyeditor checks and corrects grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency in your writing.
They make sure your manuscript is accurate and follows the rules of the language or any specific style guides you might be using. It’s best to have this step done after you’ve finished line editing
4. Proofreading
The final touch before publishing is to check for any last-minute mistakes, such as typos, formatting issues, and layout problems.
This step is not about rewriting the content; it’s simply about ensuring that everything looks neat and to make sure there are no loosely tied ends in the story. This process happens right at the end, just before printing or uploading the work.
Conclusion
Editors are invisible superheroes behind every great book. During your launch or publishing, no one is going to ask you who edited your book, right? But if you get stuck with a bad editor, then it’s the only thing you’ll talk about because it will cost you money and take away the heart and essence of your book.
So, take your time. Consider your choices. Ask questions. Look out for these eleven red flags so you can rest assured that you ended up with a reliable and good editor.
FAQ’s
Should I use the same editor for all my books?
If you’ve found someone who understands your voice, genre, and process—absolutely! A long-term editor-author relationship can lead to faster turnarounds, better collaboration, and stronger results.
How to be a good editor?
To be a good editor, you need both technical skills and the ability to understand feelings. This means knowing grammar and structure while also keeping the author’s style. A good editor thinks, “What is the writer trying to communicate?” and helps them say it in a better way.
How much does professional book editing usually cost?
The cost of professional book editing varies based on the type of editing required and the editor’s experience. According to Fiverr’s guide on book editing costs:
- Proofreading: $0.02 to $0.06 per word or $37 to $54 per hour.
- Line Editing: $0.05 to $0.06 per word or $54 to $59 per hour.
- Copy Editing: $0.03 to $0.08 per word or $43 to $59 per hour.
- Developmental Editing: $0.04 to $0.08 per word or $48 to $84 per hour.
Is it possible to over-edit a manuscript?
Yes, it is. Over-editing can strip the voice, flatten the tone, and make the prose feel robotic. This usually happens when too many editors touch the manuscript or when the writer keeps making changes after each round of feedback.
About Author
Hi My name is Micheal Adams, When I am not watching horror movies and helping my kids with homework or reading my favorite fantasy/supernatural novels – I’m writing to guide aspiring authors. I focus on exploring and simplifying both the technical aspects and the often-overlooked details of book writing and publishing so I can empower new writers to climb the Amazon bestseller list and connect with more readers.
