How to Find a Romance Novel Editor (by Kristin Anders)

Today The Romantic Editor site goes live and I have officially stepped foot into the freelance world of romantic fiction editing. Terrifying.

When creating this site I ran across one consistent problem: authors have trouble finding editors.

It might be strange that my first editing post tells how to find other editors, but every editor isn't for every author and it's important authors find an editor they are madly and insanely in love with. 

Note: These suggestions are for finding an editor, not choosing an editor. Authors should decide what types of edits they need or if their manuscripts are ready for edits at all (a good editor will help). Not all editors provide the same editing services and not all editors specialize in romance.

How to Find a Romance Novel Editor

#1

Ask romance authors. If you appreciate the delivery, characterizations, and plots of their romance novels, then ask them for recommendations. They can give you firsthand opinions on an editor's services and pricing.

Read the editor's website prior to contacting. All editors should have a site, just like authors. (Though not all great editors do, just like authors.)

#2

The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) is a professional organization for editors, much like the Romance Writers of America is for authors. Except (to my knowledge) not many romance editors are members, and the EFA is not romance genre specific. However, authors can still search the EFA's database for free.

#3

Look in the front of self published romance novels (see novel appreciation criteria listed in #1). Editors' names should be near the copyright. If not, sometimes they're mentioned in the dedication. Google those editors and start reading.

If they have social media see who they interact with. It's likely they talk to other editors and their social media reflects their personality. If you don't like your editor it may be hard to work with him or her.

#4

Publishing houses often list their editors on their websites and those editors often freelance. Only consider publishing houses that publish books you appreciate (see novel appreciation criteria listed in #1). These editors cannot guarantee a book deal even if you pay them to edit your manuscript. Let them know prior to working with them if you intend to submit your manuscript to their publishing house. Again, search their websites and social media.

#5

Search "romance novel editor." I assume that's how you got here. There's nothing wrong with finding your editor through Internet research, but your research should not stop with a Google hit. Read the editor's website and track his or her social media. Look for references and contact those references. Ask for a sample edit to ensure your working relationship will be a productive one.

#6

Go to Twitter, search for big-name romance genre editors, and scroll through their followers. (Editors like Sue Grimshaw, Angela James, and Liz Pelletier.) Some of their followers will be freelance editors. 

#7

Go to Twitter, search for big-name romance genre editors, and see what Lists they belong and subscribe to. Some of these Lists are titled Editors and some of the members are freelance. Also search through romance authors', bloggers', and reviewers' Lists on Twitter to see who keeps a List of editors. (Like this one and this one, though all editors listed may not be romance editors.)

These tips hopefully help authors in their search. The best way to locate high quality editors is by getting referrals from high quality authors. Even then you should interview before hiring. Because the right editor is invaluable.

To further help, I asked traditionally published, self published, and in-pursuit-of-being-published authors for editing sites. Below are those sites. I cannot vouch for all of these editors (except for myself and The Proof is in the Reading), but if you like them they should be able to supply you with current references. If you find an editing service because you saw them on my blog--please tell them!

Editor	Service	Price
Author’s Red Room	All Edits	Price Quote obtained through website
Cindy Davis	Proofreading	$1.50/page
	Manuscript Assessment	$1/page
	Formatting	.25/page
Editorial Freelance Association	Copyediting	$30-$50/hour
	Developmental and Line Editing	$40 - $60/hour
Finish the Story	Developmental Editing	$25-$200
	Line Editing	$150-$600
	Copyediting	$110-$400
	Proofreading	$100-$325
Helen Hardt	Proofreading	.01/word
	Copy/Line Editing	.02/word
	Deep Editing	.03/word
Kristi aka Picky Editor	All Edits for Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense and Mystery	Price Quote obtained via email (picky.editor[at] gmail[dot]com)
Kristin Anders the Romantic Editor	Editorial letter/Substantive Review	$3/page
	Line Edit	$2.50/page
	Copyedit	$1.50/page
	Line Edit/Copyediting together	$3.00/page
Lisa Stone Hardt	Developmental and line editing with comprehensive revision letter	$1,500 – $2,500
	Book Doctor Services	$2,000 - $3,500
Novel Doctor	Editorial Review (6 – 10 page document evaluation)	$600
	The Red Pen of Life and Death (specific editorial suggestions using track changes and comment in your MS)	$1,500
One Stop Book Making Shop	Copyediting	Price Quote obtained via email
Pat Thomas	Manuscript Evaluation	$100
	Manuscript Evaluation	$200-$400
Rhonda Helms	Line Edits	$2/page
	Content Critique	$2/page
	Medium-level Content Critique with Line Edits	$3/page
	The Works (Content Critiquing with Line Edits)	$4/page
Romance Novel Editor	Structural Editing	$3/page
	Line Editing	$5/page
	Structural and Line Editing	$7/page
Tara Chevrestt	Editing	$3.25-$3.75/1k words
The Proof is in the Reading	Beta Reading Only	$50-$100
	Single Read-through Add beta reading comments	$125 $25 additional
	Preferred Package Add beta reading comments	$300 $50 additional
The Red Pen Coach	Content Edits	.0025/word
	Line Edits	.0025/word
	Content/Line Edits combined	.0045/word
The Word Maid	Proofreading, crutch words, continuity	Price Quote obtained via email

Thanks for Reading,

Kristin Anders

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