I decided to write up a quick post to warn about some problems I’ve seen recently regarding editors. X (formerly Twitter) recently had writers talking about their experiences with editors. Some writers obviously do have problematic experiences and are rightly wary about working with another editor. However, I wanted to flag up a few issues.
- Editors who are offering to return a manuscript in an unreasonably short period of time may be using AI, while charging YOU for time they never spent on your manuscript. Furthermore, they should not be feeding your copyrighted material into an AI without your permission in the first place. Consequently if you see someone offering a one week turnaround for a developmental edit of a full-length novel, reject it. Developmental edits, done properly, take weeks.
- Also beware of writers who fancy themselves as editors because they ‘edited’ their own work. It is very common for these people to have no editorial training and no feedback from professional editors on their editorial work. Some of these writers are simply looking for a side gig to help cover their own publication costs, or they’re unaware of the sheer amount of work involved. If you want another writer to edit your work, ask them about their training or membership of a professional association. Some writers have undertaken training.
I will probably add to this post when I have more time, and I will list some of the training you, as a writer, should be looking for in an editor. I will also include professional associations which have codes of conduct, including the Editorial Freelancers Association and The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. I’m personally a member of the EFA, one of the organisations I trained with. The Chartered Institute is more focused on copyediting and proofreading.
If someone is offering to edit your work, and they have no training, no membership of a professional organisation, and they are offering a fast turnaround of your manuscript, WRITER BEWARE.