I often hear authors wonder how far along their manuscripts need to be before they can start looking for an editor. The answer, of course, is dictated by another question: What kind of help are you looking for?
Let’s start with the final phases of editing, as they’re the simplest to pinpoint. If you’re looking for help polishing your prose—a line edit—or fixing all the lingering grammatical and mechanical issues—a copyedit or proofread—then you need a finished manuscript. Likely one that you’ve already edited yourself several times, and hopefully with guidance from trusted beta readers, critique partners, or writing group members. These final rounds of editing are the finishing touches, and to attempt them before a manuscript is finished is a waste of time, like buffing a sculpture till it shines, only to start chiseling away again.
(Learn more about the different types of book editing in my recent blog post.)
If you’re looking for more structural help, though—if you want support with character development, world building, plot, etc.—then the “rules” are a little less cut and dry. Many authors want to get the whole story down before they bring in outside help, and that’s fine. If you’re looking for a substantive edit on a full draft—i.e., you want feedback on all the building blocks of your story in order to guide your revision process—then you’ll submit a full manuscript that’s as good as you know how to make it. That means you haven’t left major plot holes or half-developed characters to “deal with later.” Instead, you’ve resolved them to the best of your abilities, giving the editor as much of the full picture to work with as possible. That way, she can really dig into what’s already working well in your manuscript, and how to bring the rest of it up to the same high level of quality.
There’s a good chance your editor will ask you to make drastic changes that will require you to gut large swaths of your hard work. Yes, it’s painful, but your manuscript will be better for it.
Other authors want to avoid the tough rout of overhauling a fully written manuscript, so they opt to start working with an editor early in the process, in more of a coaching capacity. The author may start with just an outline, or a synopsis and ten pages, or even a half-finished manuscript. The editor, then, will act as a guide throughout the writing process, keeping the author accountable for progress, coaching her in best practices for writing in her genre, and generally ensuring the manuscript is “on track.”
Is there a “right” approach? Nope. I tell authors that the only right approach is the one that works best for them. As book editors, our job is to help you tell your story as effectively as possible. You’ll be much more successful if we can align with your process instead of shoehorning you into a mold.
If you’re looking for editorial support, I’d love to talk about what services might be right for you. And you aren’t ready to commit to a full manuscript edit or coaching program yet, that’s ok, too! Whether you’re stuck mid-draft or you just want a better sense of what it’s like to work with me before you make a big investment, my Creative Kickstart program could be the perfect fit.