I’ve been hesitant to talk about scams. I loathe fear-based marketing. I never want to seem like I’m leveraging negative emotions to get anyone to hire me or like I’m discounting other editors in any way. But scams exist, that’s the truth, and authors are coming to Muse and Margins with heartbreaking stories of time and money wasted because there are people out there masquerading as professionals to make a quick dime.
They’re filling out the inquiry form, getting sample edits, then responding with:
“Wow! There’s more feedback on this 1k sample than the first editor gave in the whole book!”
Cue massive, bright-red flag waving across the entirety of the computer screen.
Or how about when they say, “I’m interested in a line edit, but my developmental editor scammed me, so if it needs more than that please let me know.”
I love editors. I’m a friend of many and a fan of even more. The editors I know are eager to help, grateful for their clients, and absurdly generous with their time. But new authors don’t always know what to expect from an editor, or what each editing service is supposed to look like. They don’t always realize there’s a different between line editing and proofreading, or that a developmental edit should be more than what you’d get from your friend that beta reads for you.
So today we’re going to talk about how to vet an editor.
Look them up.
Easy enough! New-ish editors may not have full websites, but having a solid online presence can go a long way toward confirming they’re the real deal. If the editor doesn’t have a website and their social media only has a few reposts, it’s probably safer to look elsewhere.
Contact the authors in their portfolio.
Because any editor you’re paying to work for you should have a portfolio. Look up the authors of those books! Are they real? Not all will have an online presence, but chances are good you may be able to find a couple of them on social media, then maybe shoot them a message asking about their experience!
Ask what to expect.
Get in touch with the editor and ask what their process looks like. Do they do samples? (They should!) Do they do contracts? (They should!) When is the deposit due and what sort of communication will happen during the edit? These are questions editors get all the time, so solid, professional answers are a good sign. This is also a good time to ask what their credentials are or how long they’ve been editing.
Get a sample.
A sample is important even if you trust the editor! This will not only ensure the editor will be giving useful feedback but also shows their style—which will help you choose if they’re a good fit for your goals.
Know what service you’re paying for.
This can be hard if you’ve never worked with an editor before. A developmental edit may ignore line-level issues and instead focus on margin comments on plots and characters. A line edit will do the opposite, focusing on the delivery of the story line-by-line rather than poking at the structure of the story. And a proofread will focus grammar and style errors.
A note on price.
Price doesn’t determine the skill or validity of an editor but is influenced by the amount of time/work spent and the expertise of the person you hire. Comparing based on price can quickly become apples or oranges. It doesn’t matter that one line edit sample from a higher priced editor had higher level feedback than one from a lower cost editor. If the base of the work is there, and the manuscript has improved, it’s simply a factor of time and experience, crossed with what the author needs and can afford.
Some scammers may slip through this process. People are determined, and it’s unfair that authors have to worry about this at all, so don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself in a bad spot with an editor, or artist, or marketing guru, or what have you. Word of mouth is a great place to start when looking for an editor. Finding others who vouch for them means they’ve done the work to earn the “social proof,” that they can be trusted to deliver the work they promise.
This is one of the reasons Niki, Pebbles, and I decided to start Muse and Margins. We vouch for each other and are willing to stake our professional reputation recommending each other. I know you’ll get a good edit from Niki. I know you’ll get great chibi art and cover design from Pebbles. Even better, we have an abundance mindset and aren’t afraid to point you toward others that we trust if that’s what’s best.
Go forth brave writers! Know there are those out there that will bolster and cheer you on, who only want the very best for your story. My hope is these steps increase your chances of finding us.
Happy Writing!
I this so much. Every time I have a client who tells me they got scammed it breaks my heart. I dont know how anyone can he okay with taking someone's hard earned money and giving them nothing in return