Does my editor understand my audience?

Know your marketing deal-breakers ahead of time

Photo credit: Tamarcus Brown/Unsplash

You’ve finished the rough draft of your book. Now you’re ready to find an editor to clean the copy up. Whether the assignment calls for substantive editing, copy editing, or proofreading, rolling the dice and choosing the first person who looks like the Grammar Police may not be the best business move. You need to find an editor who is both qualified to edit your book and understands how to market the material you’re writing. While your editor should be qualified to cross your T’s and dot your I’s, this should also be a person who is passionate about your project.

Here are five real-life experiences I’ve had with private clients who taught me valuable lessons about why an editor needs to be able to meet both requirements before being hired.