Sample Edits: Hire the Right Freelancer for Your Project
If you’re a writer looking to hire a freelance editor to work on your story, you’ve likely heard of sample edits by now. Sample edits can help you find the right editor for your project, and they also serve an important purpose for editors. I ask nearly all new clients to get a free 1,000-word sample edit so we can start the project on the right foot.
Read on to learn more about sample edits and how they can help you. Since I am primarily a copyeditor, most of my examples pertain to copyediting.
How do I get a sample edit?
The best first step is to reach out to a list of several freelance editors who offer the service you need (developmental editing, manuscript critique, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, etc.) and ask about their sample edit process. Get multiple samples at once so you can compare them and pick the right fit for you.
You’ll need to select an excerpt from your manuscript (some editors prefer to see the entire manuscript, some want the first few pages, and some don’t mind a random section from the middle). I typically ask for an excerpt from the middle that best represents the manuscript as a whole. Make sure it has dialogue if it’s fiction or memoir; make sure it has technical language or citations if it’s nonfiction. You can send your document in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Don’t worry too much about the formatting—but industry standard (Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced, one-inch margins, left-aligned) is always appreciated.
You will receive your document back with Track Changes edits and comments. I often include a sample style sheet for copyediting clients to provide more information about my style sheet template. If you’ve never worked with a professional editor before, here’s what you can expect: You’ll find edits correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, and inconsistencies. You’ll also find suggestions and edits pertaining to clarity, brevity, conciseness, and flow. The comments will contain queries, thorough explanations (I often actually cite the Chicago Manual of Style), alternate options for corrections, and positive feedback about what you’ve done well.
Many editors, myself included, use the sample edit process to come up with a total project cost estimate. So you may receive more information about timeline and budget when you get your sample edit back.
Remember that different editors will have their own processes and preferences. You may be asked to pay a small fee, and you may have to wait a week or only a couple days. These are all valid requests (no red flags to raise); it can take about an hour to edit 1,000 words, and freelancers tend to get quite a few sample edit requests every month.
What can an author learn from a sample edit?
Samples are not just about testing an editor’s technical skills. They give you the opportunity to review an editor’s ability to understand your style and mood, preserve your voice (and characters’ voices), and make suggestions that augment your story without changing it. It’s important to review each and every edit in the sample to make sure the editor is not changing things for no reason or making your writing sound like someone else. But don’t be surprised if editors correct things you didn’t realize were incorrect—this is why you’re hiring a professional! You can compare the multiple samples you received back to make sure no one has missed an error or introduced one.
You should also use the sample edit process as an opportunity to make sure the level of editing you receive back aligns with your expectations. For instance, you may want your editor to focus on helping sentences flow more smoothly, but the sample edit shows a focus on spelling and grammar. This will give you the opportunity to have a conversation with your preferred editor about doing a line edit rather than a copyedit. Read more about the types of editing to make sure you’re asking for what you need. Along the same lines, this is your chance to give feedback about particular style choices, like asking your editor to stet towards rather than changing it to toward (which is the standard in book publishing).
Finally, make sure you like their communication style. If you get several sample edits, you’ll find that some editors are more direct and succinct while others tend to pepper in a lot of compliments and explanations and suggestions. Neither approach is wrong—what communication style would make the editing process easier for you as a writer?
What can an editor learn from a sample edit?
As a freelance editor, I use sample edits to determine whether a manuscript is a good fit for my skills and expertise. I can assess the writing and genre, clarify the author’s expectations, and determine whether the working relationship and editorial style will be a good fit. One of the first things I figure out is whether I’m the right person for the project, or whether I need to refer out to another editor in my network.
I also evaluate whether the manuscript is ready for the level of editing the author is requesting. A sample edit can reveal if a project needs more in-depth structural work, a full line edit, or additional preparation so copyediting can be most effective. I always respect the next step an author wants to take with their project, but I find having a conversation about the different levels of editing can be helpful.
Finally, the sample helps me develop an accurate project estimate and timeline. I base my per-word rates on the total hours I’ll need for editing. Complex projects that require more fact-checking or contain nontextual elements like images require higher rates. And while most books take me two weeks to edit, I use the sample to determine whether I’ll need to set aside additional time in my schedule.
What if the sample edit isn’t enough?
The sample edit is not the only thing that should factor into your decision to work with a freelance editor. Review their website, social media, previous projects, and testimonials. You can even ask if you can talk to some of their previous clients.
I offer all new clients a free 30-minute phone or video call to talk more about the manuscript, my services, my editing process, and more. (It’s a no brainer—what’s better than having a conversation about books and writing!) You should never feel like you have to move forward as soon as you get a sample edit done. Take your time, and make the best decision for yourself and for your story.
If I could offer one piece of advice to writers seeking an editor, it would be to get several sample edits. And now that you know how to review the work you receive back, you will feel more confident and comfortable trusting a freelance editor with your story.
