Hiring a Book Editor: Questions to Ask Before You Pay a Deposit

The right editor can turn a promising draft into a book readers recommend. The wrong one can cost you months and a sizable deposit. The difference usually shows up in the first conversation, if you ask the right questions.

Below are the questions worth asking, grouped by topic, with notes on what a good answer sounds like. You do not need to ask all of them; pick the ones that matter most for your book and budget.

Know These Answers Before You Ask

Editors can only quote accurately if you give them the basics. Have these ready before you reach out:

• Word count. The exact number, not an estimate.
• Genre and audience. Who the book is for and what it is like.
• The level of edit you think you need. Our guide to the four types of book editing helps you decide.
• Your timeline. When the manuscript will be ready and when you want to publish.
• Your budget range. Even a rough figure helps an editor suggest the right scope.

Questions About Experience and Fit

1. Which genres do you edit most often? You want someone who knows your readers' expectations, whether that is pacing in a thriller or clarity in a how-to book.
2. Can you share books you have edited? Published titles, testimonials or a portfolio show real work. Respect confidentiality if some clients are private.
3. Which style guide do you follow? For American books, The Chicago Manual of Style is the usual standard. The answer shows professional habits.
4. Have you worked with self-published authors? Editors used to indie timelines and budgets often explain things more clearly and fit around your launch plan.

Questions About Scope

5. What level of edit do you recommend, and why? A good editor may tell you that you need less than you asked for, or more. Either answer should come with reasons.
6. What exactly will I receive? Tracked changes, margin comments, an editorial letter, a style sheet? Get it in writing.
7. How many passes are included? One read-through and two are very different services at very different prices.
8. Will you review my revisions? Many developmental editors include a follow-up read of revised sections; some charge for it.
9. Do you check facts or citations? For nonfiction, know whether flagging doubtful claims is included or a separate service.

Questions About Process

10. When can you start, and when will I get the edit back? Good editors are often booked weeks ahead. Build that into your schedule.
11. How do we communicate during the edit? Email only, or a call to discuss the editorial letter?
12. What file format do you work in? Most use Word with tracked changes. Confirm before you send a file from another app.
13. What happens if we disagree on a change? The honest answer is that you have the final say. Editors suggest; authors decide.

Questions About Price and Payment

14. How do you price this work? Per word, per page, per hour or a flat project fee. Our guide to book editing prices shows typical rates by genre.
15. What is the total, and what could change it? Ask what happens if the manuscript is longer or needs more work than expected.
16. What deposit do you require, and when is the balance due? A deposit to hold your slot is normal. Paying everything upfront for a long project is a risk.
17. What is your policy if I need to reschedule or cancel? Life happens; know the terms before it does.

Questions About the Agreement

18. Will we have a written agreement? A short contract or detailed email covering scope, dates, price and payment protects both sides.
19. Who owns the edited manuscript? You should. An editor's suggestions become part of your work, and you keep all rights and royalties.
20. Will you keep my manuscript confidential? Most editors do by default, and many will sign a simple nondisclosure agreement if you ask.
21. May I be credited, or will you list my book? Some authors are happy to give an acknowledgment; others prefer privacy. Agree upfront.

Extra Questions for Specific Books

Some books raise questions that general checklists miss. Add these when they apply:

If You Are Writing a Series

• Will you keep a style sheet of names, places and timelines that carries across every book?
• Are you available for later books, so the same editor keeps the series consistent?

If You Are Writing a Memoir

• Will you flag passages that describe real people in ways that could cause problems?
• How do you handle sensitive personal material and keep it confidential?

If Your Book Relies on Research

• Will you check that sources are cited consistently?
• Do you flag statistics or claims that look outdated or unsupported?

If English Is Your Second Language

• Have you edited authors writing in their second language before?
• Will you explain recurring patterns so you can improve future drafts, not just fix this one?

How to Judge a Sample Edit

Many editors offer a short sample edit of a few pages, free or for a small fee. It is the single best way to choose between candidates. When you read it, ask yourself:

• Do the changes keep my voice? Good editing makes you sound like a better version of yourself, not like the editor.
• Are the comments specific? "This scene drags" is less useful than "the scene stalls after the argument; consider ending it at her reply."
• Did they explain bigger changes? Unexplained rewrites make it hard to learn or to push back.
• Did they catch what I missed? The best samples surprise you with problems you had stopped seeing.
• Do I trust their judgment? You will be accepting or rejecting hundreds of their suggestions, so this matters most of all.

Send the same pages to every editor you are considering. Comparing edits on identical text makes the choice much clearer, and it shows you quickly whose approach suits your book and whose would leave you rewriting their rewrites.

Red Flags in the Answers

• Promises of bestseller status, awards or agent deals.
• A quote given without seeing any of the manuscript or asking about it.
• Refusal to describe what is included or how many passes you get.
• Pressure to decide quickly or pay in full before any work begins.
• No examples of work, no testimonials and no sample edit available.
• Claims of rights to your manuscript or a share of your royalties.

A Quote Request You Can Copy

A clear first message gets faster, more accurate quotes. Adapt this to your book:

What a Good Editor Will Ask You

A careful editor interviews you too. Expect questions like these, and take them as a good sign:

• What worries you most about the manuscript?
• Has anyone else read or edited it yet?
• Are you publishing independently or querying agents?
• Do you have a style preference, such as American spelling or a specific style guide?
• Is this book part of a series, with names and details that must stay consistent?

Frequently Asked Questions