Qualities Of Good Book Editors

Book editors are the people you take your manuscripts to when you want them published. As such, they are just as important as publishers. They are charged with the responsibility of polishing manuscripts and getting them ready for publication. If you conduct a search on the internet, you will come across editors advertising their services. While some are good at what they do, others are just out to scam you. It is important that you take your time when selecting an editor. This is the only way you can ensure that your book gets published on time. The following are some of the qualities of a good editor.
Fine book editors are professionals. That is, they email or call you about edits and pitches in your story on time. They do not wait until you call to inform you on the progress they have made on your manuscript. Additionally, they treat writers/authors as their peers or equals and not like people who are beneath them. Apart from being professional, excellent editors are also very well organized and they are usually in high demand. They handle books from many different authors. Still, they are able to effectively keep track of each writer’s work and deliver on time as required.
Good books editors are also prudent copywriters. You have probably heard writers complain about some editors. Quack editors are just in the profession for the money. They do not know a thing about writing. An exceptional editor is a person who, at some point, was a writer himself. As such, he understands what makes a good piece of writing. By handling your work, he makes it even better. Furthermore, he/she has realistic expectations. He/she understands that for a writer to come up with good materials for his/her writing, ample time is necessary. Thus, they give work with reasonable deadlines.
Yet another quality of an excellent editor is reliability. He never reneges on his promises; he delivers when and how he says he will. Moreover, he does not change his mind halfway through, asking you to change your story line or requesting for more time and pay. One other trait is self confidence. There is never a time that fine editors feel that they should make changes to your work if it is already good, because they are confident about their skills.
You will not be able to tell good books editors from bad ones just by looking at them. Prior to hiring an editor, it is important to conduct a thorough background check on them. If possible you should talk to some of their previous clients. They are best placed to tell you if you are making a good decision seeking the services of particular editors. You should also inquire about their credentials as well as level of experience. You are safer in the hands of an individual that has some kind of training in editing. In addition, he/she should have been in the book editing business for a number of years.