Whether you intend to self publish or not, freelance editors are becoming a vital part of the writing process for many authors. These professional proofreaders can offer advice on everything from grammar, to character development, to making sure you show more than tell. For a reasonable fee, they will help polish your book so it shines as brightly as possible in every query letter you’re about to send out. While the majority who use them agree they are worth every penny, those fees can be significant, which is why I opted to trust my own editing abilities and began shopping The Recruiter around to literary agents right after implementing feedback from my beta readers. Still, I felt it was necessary to do a post about the role of freelance editors in the publication process. Since I couldn’t turn to an editor with whom I’d worked personally, I decided to take a shot and ask for a few minutes of precious time from one of the hottest names in the thriller genre today–who also happens to moonlight as a freelance editor. To my surprise and delight, she said yes!
Yasmin Angoe is the Anthony-nominated author of the critically acclaimed thrillers Her Name Is Knight and They Come At Knight of the Nena Knight series. She is a first-generation Ghanaian American and, in 2020, received the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime.
Yasmin’s books were an Amazon Best Book of the Month for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, and an Editor’s Pick. Her work has received numerous recognitions, was on a billboard in Times Square, Best Of lists, and a Library Journal Starred Review. Her Name Is Knight has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, OprahDaily.com, POPSUGAR, Nerd Daily, the Washington Independent Review of Books, The Guardian, and other platforms.
The Nena Knight series has been optioned for a TV series by Ink Factory and Fifth Season and is currently in development.
Yasmin is a proud member of several prestigious organizations, such as Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and the Women’s National Book Association.
Yasmin is a former educator, and she and her blended family of six live in South Carolina.
When you’re not writing another ass-kicking thriller, you’re helping other writers make their work even better. So tell us, why should authors invest in an outside editor?
I won’t say that authors should invest in an outside editor because the ones worth their salt will be a cost commitment. I’ll say I recommend hiring an editor because that person is removed from your writing and can offer objective and helpful insight and suggestions that the author may need. Often times authors are too close to their work to see the plot holes, or the threads that don’t work, or weak motivation, a problematic subject/term/character, or copyediting errors. So if they do not have a publisher to provide them an editor, than hiring a reputable editor who fits with that author is a great step to take.
How does an author know when it’s time to bring in an outside editor versus doing another round of self-editing and revisions?
It depends on the kind of editing service the writer needs. If it’s developmental editing then I’d suggest finding an editor for the completed manuscript after the writer has gone through at least 1 round of clean up to ensure the manuscript is easy to read and is free of major grammatical errors. Never give a zero or 1st draft because they are very messy and will make the process longer and harder. If the writer needs line, copyediting, proofreading, or sensitivity reading, then their drafts should have had several passes (depending on the service and mainly in the order I listed) before sending to the editor for that particular service.
What are some of the most common problems you see in the manuscripts you work on?
Again, that depends on the type of edit I’m providing so it’s hard to say. If we’re talking developmental editing, then there will be plot holes, character development, timeline issues, the motivation could be weak. For the other services it’s grammar and conventions, lots of word echoes, sentences/thoughts that are unclear, etc. I see everything but I guess if we’re talking developmental editing then creating imagery and setting the scene is the biggest issue I see. That has to do with telling instead of showing. Some writers forget to paint that picture so the reader can envision the scene, the characters, and the action being written about.
Where can authors go to find reputable editors, and what should they expect to pay for their services?
Writers can go to Reedsy to get a feel of the editors out there, they can go to Editors of Color, Tessera Editorial, ask friends who they’ve used. There are many places to go to find reputable editors, but the writer has to do their research. Ask around. Give the editor a few pages of your work so they can do the edit and you can see if they’re a good fit. As far as pricing, it depends on the editor’s experience so I can’t really say. If writers go to the Editorial Freelancers Association website and check the Editorial Rates page, they can get a listing of going rates. These aren’t locked in rates though but at least it’s something to give clients the gist of what they may be charged.
You have managed to balance freelance editing work with being a (very) successful author. If others want to pursue that same path, how would you suggest they get started on the editing side and what advice would you give them to sustain both careers?
Ha! I barely manage. It’s very hard. When I have a deadline looming, I take less editing work. So you have to map out your year and pace yourself and the number of jobs you can do in a month against what you need to do for your own writing. I got into professional editing through Tessera Editorial’s BIPOC Editor Training program and also the program from Sourcebooks as well. So I suggest finding a program that can give you the tools you need to get started. Look at online videos. Practice. Get some editing books and be a constant learner because there is always something new in the editing world.
Ok, the time’s yours! As a thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, please feel free to promote something, recite a dirty limerick, or make a case as to why Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible is the greatest spy in movie history. (See, I’ve done my homework on you!)
LOL. You did do your homework! I don’t know why I love the character of Ethan Hunt. I think it’s because he is kind of awkward and funny but also daring. I was also pregnant when I saw the first MI movie and named my first born after him, so, yeah…he will always hold a special place in my heart. I love all the spies and assassins. You name them, I love ’em. As far as promoting…pick up a copy of Her Name Is Knight and They Come At Knight. It Ends With Knight comes out 9/5/23.
You can learn more about Yasmin at her website, yasminangoe.com.
