This week’s post comes from the wonderful Kim Foster, our editor. In this piece, she shares how to evaluate your editing needs and the timing for hiring an editor. Enjoy!

Have something to add? Have a question? Let us know in the comments! We read and respond to each one and love hearing from you.

“I’m writing a book, and I’m not sure when I need to hire an editor. When is the right time?” This is a question I often hear from aspiring writers and authors, and when they ask, my mind begins to swirl with a myriad of possibilities. How do I respond? Well, it all depends.

Many people think you only hire an editor once the book is written. But an editor can get started when the writer does—in the ideation process—and work all the way to the final product. So there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but there is an answer.

Insightful editors will begin by asking several questions to better understand your needs and then guide you toward the best approach for your project. These are a few questions you might hear:

• Where are you in the writing process?
• Is this your first draft or a more polished version?
• Are you looking for substantial revisions, or do you want to simply fine-tune your manuscript?

If you’re not sure how to answer, an editor can perform a manuscript evaluation and give you recommendations on the best next steps for your work. And don’t be embarrassed to ask the editor a lot of questions. Based on where you are in the writing process, some of the following questions may apply to you.

I have a book idea, but where do I start?

You’re in the beginning stages of fleshing out an idea. The concept is strong, but it’s confusing to know how to make it real. You feel a little overwhelmed at organizing your thoughts, and even the starting point seems illusive.

You need to hire a developmental editor.

A developmental editor works with you to formulate an outline for your book—a map for your content. This isn’t just an afternoon of brainstorming. This process can take a month or two, depending on the complexity and length of your book. The value is in laying the groundwork for a solid manuscript.

This approach is like building a house. If you don’t lay a strong foundation, the house probably won’t make it through the construction process, and it surely won’t stand the test of time. With a well-developed outline, you’ve created a blueprint to build a solid book to clearly communicate with your reader.

I have a rough draft written, but how do I know if it’s strong enough?

You have worked hard to put down all your ideas, but you’re unsure if you’ve connected with your reader. You’re not sure what’s missing.

You need to hire either a developmental editor or a content editor.

Editors will often combine the different stages of editing, and this phase is where they often do just that. An editor comfortable with both developmental and content editing will evaluate the structure and logical flow of the content. Is the theme solid throughout the manuscript? Did you introduce a concept that supports your theme but never fully explained it? Maybe the content shifts and suddenly changes direction. Abrupt switches often interrupt the flow of reading and signal gaps to the reader.

You want the reader to trust you, but if they can’t follow your line of thought and are lost, they’ll put your book down and move on. An editor is a safeguard to help maintain the reader’s attention.

I need to build up the content and expand certain ideas. Where do I start?

You know there are gaps, but you’re not sure how to address them. What will resonate with the reader? You also want to cite credible sources, but you’re not sure where to look.

You need to hire a content editor.

A content editor can pinpoint those gaps and bring in ideas for expansion—including other sources, quotes, or data from case studies. The editor will evaluate the flow of writing, the effectiveness of transitions, and the clarity of your presentation. There may be some structural revisions and rewriting in this phase, always with the goal of reaching for the most impactful presentation of your content.

My manuscript has been professionally evaluated, and the structure is solid. What’s the next step?

You’ve gone through revisions and feel very comfortable with the state of your manuscript. The big picture has been established, but you haven’t checked the smaller details.

You need to hire a copy editor.

There should be no major revisions at this stage. The copy editor will address any technical issues of grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling, verb usage, and parallel construction. During this refinement stage, the editor will reference the chosen style guide and address any inconsistencies. Your manuscript should be rather clean by this point, but there is one more valuable step for a polished product.

My manuscript has been professionally copyedited and is almost ready for publication. What else do I need?

You are so close to publication! You want to be sure nothing slips through that shouldn’t be there. Your goal is a book free of errors.

You need to hire a proofreader.

It’s wonderful to have an extra set of eyes on your manuscript, especially someone who is new to your content, right before it goes to design (predesign) and after it’s put into design (postdesign). During the proofreading phase, an editor looks for textual and typographical errors, ensuring everything matches the style guide or style sheet used, the font sizes and types are consistent, and the headers and the table of contents match. In postdesign, they’ll also look for formatting issues, like spacing, widowed or orphaned lines, and order of the content (front and back matter).

There shouldn’t be much to catch in this stage, but it is very important to include this step in your publication journey. You’ve come this far, and proofreading will make sure your published book will be something you’re proud of.

So when should you hire an editor? It all starts with a conversation. Veteran editors who understand each stage of the editing process will know how to guide you to the finish line of a polished manuscript. Get ready to dig in and do the work. Together, with the right editor, you can reach your goal of preparing your manuscript for publication.

If you would like to go through a program with a book coach who walks with you every step of the way, along with a support team, on your path to publication, check out Nonfiction Book School’s self-study program, run by Stacy Ennis. Or if you want live help in a group setting, check out her Idea-to-Draft program. There’s even an insightful quiz on her website you can take that will help you explore your editing needs.