EDITOR RED FLAGS 🚩 What to look out for when hiring a freelance editor for your book | Natalia Leigh

When shopping around for a freelance editor, these are seven red flags to be on the lookout for. These things don't necessarily mean an editor is lying about their skills or won't do a good job, but it's important to be informed so you don't hire someone who'll do more harm than good. If you have any additional questions about hiring or working with a freelance editor, let me know in the comments below.
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[@taintedcrimson]

As someone beginning the long process of working toward becoming a freelance editor, this was so incredibly helpful! I want to be able to have the best start when I've finished my training courses, and I really appreciate the knowledge and experience you've shared here.

[@anival9576]

What training courses are you taking?

[@mercurialthrills9011]

I like how you mention it is good to have a different copyeditor and a different proofreader, because mistakes can still go unnoticed. It reminds me of those days when I would write essays for English class and we would need three different editors.

[@jhouserwrites]

Lots of great tips :) I've been happy with my editors for my upcoming indie debut. I got a manuscript critique from a developmental editor and after revisions and more betas, got a copy/line editor. After I worked through her notes, then she proofread it. Lots of phases! More important than recommendations from others, was getting those sample edits! I had half a dozen of each kind of editor do a sample and price quote. Some of the more expensive ones weren't as thorough, or tried to change my voice completely! If you're trusting your book baby, good name, and rating stars on someone--it pays to do it right!

[@s.l.wymansrockinwriting6633]

Great tips! I've always found your communication to be fun and personal but very, very professional. I'd work with you again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the advice and all your help.

[@thejubileesproject9101]

Every RED FLAG you pointed out applied to you Natalia. Have a good day.

[@davidstewart8796]

I wish I had seen this before lasy Sunday, oh well, thanks for the continuing support you give to the writing community you are a star Natalia.

[@gordonbarnes7005]

As an aspiring editor, I'll take this as a valuable list of what _not_ to do.

[@tabischaliem5808]

The first ever content I watched by you is the video where you describe how to outline a novel the pantser way. I'd never expected anyone to talk about outlining in that manner and I had a drastically new outlook on outlining after I heard you speak in that video. So, amazing, thank you, Natalia! I'd like to ask one thing regarding this Editor Red Flags -- what if you are a real editor and you've been doing that job through contractors? By contractors, I mean companies that either call themselves software houses or digital solutions or digital agencies and they run vanity publishing brands. There are writers and editors working in the production departments of these companies who never get to interact with the clients. The company name and the vanity brand name are never the same. When you work as ghostwriter or editor with one of these companies/contractors, it is kind of like being someone who wrote for Black Mask because they wanted the money but later found it was hard to be taken seriously because everybody thought they wouldn't really know about the writing craft, if you know what I mean. So, if you're only striking out on your own after having worked on a number of "company clients" and you get in touch with someone who might become your first ever client to deal directly with you, you won't have testimonials in your name. What do you do then? I think, you should try to gain the potential client's confidence by giving them a good free sample, right?

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Oh my goodness yesss!! All of this is so good. Looking back, there have been so so many red flags, I didn't have any idea at the time lol. This is why you are literally the only editor to this date that I would happily work with again!

[@ericarowanarts]

Great video as always! This was just the pick me up and distraction I needed. Your attitude and outlook is so well balanced. I appreciate your candor. I feel like if your gut is telling you something is off, try to listen. I have a few editor friends who don't use punctuation/proper grammar when we're texting all casual like, but when they're in professional mode, it's all business. The tip about reading their body of work is *chefs kiss*. I feel like their work will speak for itself and be the best indication of quality. :)

[@thejubileesproject9101]

Every RED FLAG you pointed out applied to you Natalia. Have a good day.

[@samueldisalvo7986]

This is informative! Thank you for these red flags.

[@hustonrelations]

Great video, Natalia!! 💪🏼💜

[@winterrenes1249]

really helpful, thank you!

[@Katlyn_Duncan]

Such great tips! Some of these made me cringe but I hope a lot of authors take your advice to steer clear of these red flags.

[@anival9576]

I appreciate your emphasis that editors miss things too. I feel like there is ignorance reflected in this idea that if you hire an editor, your manuscript will be pristine... Not to say it won't be vastly improved.

[@H-Channel-ud4gv]

Great information.

[@BeccaCSmith]

I know I've said this before, but I am just so grateful for you and Enchanted Ink! As you know, I've had some pretty horrible experiences with editors in the past, but you guys always make me feel confident and excited to publish! (I wish this video had existed years ago hahahaha! I would have made very different decisions lol!) Thank you guys for being such professionals and just being awesome! You have a client for life! (Assuming you don't get sick of me hahahaha!!!)

[@thejubileesproject9101]

Every RED FLAG you pointed out applied to you Natalia. Have a good day.

[@EM-mn3nz]

I'm so happy to hear that you chat with clients strictly through email! That's what I plan to do as well. Do you have any tips on how to communicate that with clients? Has anyone ever gotten upset about it?

[@Thegiddyowl]

Thank you so much Natalia! I’m getting started on putting together my first self published trilogy but having my friends go over it (compensating them and we were all classmates in grad school/tutoring) but if it does okay I’ll hire editors for the next series! ETA: I looked through your website and it has an outline look over and formatting that’s within my budget of a ham sandwich expect an email from me soon lol

[@fictionalphoenyx]

Natalia, can EIP, now having multiple editors, do both copyediting AND proofreading in a bundle package?

[@janalewis3030]

I love all of these tips. Could you possibly do a video on how to get started with finding clients for copyediting, etc.? I have taken a copyediting and developmental editing class through UCLA-Extension but have not been able to figure out how to get started - especially since I don't have samples to provide. I would also love to know what you do formatting in - I work in educational publishing and we use InDesign - is that what you use? (I've always wanted to work in trade publishing but it's a bit hard when you don't live in NYC!). As always - a pleasure watching your video!

[@customafd248]

New to to the channel. I have watched a few videos new. Great stuff! I do wish you would create another video about the steps to self publishing a book. What platforms are out there and the necessary steps to publish on those platforms to the best of your knowledge. Also how you would you self publish today? What steps would you take? I think this would help and inspire a lot of authors.

[@placebo11000]

I wish I saw this video before! I hired an editor for some of my postgrad essays that were worth high percentages. I was really disappointed that I spent so much money to find that the editor had used some kind of function where you can put the same comment on every time a word appears in the essay. The word Māori needs a macron, in some places I put this and in others I didn't, regardless on every mention of the word, even the ones with macrons, the same comment was attached. I also got marked down for a few referencing errors, even though she assured me that she would check my referencing.

[@MVMackenzie]

Good idea, for samples.

[@averyclarke2689]

Thank you for this informative video!

[@lizhenderson9804]

I was wondering what a style sheet was for!

[@MVMackenzie]

Style sheet? I have one of those! 😁 I’m going through developmental edit at the minute.

[@nyahj2735]

Hello Natalia I love your channel, I just self published my poetry book, would you like to buy a copy, but once I get the link I’m going to tell you.

[@ExtrmBio]

These are great tips but to be honest it sounds like a long process and an expensive one to hire so many different people. Seems easier to try and get a traditional publisher 😅

[@peterheyes8552]

Great vid. Please can I ask a question in regards to scene breaks? I have a large cast with quite a few main characters and I am writing in 3rd person multiple. My question is, in each chapter how many scene breaks could I literraly get away with to change POV? Please give me an actual number. Thank you

[@Kaitheminion]

Can I ask, I'm planning on setting up my proofreading business next month, but I've only done random edits from the courses I've completed and friends' work, so should I give out free sample edits for a while first to gather testimonials? What's the best way to get them when you're totally new to the business and have no clients yet?

[@snowyfictions]

A good way is to share your knowledge, for free, online. Maybe write a few blog posts or Instagram stories about grammar mistakes.

[@Kaitheminion]

@@snowyfictions That's a good idea, thank you for the suggestion!

[@ivacizkova9499]

Is stylesheet the same thing as author's "story bible", for example all notes in Scrivener?

[@HeatherDeweyPettet]

No, a story bible is a more in-depth collection of notes for an author to use while writing. A style sheet is for the editor or proofreader to use while working so that they know what the author wants as far as spelling of names and settings, and other things that the author uses in the story, and wants to make sure that the editor looks for. She did mention all of the things that could be listed on a style sheet, including other things like formatting.

[@ivacizkova9499]

@@HeatherDeweyPettet Thank you very much :)

[@davidstewart8796]

@@HeatherDeweyPettet I am not clear, the style sheet is provided by the author to the editor > listening to the video to me it sounded the other way around.

[@HeatherDeweyPettet]

@@davidstewart8796 I don’t remember her saying that, but I think I will rewatch to verify that. There is also the fact that not all authors want to take the time to write one up, so sometimes an editor will work with an author to help them create one. I don’t know if she does that, though.

[@AuthorElliot]

@@HeatherDeweyPettet She said it's something an author can give a proofreader-- Because IF the MS been read by a decent copy-editor, the copy-editor will have provided the author with a style sheet at that time. So she mentioned the author having them in reference to it being a second or third set of edits, and in reference to her realizing these must be shady editors, because they WERENT giving them. But the editor is creating it, altho you could probably create one yourself. Natalie also said she does create them for her clients, but for contracted clients, not for the sample.

[@fictionalphoenyx]

Oh! Also, another red flag...Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, provide full payment up front!!

[@helgar3893]

Is this your natural hair color, Natalia? It's so pretty and interesting. :)

[@NataliaLeigh]

It is! 💙 Thank you!

[@geovannymorajr.1065]

​@NataliaLeigh I like your earrings. Hi five ✋️

[@ScullyPop]

The old red flags.