In the last year, when people approach me asking about my editing services, I find some don’t have a clear picture of what they want from the service. It’s tough for someone writing their first book, script, or e-book to grasp the different levels of editing that could be required.
Some just want a read-through of the book for style, flow and content. Others want the technical edit. I get a lot of these requests due to my military background (13 years working for Air Force News Agency and broadcasting detachments overseas covering military issues for radio, television and the Internet).
Some want military jargon and technical details fact-checked, others are just trying to make sure they get military service details correct such as uniforms and service-specific acronyms. Then there those who are confident enough in all of the above and just want the usual copy editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation and the like.
For an experienced editor, expectation management is second nature. Showing an author or scriptwriter what you are willing to do on one level for X amount of dollars sometimes isn’t the answer. Instead? Defining what your work does NOT cover for that fee and time commitment is sometimes the most important thing.
Once I had a potential client who decided he wanted a lot of in-person meetings, with an ever-changing set of tasks and requirements. I tried very hard to direct this person to the most cost-effective use of time and resources based on his stated goals for the project, but he wouldn’t listen–or come up with his own ideas on how it should proceed.
I got the strangest feeling he wanted company, rather than an editor. The lack of direction seemed to be a way to prolong things, intentional or not.
In the end, I had to turn down the work. It paid very well, but I couldn’t obligate myself to his ever-shifting projects and constant meetings. Sometimes even your best attempts at expectation management don’t work and you have to walk away. But for projects where you work out clearly defined goals, deliverables, and deadlines, the rewards for patience are wonderful.
My advice for the new editor is to define for yourself first what level of editing you are willing to do, how much you want to charge, and how long you think a given project should take. Knowing your own tolerances going into a project can help you to be more flexible and accommodating when needed, and assist when it is time to stand your ground where appropriate.
Joe Wallace is a freelance editor and writer. He is available for books, scripts, and video games and has several colleagues he works with on larger projects. If you need one editor or several, feel free to get in touch: jwallace (at) freelance-zone (dot) com.
Wallace recently completed a script editing project in English for a Japanese client and is currently editing a book on voice acting for a Chicago-based voiceover professional. He spends his spare time blogging about rare vinyl records at Turntabling.net and working on electronic music projects.
