Should I hire a professional editor?
I don’t usually recommend hiring a professional editor. I believe that about 90% of students don't need to hire one. Instead, I recommend:
- Thorough self-editing using the 4-Step Editing Process described in Lesson 90
- Using free editing software like Grammarly and Hemingway for proofreading and improving grammar and flow.
- Getting feedback from beta readers
- Using the "crowdsourced editing" method described in lesson 94 to bring in additional voices and perspectives.
If you do have a significant budget (1k+) and choose to hire an editor, I suggest:
- Paying between 5-10 cents per word
- Choosing someone you work well with and trust
I haven’t hired editors for my own books and if you follow the 4-Step Editing Process in Lesson 90 I’m confident you'll be completely fine without a professional editor.
Remember, the goal is to produce a high-quality book, which I believe is achievable through careful self-editing, peer feedback, and free editing tools.