Preparing the manuscript
12 questions to ask a developmental editor before you hire them
Ask questions that expose the actual unit of work: Do you read the complete manuscript? Which dimensions do you assess? How do you support judgments with passages? What exactly will I receive? What is excluded? Can I see a sample? How do you handle disagreement? Is follow-up included? What starts the clock? What happens if scope changes? How is my manuscript stored and used? What should I do before and after the edit? The answers should be specific enough to compare two offers without relying on the service label.
By the Wordsmith team · Last updated
Questions about the read
Ask whether the complete manuscript is read, which craft dimensions are tracked, how distant chapters are connected, and what evidence supports a judgment.
Ask to see a representative deliverable. The answer should reveal a repeatable method rather than only a promise of comprehensive feedback.
Questions about the relationship
Ask how disagreement works, whether a call or follow-up is included, and whether proposed fixes are instructions or options. Clarify who makes final decisions.
A useful editorial relationship should make authorship more deliberate, not transfer it to the editor.
Questions about data, timing, and exclusions
Ask what starts the turnaround clock, what happens when scope changes, how the file is stored, whether it is used to train any model, when it is deleted, and which services are explicitly excluded.
Put the answers in writing before comparing price. Hidden differences in scope create most false comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask an editor for references?
Yes when the engagement is substantial, while respecting the privacy of former clients and their manuscripts.
Should I disclose my concerns before the edit?
Yes. Give a short editorial brief without scripting the verdict you want the editor to reach.
Sources and product facts
- Editorial Freelancers Association rate chart · Market service and scope context
- How to prepare a manuscript · Wordsmith's visible editorial-brief guidance
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