Sample Edits Explained
how to use a sample edit to hire the right editor for you
After several self-editing rounds, you’ve taken your draft as far as it can go alone. Now you’re looking for an editor.
But you don’t know how to pick one. With so many editors out there, you may feel overwhelmed. Maybe you narrow it down to some editors that you’ve heard of, connected with on social media, or are recommended to you by fellow writers.
Finding the right editor for you and your project is crucial. Like authors, each editor is different, with their own styles and processes.
That’s not a bad thing. It means there’s an editor out there who is the perfect fit for you.
Before you hire, you want to reach out to the editors you’ve narrowed down and ask for a sample edit.
What is a sample edit?
Think of a sample edit as a taste test. By the end, you’ll know if the editor is right for you.
While the process may differ between editors, the basics are always the same:
You will submit a sample of your writing. Some editors ask for a couple pages, others ask for a couple of chapters.
The editor will edit your work as they would for any other client. They will leave many comments, and track changes where they make them.
They will return the sample edit back to you with feedback and recommendations. This will help you decide if you like their editing process and style, and what type of editing you need.
Sample edits are standard in the editing industry. No editor will be confused or offended if you ask them for one (and if they are, red flag).
These can tell you a lot about the editor’s style and process. Then you can make your decision on if they are a good fit for you and your project.
Are they Free?
Depends.
Some editors will do sample edits for free because they don’t want to make you invest in something you may not want. Or because they are actively looking for new clients. It’s a sample, like how some stores will give away samples of products for free in the hopes you’ll buy later on.
Other editors do charge a fee for sample edits because they believe in getting paid for the work they completed. A sample edit an take an hour or more of an editor’s time, and they want to get paid for that.
This fee will range depending on the experience and training of the editor. Always check with an editor what they charge beforehand.
What are red flags I should look for?
In order to protect your work and your peace, you want to look out for these red flags.
1) They stole your money and didn’t return a sample edit. An obvious one, but try to avoid scammers. This can be prevented by carefully vetting your editor before agreeing to anything.
2) They didn’t use any kind of tracked changes, review mode, or comments to edit (depending on the writing software). Rather they edited or rewrote parts of the document without permission/changed your work. Professional editors will never do this. We always use some kind of review mode on documents so you have control over what to accept or reject.
3) They give negative comments. There’s a difference between someone saying “I hate this, change it” vs someone giving constructive criticism saying “Maybe this should be changed because ...”
4) They entirely remove your voice or alter a lot of important things, taking away from the story you were writing. This can look like turning your writing into something that sounds more like corporate writing, or like generative AI.
5) Any editor you think isn’t a good fit. Sometimes the biggest red flag isn’t a classic one. It’s how you feel when you get edits back. If you think the editor can’t help you or isn’t a good match, then that’s your red flag. Listen to it.
What are some green flags to look for?
1) They were responsive, professional, and answered questions appropriately. In edits, they reference a specific style guide that is appropriate for your geographic region or language.
2) They left solid, clear feedback that doesn’t leave you confused. It instead sparks ideas for how you can fix or polish your own work.
3) They made you feel supported in any way. Maybe they gave you a confidence boost or helped you work through some emotions about writing and editing your manuscript.
4) They enhanced your voice and offered suggestions that were a good fit for you. Their editing style or process matches well with yours, and they didn’t try to control the story.
5) They work in your genre, are in your budget, and the sample edit went well with all of the above!
Want to know what this looks like in practice?
A group of editors and I did a study case for sample edits.
We were each given the same sample with the sample instructions from the client. Yet we all edited the sample differently.
Some gave more feedback on developmental level things, others focused specifically on sentence-level edits, showcasing our strengths.
You can check out this case study here!
And maybe hire any one of the editors in the group if you think they might be a good match!
(And follow/subscribe to Jeanette Smith here on Substack too!)
What is My Sample Edits Process?
At Otters Editing, sample edits are fairly simple:
All sample edits are free. Yes, I give up a couple hours of my time, but I don’t want to charge for something you may not want.
You reach out to me. Tell me any specific things about your manuscript like genre, word count, and what kind of editing you think you need. If you don’t know, that’s okay too! That’s what the sample is for.
Select up to 1,000 words from the middle of your manuscript. Put that into a document (Google/Word or PDF) and email it to me. If I need to see a longer sample for any reason, I will let you know.
Wait 2-3 business days. I try to get sample edits done within a few days so you can make your decision and get the feedback you need.
You will receive the sample edit. Review my edits, comments, and feedback from the email carefully. Take a few days as needed.
Send a follow-up email (to continue hiring me or saying you went with another editor). Even if you decide not to hire me, please send a follow-up email. I would prefer an update of any kind rather than be ghosted.
If you decide not to hire me, but would like recommendations or referrals for another editor, please let me know.
I am in community with many other amazing editors that would be happy to get work. I believe in helping everyone however I can!
Thank you for reading! I hope this was educational. Questions? Comment them here and I’ll get back to you when I can.