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Where to Find a Book Editor

Editing Tips

It’s a question that I see a lot online: where do I find a book editor? We can be so focused on getting our words down (as we should be!) that we forget to look into those next steps.

If you find yourself in need of an editor, I’ve gathered a few places you can start looking now, as well as things to consider as you do.

Finding Book Editors

While there are certainly other places you can look for editors, this list is a great starting point. I frequent several of them myself and have connected with many wonderful authors doing so.

Editing Associations

Editing associations, such as the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), ACES: The Society for Editing, or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), will typically have a member directory that you can browse through and/or a job board to which you can post your exact needs.

Freelance Communities

I would be wary of Fiverr and Upwork. While it’s possible to find great freelancers on both platforms, it’s also possible to come across a lot of scams. Both platforms also encourage lowball pricing, which hurts freelancers. (Remember that like any small business, if the good ones can’t survive out there, you’ll lose us!)

Social Media

You’ll find many editors right here and across all of the major social media platforms (Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and so on). We do our best to connect with others in the industry, share tips (like this one), and insights. Feel free to reach out with questions!

There are a myriad of Facebook groups. I find them to be a bit hectic, but I’m sure some writers have had success. Here are just a few:

Many book editors will also post their services in these two subreddits:

Recommendations/Referrals

Ask fellow authors and other professionals for their recommendations! Even if I don’t feel I’m a good fit for an author (either because their genre isn’t one I work with or they need a level of editing I don’t provide), I have a list of other editors I refer them to.

What to Expect for Pricing

The price of editors can vary due to many factors, including which level(s) of editing you need, the state of your manuscript, that editor’s experience, the cost of living in their area, etc. It’s good to know the general rate range so you can budget accordingly.

Here are two rate guides I typically have writers refer to (though note again that rates can be higher or lower than what is stated here due to the aforementioned factors):

Recommended Reading

I have two more blog posts I recommend authors check out when hiring an editor:

And Finally . . . 

If you’re looking for an editor now, I provide developmental and line editing services and would be happy to chat. Read about my editing style and reach out when you’re ready.

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