How to Find & Hire a Qualified Academic Editor that Meets Your Needs

Good academic editors want to collaborate with their client to produce a clear, well-argued, and engaging piece of scholarly work. These editors work to enhance their client’s writing through suggested revisions and thoughtful feedback as opposed to substantially rewriting the author’s original work. A major advantage to finding the right academic editor over going it alone or sending work to a colleague is that you can tailor the relationship to your needs, such as the specific type of editing that you’re looking for as well as your personal deadlines and budget.

Although there is no shortage of freelance editors, finding an academic editor who is the right fit for you and your project can be a challenge. First and foremost, you want to identify someone with experience and a reputation for professionalism. Fortunately, there are several professional organizations geared directly towards those in the editorial professions. One that I personally belong to is the Editorial Freelancers Association. If you have a specific project in mind, you can post directly to the EFA’s job list or search their directory. Their directory is free and open to the public, and you can search by skills and specialties.

Another important consideration is whether a potential editor has any academic writing experience of their own. Academic writing–like any genre–has its own set of rules and expectations. Therefore, it makes sense to look for someone with experience as both an editor and as a scholar.

A third issue to consider during your search is whether a potential editor has training in your specific field. I don’t think this is a deal breaker, but hiring an editor with specialized knowledge of your subject area is a definite plus. A non-negotiable, of course, is whether they are familiar with your specific style guide, e.g., Chicago, MLA, and APA.

What to Ask When You’re Hiring an Academic Editor

You’ve done your research and think you’ve found someone who appears to be both qualified and collegial, but there are still some important questions to ask.

1. If the potential editor is not someone who has been directly recommended to you, request at least two references. Even if you never contact them, an editorial professional should be able to give you the names and contact information for two previous clients.
2. Inquire about a potential editor’s process and make sure it fits your needs. What kind of software do they typically use and how flexible (or not) are they? Do you want your editor’s changes to be tracked or permanently inserted into the document? How do you want your editor to communicate written feedback–using “Comments” in the text itself or creating a separate document? Reputable copyeditors will provide a short sample edit (typically free but usually limited to 2–3 double-spaced pages) to get a sense of the type of editing that will be required for your specific project as well as to give you a sense of what to expect in terms of feedback. If this is not something that your editor automatically offers during the “interview” process, do not be afraid to ask.
3. And for many folks, one of the most important questions: how much is all of this going to cost? An experienced editor should be able to provide a good-faith estimate in writing before the job is started. If you are truly looking for someone who is qualified and reputable, you need to be willing to pay a fair rate for their expertise. The Editorial Freelancers Association’s rate chart for editorial services is an excellent place to get a sense of what you should expect to pay. Beware of editors who offer bargain basement rates–remember, you usually get what you pay for.

Finally, trust your gut! You’ll want to have a good rapport with your editor since they will have the delicate job of evaluating your work and suggesting revisions. Bonus points if they also bring a sense of energy and enthusiasm to the work.