Outsourcing Woes - How to Hire a Competent Editor

by Laura J. Thompson - Date: 2007-04-04 - Word Count: 573 Share This!

If you are looking to outsource some of your more creative pursuits - such as writing and editing - you should know that you aren't alone. Business owners all over the world are realizing that they can save on their bottom line by outsourcing these projects rather than hiring full-time staff. You don't have to pay for benefits and you only need to spend the money when you actually need something done.

Unfortunately, outsourcing doesn't come without its share of problems. Since the hiring process isn't as lengthy and you typically hire remotely (via telecommute), you don't have the luxury of sitting down with your candidates for long, in-depth interviews. This sets you up for a problem if the prospective editor doesn't know what he or she is doing.

So what is a business owner to do? Essentially outsourcing an editor or writer should be a carefully constructed process. While you might not be meeting with prospects at your office or at a restaurant, you can still interview editors and writers and make sure that they are what you are looking for.

Get a List of References

The first step in this long process is to obtain a list of references from the editors with whom you are considering working. Some editors - myself included - won't be able to give you the names of their clients without the signing of an NDA agreement. This is normal, so you'll have to work with the editor in this regard.

Since long-distance charges apply, you might correspond with the editor's previous clients via e-mail. This might not seem as thorough as a telephone conversation, but it usually gets the job done.

Never Work Without a Contract

One of the most important things you must have any time you outsource work for your company is a contract or service agreement. Even if you've known your editor forever, you should still have something to solidify your working relationship. A service contract doesn't have to be fifty pages worth of legalese, but it should contain the following: Names of all parties involved; Dates during which the editing project should be completed; The scope of the project; The type of editing required; and Payment terms and conditions as agreed upon. If you don't have those five components, it isn't considered a contract under the law and you stand to lose something should your editor renege.

View Samples of Previous Work

Ideally, the editor you hire will have past experience with the type of editing you require. Technical editing is much different from the editing of prose, and you should take that into consideration. If the editor doesn't have examples of previous works, ask him or her to edit a couple of pages from your manuscript or article to see if you'll be satisfied.

Start with a Small Project

If you aren't certain about the editor's abilities to get the job done, always start with a small project. I don't know a single editor who offers refunds for work that the client doesn't like because, after all, the work was accomplished. Ask the editor to take on a single article or a few pages from your manuscript before signing a contract to cover a large amount of work.

Good Luck!

A great editor will save you hours of hard work and headaches over your documents or manuscripts. Finding a competent editor can sometimes be a chore, but once you find someone who knows what he or she is doing, your professional life will be made much easier.

Related Tags: outsourcing, freelancing, editor, freelancer, editing

Laura J. Thompson is a professional editor, ghostwriter and consultant. She provides these services at competitive prices for both businesses and individuals all across the United States. You can learn more about her services by visiting her website (http://www.editingbylaura.com) or by reading more of her articles. She specializes in fiction ghostwriting and editing, though she also enjoys self-help and other non-fiction articles and books.

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