When shopping around at different firms, or with various freelancers, for editing services, remember that the indie publishing industry has more of a “Wild West” element to it than you might think. This means that what a term like “proofreading” means to one professional may not be the same as another. Sometimes the differences are extreme, other times there is only a slight variance. Either way, understanding what you’ll be getting for your money is key.
This is why it is so important to make sure that you not focus solely on labels, cost, or turnaround. Pay more attention to deliverables and scope. What exactly the pro will be doing and how much of it. How many times can you ask for revisions? Which tasks are covered under book design services (for example, will the pro be providing source files from InDesign or only the display files you’ll be uploading to KDP)? Will the person who calls themselves a “developmental editor” actually be making any changes to your work, or will they simply be providing an assessment or evaluation that gives you commentary on the piece instead?
Most of the newbie authors that I come across who have been scammed or disappointed by their experience with a pro found themselves in that position because they didn’t know what to ask. They assumed the definitions of terms instead of demanding clarity. And it makes sense! If you’re new, you don’t know what you don’t know.
While the lessons on this site can provide in-depth assistance, here is a quick comparison table based on the most popular services we offer. These numbers and descriptions are going to vary from company to company, mind you, but it should give you a basic understanding to start with. For example, some professionals do what we call a “manuscript evaluation,” but they call it a “professional beta read,” “draft critique,” or “book assessment.” Don’t let the labels confuse you. Focus on the deliverables being offered by the pro (the actual tasks that they will be completing for you) regardless of what they happen to have named the service.
