How to Find a Book Editor (Avoid Scams, Regrets and Tears)

You can find a book editor for memoirs, devotionals, self-help, teaching books and more!

If you’ve written your manuscript—or you’re close—you might be wondering: How do I find a book editor who really gets what I’m trying to say?

You’re not alone. As a book coach, I get this question from Christian writers all the time.

Maybe you’re writing a devotional that’s deeply personal. Maybe your memoir is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Or maybe your non-fiction book is teaching biblical truths in a fresh way. No matter what kind of book you’re writing, you care deeply about stewarding your message—and you want a professional book editor who will honor your voice and help you make it clear, compelling, and clean.

But with all the options out there, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. And even if you do find an editor who seems like a good fit, it’s hard to know who to trust. And for good reason — scammers and bots have flooded inboxes and social media groups rampantly.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to find a book editor who fits your vision, your voice, and your publishing goals. You’ll still need to vet your short list, but at least you’ll be equipped to know what kind of editing your manuscript might need and how to find one who fits your budget and your faith-based message.

First, Know the Type of Editor Your Book Needs

Before you start Googling or messaging editors, pause to figure out what kind of editing you actually need. Editors tend to specialize, and understanding the types of book editors will help you find the right support for where your book is now.

First, you’ll probably be looking for a freelancing book editor, rather than an acquisition editor who is focused on acquiring books for a publishing house.

Each type of editing focuses on a different “zoom level” of your manuscript:

• Developmental Editing – Big-picture help: structure, message clarity, flow, audience resonance
• Line Editing – Language-level support: sentence structure, tone, rhythm, and voice clarity
• Copyediting – Surface-level polish: grammar, usage, consistency, and style guide alignment
• Proofreading – Final polish: catching typos, punctuation issues, and formatting glitches

👉 Not sure what these editing stages mean? Check out this post: The 4 Types of Book Editing Every New Author Should Know

Should You Self-Edit or Hire a Professional Book Editor?

One of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to self-edit, ask a friend for help, or invest in hiring a professional book editor.

Here’s what I tell my coaching clients:

When Self-Editing Might Be Enough (for Now)

• You’re still revising your first draft
• You’re on a tight budget and saving for later services
• You enjoy editing and have a good eye for detail
• You’ve used tools like Hemmingway app, ProWritingAid or Grammarly to do a first pass

BUT—self-editing has its limits. Especially if your book is meant for a broader audience or your plan is to self-publish or pitch to publishers.

When Hiring a Book Editor Is the Best Choice

• You want an expert who understands your market, such as a Christian book editor who shares your values
• You’re preparing to self-publish or pitch to a traditional or hybrid publisher
• You’ve edited as far as you can, but you’re not sure what’s working and what isn’t
• You want to make your reader experience as smooth, engaging, and high-quality as possible

More than once, a client has handed me a manuscript saying, “My English teacher friend already edited it.” But when I read it, I still found logic gaps, pacing issues, and confusing transitions. Editors who are just “good at grammar” may not be trained in the kind of deep editorial insight that brings clarity and cohesion to a book.

That’s the difference a professional book editor makes.

How Much Is a Book Editor?

Let’s talk numbers. Because yes, how much a book editor costs can vary wildly—and it’s a smart question to ask up front.

The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) offers a helpful breakdown of average rates based on the type of editing you need. Here’s a general guide based on their 2023 data:

📝 Keep in mind:

• Some editors offer line editing services as a bundle with copyediting.
• Others price by the hour or by project.
• Amazon book editing services or bulk editing platforms may offer lower prices, but quality can vary. It’s important to know who’s actually doing the work—and whether they understand your voice, genre, and message.
• Avoid Scammers by checking out their portfolio, verifying their email address or social profile history, and educate yourself on Writers Beware wisdom.

💡 Looking for a budget-conscious starting point? A Manuscript Review is often a more affordable way to get expert feedback before committing to a full edit.

Where to Find a Book Editor

Where do you even start your search for a freelance book editor? Here are some ideas for finding an ideal-fit editor who works with your niche, such as Christian authors, memoirists or devotional writers:

Ask Around to Find a Book Editor

Ask in Facebook groups referrals from Christian writers or non-fiction authors who were impressed with their editor.

Reach out to authors you admire and ask who edited their book.

Some authors start with trusted English teachers or friends who are naturally good with words. While they may not be professional editors, they can help finetune grammar later on.

Dig Deeper to Find a Book Editor

Attend a writers’ conference — sometimes freelance editors hang out there or promote their services in swag, ready to engage new clients.

Look for a well-written book comparable to yours and flip to the acknowledgments at the back. You’ll probably find the name of the book’s editors there, which you can explore further.

Check Networks and Directories to Find a Book Editor

• The Christian PEN – A professional network of Christian book editors and proofreaders
• Reedsy – A trusted platform of freelance book editors, vetted for experience, with genre filters. You can browse portfolios and submit your project to multiple editors.
• Upwork, Urban Writers, and Freelancer – Broader platforms where you can search for affordable book editors by type and style
• Author Media Social, an author community hosted by podcaster Thomas Umstattd, Jr, has a writer’s job board where you can post your project. Both writers, editors and other industry specialists hang out there.
• Christian Editor Connection – matchmaking with vetted editorial freelancers who have years of experience in the Christian publishing industry

📌 Tip: Read editor bios and portfolios carefully. Look for someone who’s worked on books similar in tone and theme to yours. Check out a couple titles they mention their portfolio. You can get enough of a preview by reading the “Look Inside” feature of a book on Amazon. (You’ll need to hope on a laptop for this as this feature doesn’t seem to work on tablets and mobiles.}

What to Look for in Line Editing Services or Copyediting Help

When I was preparing my book for publication, I hired a freelance book editor through my hybrid publisher’s coaching platform. She had solid experience, and I was excited to work with her. But then she got sick, delays happened, and I eventually had to find someone else.

Along the way, I discovered: The best line editing services don’t just clean up your sentences—they protect and elevate your voice.

The editors I loved most:

• Understood my readers, my heart and my message
• Caught awkward sentences without making them sound robotic or stiff
• Suggested language that enhanced clarity while keeping my tone intact

When you look for an editor, ask for a sample edit. Not every editor offers this structure for free — after all, it is time-consuming to edit well, and they are trying to make a living. Be prepared to pay for the sample. If you do receive a sample, pay attention to how they handle your voice, especially if you’re writing with a conversational or devotional tone.

How Your Editing Choices Align With Your Publishing Path

The kind of editor you hire often depends on which publishing path you’re pursuing:

If You’re Going Traditional

You’ll need to submit a clean, professional manuscript. This means, at the very least, run it through Hemmingway app or Grammarly! While traditional publishers may provide in-house editing, your chances of getting noticed increase dramatically when your submission reads smoothly and follows publishing norms.

If You’re Self-Publishing

You are responsible for the final product. Hiring an editor for self-publishing isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity if you want to stand confidently behind your book. AI tools may be cheaper and can help make a clean copy, but they won’t catch nuances like your voice, sarcasm or, humour. Many Amazon book editing services offer copyediting or proofreading, but be sure to vet the editor’s background in your genre.

Need help deciding your route? Read this:
👉 Choosing Your Publishing Path: Traditional, Hybrid, or Indie?

Final Thoughts: To Find a Book Editor Is to be a Steward of Your Message

Finding the right editor is about more than checking a task off your to-do list or getting your book off your plate. It’s about inviting someone to speak into your message with wisdom, clarity, and care.

You don’t have to get it perfect. But you do want it to feel like you, refined.

So whether you’re searching for affordable book editors, curious about line editing services, or wondering how to find a faith-based book editor who sharpens your message—take heart. There’s someone out there who’s a good fit for your voice and your vision.

📌 Ready to Take the Next Step?
Not sure what kind of editing your book needs? Start with a Manuscript Review. It’s a cost-effective way to get expert feedback and know what next step will give you the most traction.

Find out my own editing experience with Dare to Decide in the Book Self-Publishing Timeline mini email course!