Qualities of a good editor

So you've written your first novel, or have hashed out your college term paper and now you would like a pair of expert eyes to look it over.  How can you tell if the editor you are thinking of hiring is a good one?  The answer lies not only in technical skills but in how the two of you mesh as a "working team."

Before you hire them, ask them about their background.  What is their education and training?  What jobs are they currently doing?  How long have they been editing? Can they tell you a few examples of work they have edited and people they have worked with?  Can they show you any samples?

Secondly, what are their interests?  Do they seem like a scholarly type who likes to read, or a writer who takes great pleasure in being a wordsmith?  If they do not show any of these qualities, you may want to run as fast as you can in the other direction!  If they only seem tepid towards language and communications, you may want to be cautious about hiring them.

Lastly, but no less important than the first two, how do the the two of you get along?  Do you feel like you can communicate your ideas comfortably with this person?  If you disagree with something they cut out of your paper, will they get offended or uppity when you protest?  If there is going to be a lot of friction when they are working on your paper, this irritation will sooner or later have you avoiding having them work on any more of your writings!  Do you like the person?  If their personality is at odds with yours, you will be uncomfortable spending time with them, and won't want to hand over your hard-earned money.

I don't mean to go on and on about the feelings part of the writer-editor relationship, but it really will undermine everything if something is not right.  I have had people not hire me after they have talked to me for a while and described their project.  I am willing to bet it was for a "feelings" reason.  Did they dislike the tone of my voice?  Did I state an offensive personal belief or value?  Maybe I was too liberal-minded, or prettier than them and they were feeling insecure about it.  Who knows?  It may not have been a rational-minded reason, but it was enough of a reason that they never called me back.

On the other hand, there are people who have hired me because they appreciate my hunger for knowledge, the time I have put into getting good at writing and editing.  Or they like that I am still easy to talk to enjoy sharing a joke once in a while.   There are those who have said, "I can call you any time about anything and you are ready to work on it right away."  One person said, "I can't thank you enough for all you've done."  This is starting to sound like a commercial for me as an editor, but I am just trying to show you that there different clients feel comfortable with different personalities, so keep on looking for an editor that you feel comfortable with, and you will be sure to find the one you "click" with.