There’s one step in the editing process that’s usually rushed or overlooked – and that's the editor's brief. This is the email or templated document that outlines the details of an editing project, such as the scope of the job, timeline, budget, requirements and deliverables.
Sadly, a lot of clients drop the ball when it comes to editing briefs, and it could mean the difference between a great edit and an ordinary one.
I’ve worked with book publishers, businesses and self-publishing authors for more than 10 years, and while you might think that publishers provide the best briefs and inexperienced authors the worst, that’s not true. I’ve had good, bad and average briefs from each of those clients.
So whether you're writing your first brief or improving an existing one, this article will explain what an editor's brief is, how long it should be and what you should include to ensure the editing process runs as smoothly as possible.
What is an editor's brief?
An editor's brief is a document that explains the writing project to the editor. It includes details about the book or content, guidelines and expectations, deliverables, style guides, deadlines and contact details – among other things.
In most scenarios, a brief is supplied after an editor has been assigned to a job. It gives them all the information they need to guide their edit and ensure the client's requirements and goals are being met.
How long should an editor's brief be?
The length of a brief depends on the project and the client. Some can be as short as a paragraph while others are three or four pages long. Some are provided in the body of an email while others are in a branded document. In general, the length of the brief depends on:
how complex the project is
how much time was spent on the brief
whether the client has worked with editors before
how well the client understands the editing process.
Sadly, most briefs I receive are short, vague or incomplete, which means I need to contact the client to get more details. So does that mean a brief – despite its name – should be long? Well, it depends.
While a short brief can be fine for small projects or ongoing clients, a longer brief is better for books, long-form content or new clients. That’s because the more information we have, the easier it is to align our work with the client’s timeline, budget and publishing goals. Plus, we avoid time-consuming questions, misunderstandings or confusion along the way.
But it’s not just about speeding up the editing process. Putting together a brief (or a brief template) can help authors or businesses get clear on their requirements and expectations and avoid reinventing the wheel each time they commission an editor.
What should go in an editor's brief?
While the contents will depend on the length and complexity of the project, here's what I like to see in an editor's brief:
project/book title
project/book description
author or company bio
type of editing required (e.g. copyediting, proofreading)
genre or subject area
target audience or market
word count (including footnotes and references)
deadline
budget or fee (if already negotiated)
specific issues that need attention (e.g. transitions, wordiness)
scope of work (e.g. styling, number of passes, fact-checking)
preferred style guide
deliverables (e.g. clean or marked-up copy, running heads)
contact details (e.g. author, project manager).
This list isn’t exhaustive, and it depends on the type of book or document that’s being edited, but it’s a good start. You’d be surprised how many clients forget to include basic details – like the word count or deadline!
Top tip: When an editor asks you about the length of your manuscript or copy, don’t quote the number of pages. Line spacing, font sizes and font types all affect the number of words that fit on a page. To ensure accuracy, use the word count feature!
What if you've never worked with an editor before?
If you’ve never worked with a professional editor, you may struggle to fill out an editor's brief. You may not know what service to commission, how long it normally takes or what the fee should be. In that case, before you approach an editor, spend some time understanding the difference between copyediting and proofreading and what to expect during the editing process. You can even request a sample edit to find out if you're ready for copyediting or whether you need to do further developmental work.
Summing up: What to include in an editor's brief
While putting together a detailed editor's brief may seem time-consuming, it's crucial for any editing project, whether it’s a book, blog post or website copy. It allows your editor to quote correctly and deliver the service you want – without any hassles, delays or misunderstandings – which is the goal, right?
So if your book is ready for editing, I’d love to help. Send me a brief (don’t forget to look at the list above!) and a sample from the middle of your book. I’ll quote you on the project and, if requested, provide a sample edit for A$50.
ความคิดเห็น