Why Work With An Editor?

This short guide explains how to get the most out of working with an Editor like JED3 Consulting.

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1. Be clear about what you want fixed

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Most writers don’t walk around saying, “I need line editing.” They just want their writing cleaned up and made easier to read. They want it to make sense. They want it to sing. 

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So, when you reach out to an Editor it helps to say in plain language what you’re looking for. 

For example:

 

• “Please fix mistakes and awkward sentences to make my writing smoother.”

• “I need this to sound more polished and professional, but still like me.”

• “I think the ideas are there, but I’m not sure everything flows or makes sense—please flag confusing parts.”

 

At JED3 Consulting, we don’t expect you to use technical terms. If you tell us what feels wrong, and what, in your opinion, looks “better” in your head, then we can translate that into the right kind of edit on our side.

 

2. Share the context, not just the file

 

Editors do better work when they know where the writing is going, and who it’s for.

 

When you reach out, it helps to share:

 

• The nature of the project (book, research paper, article, speech, video script, campaign copy)

• Your desired audience (general public, specialists, clients, internal team, funders, etc.)

• How it will be used (submission, publication, launch event, presentation, website, video)

• Current word count

 

3. Give us your real deadline 

 

Editors, including JED3 Consulting, are often juggling multiple projects. So, if your submission, launch, or event is fixed, we need to know the real date.

 

When you reach out, it’s helpful to include:

 

• Your ideal delivery date

• Whether you’re leaning toward a one or multi-stage delivery (for example, editing chapters or sections in batches).

 

That allows us to be honest about what’s possible and suggest a scope that matches your schedule.

 

4. Tell your Editor how heavy or light you want the edit — and understand how that will absolutely affect price

 

Not every project needs the same level of editing. Some writers want a light clean-up. Others want us to be tough, potentially revise every single sentence, and push the work as far as it can go.

 

So, it helps to say things like:

 

“Please just clean it up—fix errors and any obvious awkward sentences.”

 

“Feel free to be aggressive. If something doesn’t work, rewrite it or tell me what’s wrong. Even if that means doing so for every single line.”

 

Your decision in this part of the conversation will directly affect how long it takes your chosen Editor to complete the project. 

 

• A light pass that focuses mainly on errors and small tweaks takes less time and costs less.

• A deeper pass that improves clarity, flow, and phrasing throughout takes more time and costs more.

• If you want both a heavy first edit and a second, final polish, that will add even more time to the project, and consequently - the total fee. 

 

The clearer you are about how hard you want us to push, the more accurate and fairer we can be when we quote you a price.

 

Regardless of your decision, please know that at JED3 Consulting we always use MS Word Track Changes. That means you can see exactly what we’ve done - and then decide how much of it you want to keep.

 

5. Read your Editor's edits and comments with an open mind

 

Good editing is a collaboration, not a verdict on your ability as a writer.

When you get your document back:

 

• Accept the obvious fixes—typos, punctuation, repeated words, small clarity tweaks

• Pay attention to comments where we’ve flagged confusion, repeated ideas, or weak transitions

 

Again, you are always free to reject or adjust edits. The goal is not to erase your voice, but to make sure your ideas come through confidently and clearly.

 

Conclusion

 

Working with an Editor should leave you feeling more confident, not less. If you can tell us what you’re trying to do, who it’s for, and when you need it, we can work together to transform your content into the best version of itself. 

 

If you’re ready to discuss a project with JED3 Consulting, you can reach us at hello@jed3consulting.com, or through the contact form on our site. Please include the type of project, approximate word count, and your deadline, and we’ll respond with a tailored proposal.