Watch Jackies emotional video on Instagram here.
<TLDR> Indie author Jackie Reyn laments that she may have been the victim of an unethical editor. The errant editor, after accepting payment, (seemingly) ghosted poor Jackie harder than my favourite ex. The editor remains unknown as of the time of my writing. Jackie is out of pocket ZAR25 000/ $1500, with nothing to show for it. </TLDR>
Firstly Jackie, I’m sorry. The shitty experience with your book/ manuscript editor sucks. I’m especially sorry that this unprofessional editor ruined your Friday. Fridays should be spent giggling behind your keyboard, hallucinating from copious cups of caffeine. ☕☕
In your Insta video, you raised a few interesting points about author-editor interactions. I hope you don’t mind if attempted to answer these, as best I can?
Oh, before I get into this allow me to introduce myself….I’m Dave 👋 I work with multiple editors every month on a wide range of manuscript genres – all written by honest self-publishing or “Indie” authors, just like you.
Here are a few tips I would have given to the Jackie who was still searching for the right manuscript editor.
1. BEFORE BEING SCAMMED BY AN EDITOR: Educational Titbits on The Editing Process
Being scammed by your editor sounds horrific! Nobody wants that, right? Sometimes, and I really want to be balanced, a negative editing experience is made worse due to a genuine misunderstanding of the editing rules & landscape.
Local Editing Associations
When looking to hire an editor, search for an editor who is registered with a local editing body. By choosing someone registered with The Professional Editors Guild (a South African example) you increase the likelihood of working with a professional who has been accredited by other editors. Worst case, you have association to complain to, should you still suffer through a poor editing experience.
Here are a few South African specific industry bodies that an editor may be registered with. 👇
- The Southern African Freelancers’ Association
- Professional Editors’ Guild
- Publishers’ Association of South Africa
Hiring an editor from outside South Africa? Here’s a helpful list of global editing associations from Louise Harnby.
Understanding Cost Per Word
Many authors I work with insist on paying for an edit from Spar, whilst still expecting the editor to instead deliver the prime Woolworths experience.
Budgeting for your edit is hard! Most editors will quote you a per word rate. This means that the more words you have written, the higher the cost of editing. The temptation always exists to press your chosen editor for a better price. Whilst I’m not against discounting an editing process, in many cases, authors aren’t aware of the trade-off. A 10c per word edit will not be as thorough as a 35c per word edit. Those few cents extra per word typically translate into a more intensive or detailed editing experience.
When it comes to the quoting stage, I recommend the following cost-based considerations as a very simple form of protection 👇
- Be wary of any editor who quotes you too low. (Less than 15c per word.)
- Be wary any editor who promises you a “very detailed” edit but (only) charges you 20c per word.
- Also be wary of any book publisher who quotes you on editing before seeing your manuscript. Your editor is likely being paid peanuts. 🥜
https://safrea.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Safrea-Rates-Report-2026-v2.pdf
In its latest 2026 report on freelancer editing rates, SAFREA (Southern African Freelancers’ Association) lists the average cost per word amongst its members for basic proofreading at ZAR0.25 – ZAR0.50c per word.
Know Your Editing levels
What level of edit was agreed to upfront? In some cases, the editor possibly delivered on their quoted promise, even though the author may have expected a deeper level of edit. Many negative reviews have been left by an author disappointed by a misunderstanding of the level of edit the paid for.
What exactly does a “detailed” or “heavy” edit mean or include? I recommend you ask the editor to explain what is and isn’t included in their specific editing process.
The Myth of Perfect
Sometimes a new or first-time author expects that the manuscript that emerges from the editing process is perfect, with zero errors. All editors allow a certain tolerance for some mistakes not being caught. This is why the most successful authors often use multiple editors or proofreaders for a single manuscript.
(Costly) Editing Ingredients
Here are a few of the smaller ingredients that get mixed in with every editing process. Most authors don’t ask about or clarify these upfront. Many editors unfortunately don’t either. Adding additional “ingredients” into an ongoing edit is likely to result in extra fees charged by your editor.
- How many rounds of editing are permitted. Most editors allow 2-3 rounds of revisions after each new draft of your manuscript is delivered.
- How many extra words are allowed. The author adding words during the edit is normal. Most editors have a tolerance of a few thousand words before a quote for the additional word-count is needed.
- Forgive me repeating the point, ask your editor to confirm the level of edit they are providing. Then ask them to clarify what that level will and will not include.
Sample Anyone?
Another idea before you swipe right on your editor is to request a sample edit. This could be a page selected at random from your manuscript, used to showcase examples of how your editor can improve your story. Note, some editors will quote for the sample edit, then discount the total editing invoice should the work proceed.
This sample will showcase the editors communication styles as well as give you an insight as the value that they can add to the remainder of your story.
Here are a few tips I would have given to the Jackie who was still busy with her editor
2. DURING YOUR EDIT
Money Matters
Any editor asking for 100% payment upfront should make your spidey senses tingle 🚩
I think you mentioned paying 100% of the required editing fees upfront? This is a little out the ordinary as most of the editors I know require deposit of 50% of the invoice for the work to start. The remainder of the invoice should then be settled ideally, before the final version of the clean manuscript is delivered.
Missed Deadlines
The editor repeatedly missing their own delivery deadlines for me is a BIG red flag 🚩.
Ideally if your remaining payments (after the 50% deposit) can be linked to delivery milestones to add an extra layer of safety. I know you mentioned your manuscript was shared with the editor later than you had initially indicated. This happens more often than you realise, worst case this may cause the editor to request an extension to their delivery times.
Communication
You mentioned how the editors communication changed from excited and regular in the beginning to less and less often as time progressed and deadlines were approaching or missed. This is something I also struggle with – even with editors who I have worked with on multiple manuscripts.
As I first wrote about here, many editors, as hungry freelancers, spend most of their time and energy hunting for new manuscripts to edit. Once they have cash in their account, service delivery is often not front of mind.
I recommend asking your editor for weekly updates at the minimum. Whilst you don’t want them glued to their devices sharing multiple updates, you do need to know that your story matters to them.
Freelancing & Mental Health
I think you mention that the editor listed issues with their mental health at a certain point in your communication. Most editors work as freelancers. Freelancing is far from fun and often means that food is prioritised over time-off. Editors do deserve our understanding. Sometimes deadlines may be missed. Not all manuscripts are not going to be edited at the same high standard. A quality editing-partner is not just measured by the wording they improve, but also with how & when they communicate those changes.
That said. You do deserve better treatment than silence. Don’t ever settle or lower your standard or expectations regarding communication here.
Lastly, here are a few tips I would have given to Jackie who had already been scammed.
3. AFTER BEING SCAMMED BY AN EDITOR: Recourse or Revenge, What Are Your Options?
Short answer – nothing listed here will heal the hurt of good money being wasted on a bad person. Most editors are professional, hardworking individuals who would sooner overdeliver than underwhelm.
Local Editing Industry Bodies
Hopefully you chose an editor registered with a local editing group. As a Saffer, this may likely be the Professional Editing Guild (PEG) or possibly even SAFREA (South African Freelancers Association.) IF this is the case, get in touch with the organization’s admin and explore any possible internal disciplinary options.
The Power of Google Reviews
If you were able to find the Google business page for your editor, leave them an apt review. This is my personal favourite as Google reviews are very visible online. You obviously have skill with words, crack those fingers and pen an appropriate review on their Google business listing. The more balanced and thoughtful feedback always hurts a little more. Avoid an extremely negative review which would make it easier to ignore or explain away.
Aside from Google, your stiffly worded rebuke to the editor should ideally be placed online in other popular online review platforms. Here in SA, HelloPeter is a favourite. Leaving your review on Facebook may also be an option, although if I recall, reviews in Facebook & LinkedIn may turned off.
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Continue Sharing Your Story
Your Instagram video was shared with me by one of the authors I have been helping. I have no doubt that it will reach others too. Keep it up – although it’s a slow acting form of medicine, it will stay around helping others long after you have moved on to Book 2 and Book 3.
THE REAL RISK OF BEING SCAMMED
I know this advice may be bitter pill, you have lost money and wasted time that could have been spent doing anything else. As strange as this sounds the part of your story of being scammed that hurts me the most is not just the money. (Although painful.) It’s that you are disheartened from continuing the creative process to its natural shelf-bound conclusion.
Don’t let your story remain buried in your computer.
PS. I hope this advice helped you. I can already see a growing list of kind offers in comments on your video to help you through to the finish line. You got this girl – don’t give up.
Articles of Interest
https://myebook.online/prepare-for-editing/
https://annerallen.com/2017/06/hiring-an-editor-who-when-avoid-scams/
https://www.kirstenrees.co.uk/how-to-avoid-publishing-scams/
https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/editing-and-proofreading-societies.html
