9 Ways of Writing the Ideal Brief to Find the Perfect Editor For Your Kindle Book.

A good editor can really be the difference between a well constructed, engaging, tight and strong Kindle book and one that is sloppy, boring and weak. However, finding an editor that is worth the investment is easier said than done. One of the most important elements required to finding an editor that can transform your Kindle book is a strong brief. In this article I'm going to break down how you can construct a brief that works.

1.   Outline What Your Book Is About.

One of the first things to do when writing an effective brief for an editor for your Kindle book is to provide a summary of a few paragraphs outlining what your book is about and who the target audience is.

This provides vital information to the potential candidates and is crucial for the selection process as some editors just focus on specific genres and types of books, so your book summary will serve as a way of dissuading the people that are not interested/experienced in your book genre/topic applying.

2. Provide A Detailed Breakdown Of Level Of Editing Required.

This section is crucial as this is where you will outline the type of editing work and the extent of the editing work that is required for the Kindle book. This section will essentially be telling the potential candidates what work is actually involved in the editing project. We highly recommend you write this section in concise but detailed bullet points.

3.  Provide A List Of Experiences/Skills You Require.

It’s very important that you clearly and unambiguously outline the precise skills as well as the level and type of experience you require for the editing project. Do spend time and effort on this section as doing so will ensure that only the most suitable candidates apply.

4.   Provide A List Of The Type Of Person You Are Looking For.

In addition to experience/skills, the persons personality/habits are very important to the success of the project. Common things to type here is the requirement for people that; understand complex instructions, can complete work on a timely manner, have a high attention to detail, that take criticism well and that can communicate well.

There is no point finding someone with tonnes of relevant experience and great skills that doesn’t communicate well and completes things way behind schedule.

5.   Provide Details On The Project Management/Feedback Process.

Providing information on how the project will be organised/managed and how you will provide feedback is crucial to attracting the higher quality talent that care about things like this. Additionally, communicating this information will also tell the potential candidates that you are a professional, organised and diligent author that isn’t going to mess them around.

6.   Provide Examples Of Editing Work You Like.

Providing examples of other work you like in terms of editing is one of the most effective ways of communicating precisely what you are looking for, so, if possible, do include a handful of examples of editing work from other books and publications that closely resemble what you are looking for.

7. Provide Test/Qualification Questions.

This is optional but will really help you in weeding out weak candidates, which is especially useful if your book genre is popular or if your budget is at or above the industry standard.

We recommend 1-4 questions that will help you understand more about a candidate’s skills and experience. Make the questions challenging enough for only the more qualified candidates to be able to answer but not so challenging that it puts people off answering altogether.

8.  Provide Details Of The Selection Process And Timeframe.

Providing details of the candidate selection process and timeframe is not that common but our research shows that the higher quality candidates really appreciate this information and value it, and if the timeframe of application to them hearing back from you is low then they will be more inclined to apply for the work.

9.   Provide The Budget And Deadline.

Finally, you need to provide the budget and the overall project deadline. We highly recommend a budget that is at or above the current market rate if you want to attract the most skilled and experienced editors. The deadline should be realistic and achievable for attracting the highest number of good quality candidates.