Editors

[LuciferRising]

I have 135k words and am on my second edit. Already I am picking up things I would not have 6 months ago and I'm confident I'll reduce my word count.

How did you go about finding an editor? I'm wondering whether I can submit the first chapter to start with and use the feedback.

After, I may consider a review for plot, structure etc.

Why do you think you need an editor at this point, though?

I suppose it depends what you want to do with the MS…?

I went through multiple drafts, got the MS as good as possible, then submitted to agents, got representation, she worked on it once more with me, then sent it out to editors. Once accepted, I did a detailed edit with my editor before publication.

Look in the CIEP Directory! Editors must be experienced and trained to be listed. See www.ciep.uk/directory/

Some will offer dev editing, MS critiques, reviews of the first 10k words of your book...

But I advise you to get your ms as good as possible before engaging an editor.

Have you got a copy of Self editing for fiction writers? www.amazon.com/Self-Editing-Fiction-Writers-Second-Yourself/dp/0060545690

It's excellent.

Good luck!

Do you mean an editor who you will pay to polish your work? Or an editor at a publishing house who will buy your book?

If the former, then you have various options. There are independent editors and editors working through literary consultancies. It might be worth looking at Cornerstones or Jericho Writers who offer various packages, and you might be able to get feedback on a short section with a view to going away and working on it further.

If it's an editor at a publishing house you're talking about, then you wouldn't be able to submit a chapter for feedback. Most rejections are standardised, although agents will occasionally give some feedback on a near miss. I wouldn't have thought an editor at one of the publishers who take unagented submissions would even look at an incomplete manuscript if you submitted one.

It's the former. I want to see what an editor picks up on a sample of work and then see if I can take those comments and apply to manuscript.