Like any craft, sometimes it’s necessary to reach out for help. And as a writer, sometimes that help means finding a good editor to identify issues within your manuscript, or maybe help you put together a kick-butt query letter that will stand out to agents. While I don’t offer these services directly to authors, here are some suggestions I have for you:
- Find a good critique partner. A critique partner is usually another author who’s currently working on a book or who has published one or more in the past. This person understands what types of things can be improved in the edit process for a tighter or better executed story. As such, this person can point out weak areas in your. manuscript to help improve your work.
You can often find find critique partners through online forums like Blue Sky, Twitter, or Threads (look for #WritingCommunity), or through Facebook (look for groups implying authors or writing groups) and private Discord groups (usually by invitation). If you’re still having troubles connecting with someone, take a look at Bianca Marais’ Beta Reader Matchup or the qtCritique Critique Partner Match. - Consider qtCritique. If you’ve used QueryTracker to find a list of literary agents, you already have an introduction to qtCritique—both platforms were launched and moderated by the same people.
qtCritique is a community-based critique exchange platform where authors offer critiques to others, and in return receive critiques on their own work. You can learn more about how qtCritique works through this short video.
If you still prefer an industry professional, qtCritique offers a list of vetted literary agents and professional editors. To prevent a “pay for play” model, the identities of industry professionals are deliberately anonymous, so you’ll want to read their bios to find the closest match for your needs. For more information about the specifics for how this process works, you can use this link. - Hire an Independent Editor. If you’re planning to self-publish, I strongly recommend hiring an independent editor (with experience in the publishing arena) who can offer developmental and line edits to ensure your final product has the professional polish readers expect. Doing so will help you retain readers for your next book. Not doing so will tank your ratings and will cost you future readers.
If you’re an author who chooses to enter the trad publishing space, please remember that this is not strictly necessary to query your manuscript with a literary agent. However, if you choose to go this route, remember that (1) you get what you pay for, and (2) hiring an editor is no guarantee that you’ll land an agent. While it may improve your odds by having that professional polish on your submission, if you hire an editor without learning from them in the process, you’re doing yourself a huge disfavor.
So what does a professional editor cost? While the exact cost varies depending upon whether the editor charges by the hour or by the word, it’s important to know that hiring an editor is not cheap. For line edits only on an 85K word fiction manuscript, you can expect to pay at least $2,400, with some editors charging as much as $6,500. The current going rate ranges between roughly .04 cents and .10 cents per word. If charging by the hour, you can expect to pay around $60 to $80 per hour. So while it’s not necessary to pay as high as $6,500 for a editing an 85K words, paying less then $2,400 may require a closer inspection of the editor’s credentials.
When hiring an editor, I strongly recommend you pay close attention to the edits they recommend and why so you can learn from them. If your writing improves from watching and learning, it can be the best money you’ve ever spent. But if you don’t learn through this process—if you just take every suggested change without understanding why and asking questions—it may be the most expensive bill you’ll ever pay without a guaranteed return on investment. So pay close attention and learn—and, in the best possible world—you’ll learn enough from the proccess to apply the information to your next project.
Below is a list of freelance editors I’ve met over the years whose services I’m comfortable recommending to authors. Please be sure to vet each one carefully to ensure you get a perfect match for your needs.
BOOKISH B EDITING
Brittany, the “B” of “BookishB,” holds degrees in journalism and communication studies. She got her start editing novels with her grandfather’s historical fiction and non-fiction books. In 2022, she had a dream to set up her own freelance/ indie-editing business, and with support and thanks to some author friends, she was fortunate to open her virtual doors summer of 2023, and after just 5 months of business had edited over a million published words. She is so glad to be in this space, helping authors’ writing dreams come to fruition.
For more information about Brittany’s Rates and Offerings, visit the BookishB website at bookishbediting.com.
T.S. FERGUSON, EDITOR
T.S. Ferguson is an editor with more than 15 years of editorial experience under his belt working with middle grade and young adult authors as an editor for imprints of Hachette and HarperCollins Books. Under his guidance, T.S.’s authors have gone on to hit the New York Times Bestsellers lists multiple times, and receive countless awards and starred reviews.
For more information about T.S. Ferguson’s Rates and Offerings, visit his Reedsy page at reedsy.com/t-s-ferguson.
BRIGHAM EDITORIAL
Joel Brigham is an intern at The Purcell Agency and holds a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and English Education. The author of five novels (three currently on submission with his agent), Joel spent 12 years as a senior NBA writer and, most recently, was a 2021 PitchWars mentor.
For more information about Brigham Editorial, visit Joel’s website at brighameditorial.com.
ALISHA NYGAARD, EDITOR
Alisha Nygaard is a freelance editor of genre fiction who does developmental and line edits as well as proofreads. Her career path was leading first into academia and then into the literary magazine world, but she followed her heart into working in genre (primarily horror, mystery, thriller, romance, and romantasy.) Her background in teaching and writing gives her a uniquely empathetic and instructive editorial style; Alisha cares deeply about fostering your vision while guiding you with storycraft and grammar expertise. She has a background working with professional indie authors as well as first time writers looking for feedback before they submit traditionally.
For a consult or sample edit, you can email Alisha at: anneditingservices@gmail.com.
Phone: (651) 447-3074.
View Alisha’s website at alishanygaard.wordpress.com or find her on Instagram or Facebook.
BLUE CLOVER EDITING
When Aubrey Green started her degree in creative writing she assumed she’d, you know, write. But a surprise love for the editing process moved her to start Blue Clover Editing, a freelance editing business. Now she polishes the work of many writers, offering a variety of editing services for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She’s a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and ACES: the society for editing, as well as the managing editor and podcast host for eMerge Magazine. She’s had clients from all over the world and would love to visit them all one day. She tries to ensure her husband, son, dogs, and cats are all fed periodically.
For more information on Aubrey and Blue Clover Editing, visit her website at bluecloverediting.com.
GAIL CHASAN, EDITOR
Gail Chasan is a former Senior Editor of Harlequin Special Edition and has acquired both category and trade romance fiction for many years with a specialty in in western and small town and rural settings and such popular tropes as secret babies/pregnancies; back from the dead; and workplace romance. Gail also has significant experience with Jewish romance fiction as well as female/female romance. Some of her most noteworthy acquisitions include New York Times bestselling authors RaeAnne Thayne; Christine Rimmer; Melissa Senate; and Teri Wilson. Gail also has extensive experience working on continuities and miniseries.
For more information, you can email Gail at Gailachasan1108@gmail.com
ERIN MCCLARY EDITORIAL
Erin McClary is a former acquiring editor of adult fiction and nonfiction at Sourcebooks, the sixth largest and fastest growing publisher in the U.S. She currently offers developmental and line-level editing services for individual clients pursuing traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing, primarily focused on the following genres: women’s fiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, romance, thrillers, mystery, and general fiction. Books she’s worked on have been USA Today and Indie bestsellers; chosen for Target Book Club and Author of the Year, Book of the Month Club, LibraryReads, Hoopla Book Club, Reader’s Digest Editor’s Picks, and Amazon Editor’s Best of the Month; earned starred reviews from trade publications; nominated/shortlisted for awards, including the Goodreads Choice Awards; and were Indie Bestsellers. Erin’s schedule is typically booked out three to four months ahead of time.
For more information, check out Erin’s website at or email her at erin.a.mcclary@gmail.com
C.H. Armstrong Books 