Thread: Need editor

I am a new author. My first book has been well received by a good literary agent who has requested that I have the book edited by a professional editor. They do not have one to recommend. Does anybody know of an inexpensive god editor? Not a proof reader but a line editor?

When you say the book was well received, does that mean the agent, or agency, made a definite offer to represent you? Does the editing the agent requested mean correcting occasional spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, or is the book in need of significant reworking, either because of a large number of SPaG errors or because of other problems?

All publishing houses have copy editors whose job it is to clean up the occasional SPaG errors and offer suggestions for minor changes to improve the story. If the book requires more than that it won't be accepted. If the agent is saying you need professional help preparing your book, then he's saying your book is not yet ready for submission to a publisher.

To answer your question, I know nothing about professional editors other than the copy editors I've worked with over the years at various houses. Others here may have had experience with the freelance editors and can offer guidance, but my personal advice would be for you to do as most writers do and learn to be your own editor. If the agent's interest in your book is genuine, then you probably don't have far to go to reach the point of being able to properly prepare your book for submission.

I do hope you get your book prepared for publication, and that the agent's interest will turn into a definite offer to represent you. Good luck.