Vanity: Do I Really Need an Editor?

self | today | Grannyx4

[Vor Lady]

This is for any of you Freepers who have published books. I am done with the first 400 of hopefully 500+ pages of a novel. I'm wondering if I really do need an editor to get the thing published. I talked to a local person who advertises as an editor and she quoted me a rate of $3.00-$5.00 PER PAGE! Is that normal? Reasonable? All I think I need is someone to tell me if it is in the right format to submit to a publisher; does that really cost $1200-2000? I have had several friends read it over for errors and I have spell checker; grammar checker and my self reading it over for errors. What do you think? I would appreciate ANY help! Thanks in advance, Grannyx4

[Vor Lady]

Thanks for the input! Does her rate of $3.00-5.00 per page seem reasonable to you?

[jdm]

My recommendation is to heed Jeff Head's advice. He's a great writer and his material is readily available at amazon.com, etc.

[kingu]

That would be fiction - you need an editor. You can try the agent route that others are speaking of, but you're going to shell out more money for that both up front and in the end.

You can do the self publish route - better for fantasy than fiction, unfortunately. Various e-book sellers on the web accept contributions from individual authors on a commission basis, but honestly, once you publish in any form, no publisher is going to want to print it.

[Vor Lady]

Thanks so VERY much for all your input! I love FR for all the things I learn!

[kingu]

The big question is, before discussing fees, is what have they edited in the past? Is it a successful series? Did they edit the first book? Did they aid in getting it published?

Honestly, I think that most authors know more about the lives of their editors than they did of their spouses when they got married.

[republican4ever]

Editors usually charge by the word. I think I read something like .015 per word... if I can find the site, I'll send you the link. Count the number of words per page and figure it out. At first sight, the rate does not look bad.

[ladyinred]

While I haven't been published, I do know that using an editor is the best way to go. Not just for now, but for the future. The big publishing companies will look more favorably upon your future works if you have done all of the "right things." We just had a huge writers conference in my area, and reps from the big houses were there and this was their "must do" recommendations. (self publishing is also a big no no to them, btw.)

[Doohickey]

I'll do it fer $2.00 a page. I talk real good and am a good spellur.

[Vor Lady]

The woman I talked to is big into self publishing. When I think self publishing I see those books on my shelves that look 'homemade'. Bad covers, bad graphics; 'homemade'. I sew my own clothes so I'm not necessarily against homemade things but I have yet to see a self published book that looks 'professional'.

[Vor Lady]

I have 185K words so far. Let's see, .015 x 185,000 = $2,775.00! I had no idea publishing a book would be so expensive! Maybe I picked the wrong hobby!

[Vor Lady]

Are you trying to make me spit shiraz all over my keyboard?

[Focault's Pendulum]

I'll do it fer $2.00 a page. I talk real good and am a good spellur.

I'm a twelve times produced playwright.

I'll do it for a buck three eighty!

[Vor Lady]

Do you also do screenplays? I keep thinking this book would be a great action movie.
Is a buck three eighty = to a buck eighty three? Or are you talking caliber?

[Focault's Pendulum]

Do you also do screenplays?

Screenplays are for hacks!

I once commanded the English Prose. Because my work was presented on stage...I had the opportunity to become my own editor. I lived and died by the audience....sort of gave me an immediate shock , when I had done things wrong...also the times when I had written words that carried the day.

Unfortunately darlin'...I'm retired.

Sounds like you're trying to do a Vanity Press. Good luck to you. Somewhat difficult to do.

[Vor Lady]

Alas, I am probably just a hack, but this hack would like to see her name on a bona fide published book cover!

I'm not smart enough to be the next Shakespeare, nor probably talented enough to be you. :) But I appreciate your comments none the less.

[pirateman]

A word to the wise on your editing, Granny, is to consider trimming your book down considerably.

I interned at a small book publisher, and all they (and I stress they) considered were non-fiction. However, a publisher risks a lot on new large books by first-time authors. Often times, books are shipped according to size. Also, take into account length. How much of what you're saying, if it's non-fiction, is repetition? How much is editorializing? These are the things that add up. To sell your book, you first must make it marketable.

[meowmeow]

Recommend you read up on the industry before you publish. There are plenty of good resources on-line and at your local book store (writing resources usually has its own section). Getting smart on the book publishing world now before you jump in will save you a lot of headaches.

[aimhigh]

You could publish it yourself. see www.lulu.com

[Vor Lady]

Thanks for the input. It's a fiction work. Short by Tom Clancey standards.

[Vor Lady]

Thanks for your input. I have an old Writer's Market and Nover and Short Story publishing by Writer's Market. Jeff Head gave me some good advice up thread.