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 your input. I'll add this source to Jeff Head's info!

[Brainhose]

I've only written technical documents and educational documents at work.
Self-editing is very difficult.
Having someone else read it is a huge help, they always find mistakes that you may miss. When they point out the mistakes you'll say "How on Earth did I miss that?". I'll ask around and see if I can dig someone up.
I know my sister is very good at that sort of thing. I'll see if she's willing or if she knows someone else who is.
Best of luck and congrats on your novel.

Reminds me of a terrible joke though:
2 Lions are crouching in the brush staring at an author and his editor sitting under a tree.
1st Lion: Are you as hungry as I am?
2nd Lion: Nah, I ate earlier, but go right ahead.
The 1st Lion charges from the brush and grabs the editor and consumes him, leaving the author unscathed. He then saunters back to his friend waiting in the brush, all the while licking his chops.
2nd Lion: How come you only ate the editor, surely you could have finished them both?
1st Lion: Easy, because writers cramp but Readers Digest.

I'm sorry, I did get that from Readers Digest many years ago.

[Vor Lady]

Thanks for the joke! I have four people so far reading my manuscript and some extras lined up for after. The first responses have been positive from my friends, but one never knows if they are saying that so they don't hurt my feelings or if they think it is good. I've thought of hooking them up to a battery to quiz them, but for some reason they object....

[Brainhose]

Hooking them up to a battery, hmmmm.......
I believe there are some torture chambers available in a certain ousted regime.
I'm not sure if having a friend doing it is a good idea just for the reasons you stated.
I knew when my sister edited my documents that she wasn't worried about hurting my feelings. It is different with friends though sometimes.
Best wishes.

[Grateful One]

Recommend you read up on the industry before you publish..............

Best way to go. Self publishing is the route to pursue if all you want to do is get your thoughts out there.

In my research, I found many sites on the net that offered much better rates for editing than what you were quoted.

If you do self-publish, you MUST advertise. POD publisher will get you all over the net, but sales are generally low.

You don't get great quality books, but think of this as a way of getting started. If your book ultimately starts to sell, you are now in the position to spruce everything up.

Good luck!