Professional book editor in the UK reveals how you could miss out on extensive royalties by not hiring an editor before you query literary agents!
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While it may not seem like it at the time, hiring a professional book editor for your manuscript could indirectly win you a publishing deal at a top literary agency, potentially earning you thousands of pounds.
Here’s how…
1. Less Work for Them, More Money for You!
Although the team of editors within a literary agency will edit your manuscript multiple times before selling it to publishers, the amount of work for them to do could be the difference between a full manuscript request and a rejection from a literary agent.
For example, take a look at this table below:
If you queried 50 literary agents with a manuscript full of the errors and inconsistencies in the first column, you would get 50 rejections, even if the foundation of your story is amazing, because getting your novel up to a publishing standard would take too much time, money, and resources.
However, if you hired a book editor to eliminate 99% these issues and then queried a literary agent, you’re more likely to receive a full manuscript request and representation.
Okay, but why should you pay for a book editor only to remove 99% of the issues?
Firstly, it’s unrealistic to expect even the best editors to catch 100% of the issues within a manuscript, especially if you’ve only hired one type of editor (e.g., a copy editor). And secondly, wouldn’t you rather query a literary agent with a manuscript 1% away from perfection than a whopping 100% away?
Trust me, 1% is much more manageable for literary agents with minimal time than 100%, so save yourself the time and heartbreak by hiring a decent book editor before you query!
2. Literary Agents Know Which Submissions Have Been Professionally Edited
When a literary agent opens your submission package, they’ll instantly know by the end of the first page whether you’ve had your work professionally line or copy edited, and they will presume by the end of your 3 chapters, if they get that far, whether your work has been developmentally edited.
Their knowledge of this could be the difference between a rejection and a full manuscript request.
Agents aren’t going to waste their precious time with a manuscript full of issues, and they’re certainly not going to take you seriously as an author.
While it’s possible for a small percentage of writers to get their manuscripts represented without hiring a book editor, the chances are very, very, VERY slim, especially if you haven’t got a circle of 10+ beta readers and critique partners.
My advice to you: don’t risk it.
You could waste YEARS querying 50 agents only to receive 50 rejections, when you could have got 3 full manuscript requests and a book deal if you’d hired a professional book editor beforehand.
3. Wear Your Professionally Edited Manuscript Like a Medal
If you’ve had your manuscript professionally edited before querying literary agents, definitely shout about it in your query letter!
Not only will agents then know your work will likely be better written than others, but they will also know you’re clearly serious about getting your book published and launching a career as an author.
No one pays hundreds or thousands on something they’re not bothered about, so telling agents in your query letter that your novel has been professionally edited will give you a leg up.
Ultimately, literary agents are businesspeople with a passion for stories, so they want to know who is serious about writing and who only writes as a hobby.
Let them know that you’re 100% serious by investing in the right book editor!
But first...
Get a Free Sample Edit (2,000 Words)
At Stand Corrected Editing, you can get a FREE sample edit of the first 1,500 words of your manuscript so you can get a feel for my editing style and see if you’d like to continue with my book editing services.
This free consultation will also help me to assess which editorial service would give you the best chance in the publishing world; how much work is needed on the manuscript, and how long it will take to complete the edits of the whole document.
These 2,000 words would then be deducted from the overall price if you decide to continue with my paid book editing services.
If you’d rather see samples of the previous texts I’ve worked on, please feel free to get in touch with me here.
Randal returned to have his non-fiction eBook edited AND recommended my book editing services to one of his friends, Remi – both have since self-published their books and are helping their own clients with their work!
If self-publishing isn't on your agenda...
Get TWO Literary Agents Like my Client, Scott!
Within 12 months of working with me at Stand Corrected Editing, one of my clients, Scott, received interest from TWO separate literary agents!
This could be you!
Scott opted for my line editing service for his amazing manuscript and has certainly been rewarded for taking his writing seriously.
After receiving interest from TWO literary agents, Scott realised the value in my book editing services even more than before and returned with ANOTHER manuscript! We’ve been working together ever since, and it’s been a pleasure watching him transition from an unknown writer to attracting TWO literary agents within just 12 months!
Here’s the lovely review he left on my Google review page:
Besides Scott, over 50 aspiring authors like you have chosen to work with me at Stand Corrected Editing AND make the most of my discounts because they have also seen the value in my editing services.
My Pricing Options
Like I've explained in my Financial Breakdown post, the price of book editing services can vary depending on your word count, so it’s impossible to give you a direct price here. However, it's important to remember that developmental editing services and line editing services are always the most expensive because they require the most work. A lot of copy editing services are often at the mid range, and proofreading is usually the cheapest.
On top of that, I CAN tell you the different payment options available at Stand Corrected Editing.
With all of my clients, I never expect them to pay the full price upfront – I get that people need to budget, save, and live comfortably for the rest of the month – so I have a few options to make my services more affordable.
I offer a 15% discount on all book editing services for new clients.
I request a 50% deposit up front rather than the entire amount.
Returning clients receive my client loyalty discount – 26% off the overall price.
I encourage clients to leave a 50% deposit at the beginning of the process so they only have the remaining balance to pay once I have finished editing their manuscript.
I’m also happy to discuss payment plans with clients who would rather pay in 3 or 4 monthly instalments, but I usually request a 50% deposit at the beginning of the process.
If you’re still hesitant to invest in professional book editing services due to the price, check out another review from one of my previous clients whose heart also sunk at the cost but understood the value of my services!
Within my Price, You'll Also Get...
Parting with a large sum of money for professional book editing services can be daunting as there's no way of knowing whether you'll earn the money back after publication.
However, I will help you to earn as much money back as possible, and to do this, I offer the following:
For writers who wish to get a literary agent:
Review your submission bundle (query letter, synopsis & first 3 chapters) to ensure everything's at a submission standard (including free proofreading).
Help you to find literary agents seeking your genre & style.
Query literary agents on your behalf to help you to get your foot in the door (upon request).
For writers who wish to self-publish:
Publish an indie author interview on my blog to help you promote your book. Posts can be as long or short as you like.
Publish a summary/review of your book on my blog with relevant links and images.
Share images of your book cover & blurb on my Instagram profile for my followers to see.
Promote your book in my newsletter that goes out to hundreds of subscribers.
Share your book on my Pinterest page & in multiple book recommendation group boards.
Include your book in future book recommendation lists on my blog.
Obviously, I can't help you to earn your money back without your help as well, but I can absolutely do my bit!
Ready to Hire Me as Your Book Editor and Win that Literary Agent? :D
If you’ve reached the end of this post and you’re excited to take your novel to the next level, why not get in touch with me at Stand Corrected Editing and get 15% off any service today?
Book Editing Services Available:
Developmental Editing (£0.024 per word)
Line Editing (£0.021 per word)
Copy Editing (£0.017 per word)
Proofreading (£0.012 per word)
You can also opt for a bundle package (e.g., developmental & line editing together) for an extra 15% off, meaning you get 30% off in total!
Head to the contact page where you can a fill out a form that goes directly to me and I’ll respond asap, usually within 48 hours!
I really hope you decide to work with me very soon so I can help you to achieve your author dream! :)
Speak soon!
Chelsea x
ABOUT CHELSEA
Hey! I'm Chelsea and I'm a professional book editor at Stand Corrected Editing, my independent editorial business in the UK. If you would like to have your manuscript thoroughly edited by myself, please get in touch!
With my book editing and proofreading services, I hope to spread my knowledge and expertise on how to make your novel a success, and be a mentor to others who desperately want to pursue a fruitful career as an author!