How much does book editing cost? 💸

Answering your questions about professional editing costs

A developmental editor can help you transform your story and ensure it reaches its full potential. But working with a high-quality editor with strong credentials can be a significant investment of both time and money.

Is developmental editing really worth it? And how much should you expect to pay?

Today, I’m answering some of the most common questions I get from authors about the cost of hiring a professional editor. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Do you need to invest in professional editing before querying?

• How much does book editing cost?

• Where can you go to get quotes for your editing project?

• What if you can’t afford an editor for your manuscript but still want professional feedback?

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Do you need to invest in professional editing before querying?

It is not required that you get your manuscript professionally edited before you query literary agents. However, given that the querying and traditional publishing process is extremely competitive, some authors choose to work with a professional editor to help them put their best foot forward.

If a literary agent rejects your novel, you typically cannot re-query them with that same novel again, unless you revise it extensively. Because it’s a bit of a one-shot deal, I recommend taking the time upfront to put forth the strongest version of the manuscript possible.

Whether or not you work with a professional editor before querying, I strongly recommend getting external feedback on your book before sending it out — often, you’re too close to the story to see the issues or opportunity for improvement. That feedback could come from a trusted beta reader or a critique partner, especially if you have an established relationship already.

Working with a professional editor will offer a different type of experience, since they will offer you in-depth feedback and guidance, and you will be compensating them for the experience and expertise they bring to the table. As an independent developmental editor myself, I do think a comprehensive professional edit from an editor with a track record of working on books in your genre is worth the investment if you are ready to engage in that type of collaboration. A strong developmental edit can be completely transformative to your story and your writing practice as a whole!

How much does book editing cost?