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Do you get an agent or an editor first?
If you’re specifically interested in having your books published by major publishing houses, then you absolutely must query an agent first. Acquisitions Editors (the editors who decide what manuscripts should be considered for publication) for major houses won’t even sniff at a writer without an agent.
When should you find an editor for your book?
“For novelists, an editor should be hired when the author believes the manuscript is as good as it can possibly be,” says J. Thorn, founder of the Author Copilot. “Editors should not be a substitute for the planning, writing and hard work that goes into writing.
Do first time authors need agents?
The quick answer is, “Depends.” If your goal is to get published by one of the imprints at Penguin Random House or HarperCollins, then you’ll need a literary agent just to get over the transom. Many mid-sized publishers require an agent as well. In these cases, writers need a literary agent.
Do I need an editor before a literary agent?
Some writers don’t need an editor in order to get their manuscript to submissions level. Other writers need or want that editor before submitting. Either way – it’s up to you. If you are going to get an editor, don’t skimp – hire someone with credentials and client referrals in the genre of work that you are writing.
What’s the difference between an editor and an agent?
Writers can also meet literary agents at writing conferences and can network at writing groups. Find out how Writer’s Relief can help you get a literary agent. How does a writer get an editor at a publishing house? A writer can get an editor by having his/her literary agent pitch a manuscript to editors.
Do you need an editor before a publisher?
It depends. If you’re a specialist developmental editor who understands story craft and what makes a book attractive to agents and publishers, then yes, absolutely. You can be part of that learning process that Gardner and Morgan discuss, someone who helps the writer put their best foot forward in a competitive market.
How hard is it to get a book agent?
The Chances of Getting a Literary Agent Your odds of getting a literary agent are 1 in 6,000. That does NOT mean 1 out of every 6,000 authors who try to get an agent will make it, and the other 5,999 will fail. Those authors might even already have a bestseller or two—or they might have a very strong author platform.
Should I pay for an editor before an agent?
You don’t need to hire an editor before submitting to agents and publishers. Because many of the editorial stages would be provided for you in traditional publishing, you don’t need to hire an independent editor before you send your work out.