How to Tell If Your Novel Is Ready for Professional Editing: A Guide to Novel Editing
So, you’ve just written the words “The End” on the final page of your novel, and are now wondering if your manuscript is ready for professional editing. Firstly, give yourself a huge pat on the back. Getting to the end is a huge achievement. Many people dream of writing a book, but far fewer see it through to a complete draft.
Hiring an editor is an investment, and you’ll get the best value from that investment if you send your manuscript at the right point. In this post, I’ll walk you through the signs that your novel is ready (and the signs it’s not quite there yet).
Why Timing Matters for Novel Editing
Professional editing isn’t about handing over a rough pile of words and expecting someone to “fix” it for you. Instead, think of editing as a collaboration. You bring the story – the heart and the voice and ideas – and your editor helps you shape it into the best possible version of itself.
If your manuscript is too early in the process, you risk wasting money on feedback you could have given yourself with one more round of self-editing. If it’s too polished, you may have overworked it and lost some of your original spark. The sweet spot lies in between.
Step One: Have You Finished a Full Draft?
It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many writers want to start the professional editing while still midway through chapter twelve. A professional line edit or developmental edit is done on a complete manuscript. Until you’ve reached “The End”, your story is still in motion. And an editor can’t meaningfully assess a book that hasn’t fully unfolded.
Please note that although editing is done on a completed draft, you should probably start looking for an editor well in advance of this! Many of us book up months in advance, so as soon as you think you might be needing an editor at some point, please do get in touch!
So, first checkpoint: have you finished a full draft, beginning to end? If not, and you think you need editorial support, then you are best off looking for a book coach (also known as a writing coach) rather than an editor.
Step Two: Have You Revised It Yourself?
Finishing a first draft is brilliant, but let’s be honest: first drafts are usually messy. They’re where you figure out your characters, test plot twists, and often leave notes to yourself in square brackets like [insert something clever here]. That’s perfectly fine.
But before an editor sees it, give your manuscript at least one good self-edit. Here’s what to look for:
- Plot holes: Does the story make sense from start to finish?
- Consistency: Do your characters behave in line with their personalities? Does the setting stay consistent?
- Unnecessary repetition: Have you said the same thing in three different ways? (See my blog post about redundancy.)
- Basic typos and formatting: Don’t worry about perfection, but tidy up obvious errors. Listening to your manuscript out loud can really help with this.
A self-revised draft doesn’t have to be flawless, but it should be coherent and readable.
Step Three: Have You Had Some Distance from It?
Editing your own work is difficult when you’re too close to it. Every writer knows the feeling of reading the same sentence fifteen times and still not noticing a missing word.
That’s why it’s wise to step away for a little while before considering professional editing. A gap of even a few weeks can give you fresh perspective. When you return, you’ll spot things you couldn’t see before – and those revisions will save you time (and therefore money) when the editor comes in.
Step Four: Have You Shared It with Trusted Readers?
Before hiring a professional, it can be extremely useful to get feedback from beta readers or a writing group. They’re not a substitute for an editor, but they can highlight glaring issues such as confusing passages, flat characters, or pacing problems.
If you’re brave, ask your readers: where did you lose interest? That one question often reveals far more than general “I liked it” feedback.
Once you’ve absorbed those comments and made adjustments, your manuscript will be in a much stronger shape for an editor’s eye.
Signs Your Novel Isn’t Ready Yet
Sometimes it’s easier to recognise when you’re not quite there. If any of these apply, it may be worth another round of self-work before seeking professional editing:
- You know there are still missing scenes or unresolved subplots.
- You’ve only skimmed through for typos without addressing deeper issues.
- You feel reluctant to share it because “it’s not very good yet”.
- You secretly hope an editor will “rewrite” the book for you.
Remember, editing is about refinement, not rewriting.
Signs Your Novel Is Ready for Professional Editing
On the other hand, you’re probably ready if:
- You’ve completed at least one solid draft and revised it yourself.
- You feel you’ve taken it as far as you can on your own.
- You want an objective, expert perspective.
- You’re excited (even if slightly nervous) about feedback.
That last point is key – readiness often shows in your mindset. If you’re open to collaboration and willing to hear constructive criticism, you’ll get so much more out of the editing process.
What to Do Before Sending It Off
If you’re ticking the “ready” boxes, there are a few practical steps before hitting send:
- Format consistently. Use a simple font (Times New Roman or similar), double spacing, and page numbers. Editors don’t need fancy layouts. If you don’t know how to do this formatting, don’t worry – your editor will adjust it for you.
- Save a backup. Always keep a copy of your original file (but please don’t work on it while your manuscript is with your editor – having two version in play at once gets very messy very quickly!).
- Write a short synopsis. It helps your editor see the big picture.
- Be clear about your goals. Are you aiming to pitch agents, self-publish, or just improve as a writer? Your editor can tailor feedback accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Novel Editing
1. How many drafts should you write before hiring an editor?
There’s no magic number, but most authors go through at least two or three drafts before seeking professional editing. The first draft is for getting the story down, the second is for fixing plot holes and character arcs, and the third is often where you refine prose. Once you feel you’ve taken the manuscript as far as you can on your own, that’s usually the right time to bring in an editor.
2. Should you hire a professional editor before querying agents?
In most cases, it’s wise to have your novel professionally edited before submitting to agents. Agents expect a high level of polish, and a well-edited manuscript has a far better chance of standing out in a crowded slush pile.
That said, agents (or publishers) may well choose to edit your manuscript once they have taken you on, so you might prefer to opt for an agent teaser edit. This looks at just the first 10,000 words (which is what most agents will be looking at when deciding to offer you a deal) – meaning you have something clean and sparkly to send off for querying, but haven’t spent more money than you need to.
3. What’s the difference between developmental editing and line editing?
Developmental editing looks at the big-picture elements of your novel including plot, structure, pacing, and character development. Line editing, on the other hand, focuses on the sentence-level details: tone, flow, word choice, repetition, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity. Many authors start with developmental editing to strengthen the story itself, then move on to line editing once the narrative is solid.
4. Can editors fix a bad novel?
An editor can do wonders for your story, but they’re not ghostwriters. If the manuscript is unfinished or fundamentally not working, an editor will guide you with constructive feedback, but the heavy lifting still comes from you. Editing is about refining and elevating your work – but you remain in charge of your words.
And finally…
If you aren’t sure whether you are ready to have your novel edited, please do get in touch. I’m always happy to answer your questions! I also offer a manuscript appraisal service which involves me reading your manuscript and recommending the level of editing that will help your writing the most.
