How do I find a reputable, competent book doctor/freelance editor?
This profession is filled with people looking to take advantage of unsuspecting writers. That said, there are some very skilled practitioners out there who passionately love what they do and will provide excellent service. You must be very, very careful in hiring someone. As discussed with agents, it’s dangerous to simply pull names out of directories such as Literary Market Place. If you must do this, make sure you ask the book doctor/freelance editor all the questions in #4 below. The best way to find a good book doctor/freelance editor is to be referred to him by an author who used his services and found them satisfactory. If you don’t know many other writers, you can pick up information at writers’ conferences or conventions, or in on-line writers’ resource areas. You do have to be careful about from whom you get advice, though. I recently talked to a writer who nearly ruined her career following bad advice she’d received on-line. If you submit your work to agents, sometimes an age
