Editing Readiness: Top 10 Signs Your Manuscript Is Ready for Professional Eyes

You’ve invested so much effort and time in your manuscript, whether it’s a novel you’ve wanted to write since college, a memoir of hard-fought lessons, or a non-fiction book based on years of experience. Before you publish it, or at least give it to a reader, it needs one thing: editing.

Even professional writers need editors. A good editor does more than re-read your manuscript and mark up typos! A professional editor will elevate your manuscript and focus on clarity of voice and message. If you are wondering whether your manuscript needs professional editing, you can consider the following as the top 10 signs your manuscript is ready for professional editing:

1. You’ve Rewritten So Many Times, It’s No Longer Clear To You

If you’ve been working and reworking the manuscript for many months (or years), it’s natural to lose objectivity. The sentences you loved now seem clunky. Because you can’t separate the parts, otherwise the chapters will seem blurred. A fresh professional eye can see a lot of things that you can’t - plot holes, inconsistent character actions, or repetitiveness of sections or chapters, or the structure of the manuscript as a whole.

2. Beta Readers are Confused

When you receive comments from early beta readers that sound like, “I didn’t understand why this character did that”, or “Wait, when did that happen? It suggests that the story can confuse readers. Editors assist in untangling complex ideas, providing additional narrative threads, filling in gaps, and ensuring that your manuscript has a logical and consistent flow.

3. Your Manuscript Has Grammar, Punctuation, or Syntax Errors

You don’t need to be a grammar geek to write a book. In fact, most authors aren't. But readers do notice awkward, clunky sentences, inconsistent verb tenses, and excessive or incorrect punctuation. A professional editor will help you to ensure your manuscript is smooth and professional.

4. Your Dialogue Sounds Flat or Unconvincing

Do all your characters sound like they are speaking with the same voice? Does the dialogue read awkwardly or does it sound like everything is being forced? A good editor will help you to write natural dialogues that sound believable and are attached to each character and move the story forward.

5. You Are Unsure About Your Book’s Structure

Whether it is a fiction or a non-fiction book, its structure is important. Does your story have a good arc? Is your message unfolding logically for a reader's understanding? Are your chapters balanced? Editors will discuss the structure with you and provide edits that will improve the pacing and provide a smooth transition.

6. You will Be Self-Publishing (or pitching to agents)

If you are going to either release on your own via Amazon or pitch to a literary agent, you will need to make sure that your manuscript is edited and cleaned up. Anything short of that could ruin your first impression. Editors are going to lessen your risk here by going through the book until it is at a professional level.

7. You Have Tendency to Over-Explain or Under-Explain

Do you repeat yourself or provide unnecessary backstories? Or perhaps you assume readers will just "get it," and you skip over crucial scenes? Editors assist with balancing your content—cutting the fluff, exploring half-formed ideas, and tightening your story.

8. Tone or Voice of Your Book Feels Inconsistent

Is your writing casual in one section, and then switches to academic in the next without warning? Or halfway through, your protagonist feels like he or she is a different person? Editors have an eye for tonal inconsistencies and know how to help you develop a voice that feels consistent and engaging.

9. You're Too Emotionally Attached to "Kill Your Darlings"

We all have our favorite lines or scenes that don't serve the story, but we can't bring ourselves to cut them. Editors are not emotionally attached, they will make those tough calls with the best interest of your book in mind and help you say goodbye to what isn't working.

10. You Want to Be Taken Seriously as an Author

At the end of the day, a book that is professionally edited will sell better, get better reviews, and get more respect from readers, critics, and publishers. If you take your craft seriously, you should know that editing is not an option; it's a necessity.

Last Consideration

Every writing journey begins solo, but every project finishes collaboratively - a professional editor is your co-creator and partner in the creation of your manuscript. They are out there to speak your manuscript's story and ensure its full potential as a manuscript that doesn't fall short. Don't wait to get it rejected or for reviewers to write negative comments about your manuscript.  Bring in a professional editor before wasting your time. If you see yourself in any of these avenues, you can think about bringing on an editor. 

Are you considering engaging an editor for your manuscript?

At Rolling Authors, our editors are experienced in editing fiction, non-fiction, and every genre in between! If you're thinking of editing a spiritual book or an entrepreneur memoir, we would love to connect with you to improve and polish your words until they sparkle!

📩 DM us or visit rollingauthors.com to get started.