Looking for a Fantasy Editor

What kind of editing are you looking for? Developmental, line editing or copy? That will affect the price.

Anna Genoese is my editor. She is excellent, and definitely has SFF experience (she used to edit for Tor).

http://annagenoese.com/services.html

Teresa Edgerton, John Jarrold or Laura Anne Gilman http://www.lauraannegilman.net/about/

If I self-publish the 85K fantasy novel I'm revising right now, I'll go back to Betsy. I had planned on contracting her for the 18K version last year. But she sent me some marvelous tips and cautions, after a quick look at a sample and synopsis. Her suggestions figured in my decision to expand and deepen the story, and try commercial publishing first.

If you want changes in the story, in the content, you don't want an editor, you want a book doctor. They're very different skills, and there are a tiny few really good book doctors out there. Maybe half a dozen. They cost a lot, but these tiny few are worth far more than what they charge.

A book doctor is one possibility, but plenty of authors get developmental editing services from other editors, and even under that category, there are various approaches possible with a wide range of costs. The best approach depends on author needs and story needs.

Marta said:

A book doctor is one possibility, but plenty of authors get developmental editing services from other editors, and even under that category, there are various approaches possible with a wide range of costs. The best approach depends on author needs and story needs.

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There's a huge difference in what a developmental editor and a book doctor does. I wouldn't go within a thousand feet of any developmental editor I've ever encountered. I think they're all completely useless for novels.

They're much better for screenplays, but if you need one for a novel, you need to fine a different line of work. The same is largely true of book doctors, but here there's really no pretense, and with a top book doctor, you're actually getting someone who can write better than you can, who can tell a story better than you can, and who will turn out a professional level novel.

Are you at the stage in your writing where you'll get the most advantage of hiring a book doctor? Ideally, this will be a one-on-one grueling workshop in which you will learn from the book doctor how to do it yourself next time. Or at least have a better idea of what to do.

Sadly, that requires a certain middle level of writing skill. Otherwise, the writer can get stuck needing developmental help with every mss. And paying $$$ for it.

Since you're looking at fantasy, I can say (from my own and hearing other writers' experiences) that Mitchell, Doyle, Edgerton, and Jarrold are solid editors at developmental stages, as well as the nuts-n-bolts stuff. They are not cheap.

Done at the right time in a writer's learning curve, this route could have nearly as strong an effect as a major genre workshop (there are only a few MFAs tolerant of or focused on genre, sigh.) But like the workshops and the degree programs, engaging a book doctor is a major investment.

One I am too poor to make right now, so I muddle along. Half my goal of trying commercial publication first is to learn from their editors.

amergina said:

Betsy Mitchell now does freelance editing. She was EIC of Del Rey.

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Laura Ann Gilman also does freelance editing; you can find both listed here.

Jamesaritchie said:

There's a huge difference in what a developmental editor and a book doctor does.

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Mmm, can someone spell out the differences?

In my very limited experience (from watching other people hire both): scope.

The developmental editor works with what is there, pushing and refining the author's own vision and skills. The book doctor often seems to rewrite the whole book. Good ones seem to teach their authors how to better write, in the process.

But I've never used a book doctor, so I don't know the specifics.

For price and overall experience:

http://www.vampwriter.com/VAMPWRITER_EDITING.htm

Just look at the names she's edited. I think this one understands fantasy and all levels of editing.

A development editor is not going to write or rewrite your book for you. A development editor will identify areas of improvement for pacing, plotting, characterization and make suggestions, ask questions. Implementation is up to you. Manuscript development can help you improve how you tell a story and leave you better equipped when writing the next one. I'm not familiar with book doctors.

Teresa Edgerton for developmental editing ( Waylander and Filigree mentioned her, too, I see.)She's amazing She's also busy between writing and editing so might take a while to come back - she can be contacted via her website or she's around the sffchronicles.com a lot.

For line editing JS Maryatt is very good. For copyediting Sam Primeau is excellent - pm me for contact as her website is down.

None of my editors have charged anywhere close to what's been quoted above, btw. John Jarrold charges around £500 (might have gone up a little) and Teresa used to be a little less, although this might have changed as she's more in demand (she's my publisher's editor. I'm a lucky girl...)

It sounds like you're looking for someone who (1) knows the epic fantasy genre very well, (2) is a professional and knows the publishing business, and (3) is not going to try and rewrite your book into their own work. Like hiring any consultant, check the references. Take a look at what other books they have edited. Or, if they are writers turned editors, go read their own work. Teresa Edgerton has a long list of credits to her name.

I love science fiction and would say have a good unbiased eye for speculative fantasy. I'm not a professional editor but I wouldn't mind taking a look at your manuscript and taking some notes for you. I can't give you a timeline for reading and the editorial work but I also wouldn't charge you to read it.

It sounds like you need a bunch of beta readers at this stage, not an editor.

I've worked with Teresa Edgerton and Laura Anne Gilman. Both are great and well worth their money. John Jarrold, on the other hand, is a big waste of money. PM me if you need to know the detail.