As I was considering self-publishing, I thought I’d check out the editing services that are out there.  Editors are found at each of these websites:

• Beta Reader Groups on Goodreads
• Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia
• Writers’ Union of Canada

But how do you know that they are any good?

The editor that I contacted would charge $2/page which is apparently the going rate…in Canada… I guess.  But since I had about 300 pages she’d do it for $500 CAN.  I thought about it and suggested that maybe I could send her 50 pages and $100 to see how we worked together.  She agreed.

In the meantime, I decided to query agents first (which will be another blog onto itself).  I asked her if she would proof my query, which she did.  She did not catch that a word was missing from the text.

I did not intend it as a test because it was completely inadvertent.  I only caught it after I received her proof.  It wasn’t a very big word, just three letters… but… if I’m paying that kind of money, I expect perfection.  I told her tonight that I wouldn’t be needing her services and told her why.  Am I being too harsh?

An editor on Goodreads will do it for $300 US… some even much less.

I also have some leads on some local editors.  Going to check those out too. Or do it myself.  $300 US can buy me a remote car starter…

I’m going to be checking out the websites that give you tricks on editing your own work.  *sigh*