Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 51

2 New Agents Seeking Nonfiction: Memoir, Self-Help, Humor, Health, and more

Credit: Erich Ferdinand - CC by 2.0 license Here are two new agents interested in nonfiction. Allison Janice (Serendipity) is seeking writers on the topics of cooking, nutrition, health and wellness, self-help, memoir, humor, psychology, history, and science, particularly in the areas of body-positivity, veganism, and environmentalism. Leslie Meredith is interested in new voices in memoir; in science, psychology, health, nature, and animals; and in spirituality and mind-body-spirit practices.

Always check the agency website before submitting. Agents may switch agencies, and submission requirements can change.

If these agents don't suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents expanding their client lists here: Agents Seeking Clients.


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Allison Janice of Serendipity

Allison was an editor at Penguin Random House in the Berkley Books imprint, assisting, and later editing, a diverse list of nonfiction titles such as The Brain Warrior’s Way  and The Brain Warrior’s Way Cookbook by Daniel and Tana Amen, Always Too Much, and Never Enough by Jasmin Singer, and Exponential Living by Sheri Riley. She was also responsible for revamping backlist titles, including an update to Peter D’Adamo’s bestselling classic Eat Right 4 Your Type and a new edition of Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.

What She's Looking For: In her new role as an agent at Serendipity, she aims to work with a range of nonfiction clients on the topics of cooking, nutrition, health and wellness, self-help, memoir, humor, psychology, history, and science, particularly in the areas of body-positivity, veganism, and environmentalism. She is also open to fiction in the area of romance and mystery, as well as the odd women’s fiction title. Push the boundaries of your genre and use your voice for good!

How to submit: For nonfiction, use the form on the website HERE.

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​Leslie Meredith of Mary Evans

Leslie Meredith worked for many years as a book editor, most recently for fifteen years at imprints of Simon & Schuster. She began in publishing with an internship at The University of Pittsburgh Press and worked as a senior editor at McGraw-Hill, Bantam, and Ballantine, and as editorial director at Harmony/Crown.

Over her decades as a book editor, Leslie edited bestsellers by Sy Montgomery, Lawrence Krauss, Jean Twenge, Ben Mezrich, Stacey O’Brien, Mark Obmascik, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Patricia McConnell, Stephen Jay Gould, Christiane Northrup, Caroline Myss, Jack Kornfield, and Thich Nhat Hanh.

What she wants: She is interested in new voices in memoir; in science, psychology, health, nature, and animals; and in spirituality and mind-body-spirit practices.

How to submit: Send query to Leslie at info@maryevansinc.comPlease put the word query in the subject line.A brief letter about your book (genre, summary and/or synopsis, word count, etc.)A bit about you/your writing backgroundInclude your book proposal as a single Word attachment. [The elements of a solid book proposal include: Overview; About the Author; Chapter Outline; Marketing/Publicity; Comparative Works; Sample Chapter.]

3 New Agents Seeking Romance, Screenplays, YA & NA Fantasy, Memoir and more

Here are three new agents seeking to expand their client lists. Jessie Stover (Seymour Agency) is interested in acquiring YA and New Adult fantasy, as well as contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, a brain twister, and military novels, especially anything to do with long separations or reunions. Tina Pohlman (Union Literary) loves discovering distinctive new voices in fiction and memoir and is always on the lookout for academics in the fields of animal behavior and neuroscience who can write for a popular audience. Leah Middleton (Marjacq - UK) is looking for screenwriters and authors. She is interested in commercial fiction, particularly historical, high-concept YA, edgy comedy and stories with recognizable settings from unusual perspectives. In non-fiction she would like to see investigative journalism, polemic, topical memoir and popular science/history.

Before you query, make sure to check the agency website. Agents may switch agencies and submission requirements can change.

If these agents don't suit your needs, for a comprehensive list see: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Jessie Stover of Seymour Agency

Ever since Jessie was a little girl she was obsessed with stories. She acted out her favorite movies with friends, wrote her own epics in high school, and loved talking shop with any author she could get her hands on. As a 2017 honors graduate from Taylor University, with a degree in Professional Writing, Jessie’s eyes were opened to the dream job while learning about literary agents in college. Through a practicum with Julie Gwinn, Jessie was taken on as an Associate Agent for The Seymour Agency in Winter of 2017.

What she is looking for: Jessie is interested in acquiring YA and New Adult fantasy, as well as contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, a brain twister (think Inception or Black Mirror), and is a sucker for military novels, especially anything to do with long separations or reunions. Jessie is not interested in erotica or heavy fact laden historical romances, but will be on board if it’s anything like Poldark.

How to submit: Query Jessie Stover: jessiemstover@yahoo.com Paste the first five pages of your manuscript in the email.
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Tina Pohlman of Union Literary

Tina Pohlman has worked as an editor and publisher in New York for more than twenty years, most recently as EVP, Publisher at Open Road Integrated Media. She has acquired and edited a wide range of critically acclaimed and bestselling authors over the course of her career, including Colson Whitehead (The Intuitionist and John Henry Days), Patrick deWitt (Ablutions: Notes for a Novel), and Christine Schutt (All Souls) in fiction, and Temple Grandin (Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals) and Arika Okrent (In the Land of Invented Languages: Adventures in Linguistic Creativity, Madness, and Genius) in nonfiction.

What she is looking for: Tina loves discovering distinctive new voices in fiction and memoir and is always on the lookout for academics in the fields of animal behavior and neuroscience who can write for a popular audience.

How to submit: You can contact her at tp@unionliterary.com. Send sample pages attached in .doc or .docx format. Please do not send .pdf files.

Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter, a proposal, and a sample chapter.Fiction submissions should include a query letter, a synopsis, and sample pages ____________________


​Leah Middleton of Marjacq (UK)

Leah joined Marjacq in 2018. Previously she worked in the film and television department at Aitken Alexander Associates, across drama and factual programming. 

What she is seeking: Leah is looking for screenwriters and authors. She is interested in commercial fiction, particularly historical, high-concept YA, edgy comedy and stories with recognisable settings from unusual perspectives. In non-fiction she would like to see investigative journalism, polemic, topical memoir and popular science/history. 

How to submit: Please email: leah@marjacq.com with a query, and attach the first fifty pages of the work, and a synopsis as either Word or PDF documents, with a total file size not exceeding 2MB.

10 Agents Looking for Science Fiction - NOW

Pixabay - CC0 license Here are ten literary agents seeking science fiction. All are from established literary agencies.

Make sure to read the agency website before submitting. You'll get a good sense of whether your book will be a good fit by looking at the books the agency has represented. Also, agents can close their lists or switch agencies.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LIST OF AGENTS SEEKING SCIENCE FICTION
​(Excuse the runaround, but since Facebook decided in all its wisdom to block my blog's URL, I am resorting to posting links from here.)

22 Calls for Submissions in April 2018 - Paying markets

Pixabay - CC0 license There are 22 calls for submissions in April. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post upcoming calls for submissions at the end of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on upcoming calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)
​CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF PAYING MARKETS

20 Calls for Submissions in April 2018 - Paying markets

Pixabay - CC0 license There are twenty calls for submissions in April. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post upcoming calls for submissions at the end of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on upcoming calls for submissions by checking that page periodically. (I only post paying markets.)
​CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF PAYING MARKETS

34 Writing Contests in April 2018 - No entry fees

There are nearly three dozen free writing contests in April. As always, every form and genre is represented.

There are prizes for novels, poetry, short stories, essays, works of nonfiction, translations and more. Some of these contests have age and regional restrictions, so be sure to check submission guidelines before submitting.

Many contests are offered annually, so if you miss your ideal contest this year, you can always enter next year. For a month-by-month list of free contests see: Writing Contests. (You can also get a jump on next month's contests by checking that page periodically.)

Click here to read the list of free writing contests.

31 Great Writing Conferences in April 2018

Maxpixel - CC0 license There are some great conferences this month. If your manuscript is complete, you can pitch it to agents in New York, Las Vegas and Minneapolis. There are also retreats and workshops for writers who just need to get away for awhile to get the creative juices flowing.

Attending a conference is one of the best things you can do for your writing career. Conferences offer a unique opportunity to network with other writers, meet agents and pitch your book, and learn how the publishing industry works from editors and professionals.

I strongly urge you to plan ahead if you are thinking of attending a writing conference. Many offer scholarships that can significantly reduce the cost. And all of the intensive writing workshops have application deadlines. For a month-by-month list of conferences throughout the year see: Writing Conferences. (You will also find links to resources that can help you find conferences in your area on that page.) If you miss your ideal conference this year, plan for next year.
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Rananim online classes Courses run for eight weeks from April through May. "Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers, who have experience teaching at the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Classes are limited to 15 students who will engage in conversation with you and your work. Firm deadlines and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class." International students accepted. Cost: $400 per class.

2017 Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. April 4 - 9, 2018. Tahoe City, CA. The Writing By Writers Manuscript Boot Camp is for the writer who has a full book-length manuscript (novel, memoir or short story collection) and would like to engage with a small group for a serious and productive response. The long weekend will include an intimate full manuscript workshop, craft talks, readings, an agent panel and individual agent meetings – the perfect pre-publication boot camp for any manuscript. Classes are limited to 5 participants.Tuition includes one three-day workshop, admittance to all craft talks, panels and readings, a one-on-one with an agent, all meals (dinner on Friday; three meals Saturday and Sunday; breakfast, and lunch on Sunday) and lodging in a single room for three nights. Vegetarian meals are available upon request. FULL.

Tennessee Mountain Writers Annual Conference, Apr 5 - 7, 2018, Oak Ridge, TN. Speakers and session leaders include Kelly O'Connor McNees, Christopher Martin, Pamela Schoenewaldt, and more!

IBPA Publishing University. April 6-7, 2018, Portland, OR. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers 30+ educational sessions including experiential learning labs, insightful keynotes, a gala book award ceremony, networking events, and so more! Cost: $195-$475.

Writing on the Door: Children’s Literature Conference. April 6 - 8, 2018, Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Workshop topics include writing historical fiction for children; writing and illustrating; writing nonfiction, getting published and more. Registration for the conference is $120 before March 16. After March 16, registration is $150.

San Antonio Book Festival. April 7, 2018, San Antonio, TX. The San Antonio Book Festival is a FREE, annual, daylong event that unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Featuring more than 80 nationally and regionally acclaimed authors, the Festival offers programming for all ages.

The Cambridge Writers’ Workshop Spring Writing Retreat. April 13- 16, 2018, New Orleans, LA. The retreat offers multi-genre workshops, as well as craft seminars and time to write. The faculty includes award-winning writers & a top NYC literary agent: Rita Banerjee, Diana Norma Szokolyai, and Natalie Kimber. All genres welcome. Genres include playwriting, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. The cost of the retreat is $1200, which includes tuition, lodging, and some meals. Register by March 20, 2018.

Michigan Writers Conference, April 14, 2018, Detroit, MI. A full-day “How to Get Published” writing event. Attending Agents: Eric Smith (P.S. Literary), Cyle Young (Hartline Literary), Jennifer Wills (The Seymour Agency), Stephany Evans (Pande Literary), editor Lauren Jablonski (St. Martin’s Press), Jennifer Unter (The Unter Agency), Linda Glaz (Hartline Literary), Vicki Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara Literary), Bethany Morehead (Hartline Literary), assistant Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency) and many more to come.

Writing in the Pines. April 14, 2018, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Choose from workshops in memoir, poetry and revision. Each workshop will meet for 6 hours and will offer craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, sharing and inspiration.

William Paterson University Spring Writer’s Conference. Wayne, New Jersey, April 14, 2018.  Readings and workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The faculty includes Rick Moody.

Rally of Writers Conference. April 14, 2018, Lansing, Michigan. Michigan authors and educators in 15 breakout sessions and workshops on all aspects of writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, the Nuts & Bolts of manuscript submissions, and more.

Writers' Day. April 15, 2018, East Longmeadow, MA. Workshops and seminars featuring Karol Jackowski, Sophfronia Scott, Lisa Romeo, Suzanne Strempek Shea and Jonathan Green.

Spring Big Apple. April 15, 2018, NYC, NY. Offers a session on queries and pitches, a Meet the Agents panel, an opportunity to pitch your project and a writing workshop with poet Lisa Irish.

Las Vegas Writer’s Conference sponsored by the Henderson Writers’ Group, Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada. April 19 – 21, 2018. Join writing professionals, agents publishers and marketing experts for a weekend of workshops and enlightening discussions about the publishing industry. A chance to pitch your manuscript and ideas to agents.

The Loft's Pitch Conference. April 20 - 21, 2018, Minneapolis MN. The conference will cover two intense days. Friday will feature a kickoff seminar led by award-winning novelist and One Story editor Hannah Tinti, a working lunch to help you prepare for your pitches, a series of pitch and breakout sessions in the afternoon, and an evening event featuring visiting agents and editors responding to anonymous query letters. Registration limited to 162 attendees. Cost: $550.00.

Chicago-North RWA's Spring Fling 2018. April 20 - 21, 2018, Oak Brook, IL. Three day Biennial writer's conference geared towards both aspiring and established writers of any genre but focused on romantic fiction. Bookseller/Blogger/Librarian event, Masterclass in Craft and Marketing, Closing Gala.

Poetry at Round Top Festival. April 20 - 22, 2018. Round Top, Texas. The program features workshops, readings, lectures, craft talks, and panel discussions. The faculty includes poets Coleman Barks, Carrie Fountain, Kurt Heinzelman, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Naomi Shihab Nye, Emmy Pérez, Roger Reeves, and Javier Zamora. The cost of the conference is $125 ($60 for students) or $75 for Saturday only. Workshops are an additional $40. Private manuscript consultations are available for an additional $60.

Writing By Writers Boulder Generative Workshop. April 20 - April 22, 2018, Boulder, Colorado. Lectures, craft talks, writing exercises and class discussions. Each participant will have the opportunity to work in a small group setting with all three faculty members.

Chanticleer Authors Conference. April 20 - April 22, 2018. Bellingham, Washington. Sessions with a special focus on the business of being a working writer on topics such as marketing, publicity, platform, sales tools & strategies, publishing, production, distribution, organization, storycraft, editing, and more.

New York Writers Workshop Fiction Pitch Conference. April 20 – 22, 2018, Ripley-Grier Studios (NY Spaces) 520 Eighth Ave (36th/37th), 16th Fl. Participants polish their pitches with the help of conference leaders who are members of the New York Writers Workshop faculty, then they present them to three different editors from major New York publishing houses. Editors provide feedback and may request proposals and manuscripts after the conference.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference. April 21, 2018, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina. Features intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as publisher exhibits, on-site "lunch with an author" readings, and an open mic.

The Spring Writers' Conference. April 21, 2018, Rochester, MI. Lectures, Workshops, and Panel Discussions in fiction, non-fiction, and business concepts of writing. Open to new writers, working journalists, and published authors of all genres. Professional development to move writers to the next level

Travel & Words: Northwest Travel Writers Conference. Apr 22 - 24, 2018, Yakima, WA. Workshops, panels, networking and Writer Matchmaking: Writers attending Travel & Words are looking for story ideas and possibly press trips. These “speed dating” sessions connect destination marketers with freelance writers and bloggers on the “Experienced” track.

Arkansas Literary Festival. Apr 26 - 29, 2018, Little Rock, Arkansas. "Prestigious award-winners, screenwriters, comedians, an expert witness, artists, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet are among the diverse roster of presenters who will be providing sessions." Free.

Malice Domestic. Apr 27 - 29, 2018, Bethesda, MD. Malice Domestic™ is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan DC area that celebrates the traditional mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely identified as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore, or violence.

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference, April 27 - 29, 2018. Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The three-day conference is full of topical, in-depth workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, opportunities for one-on-one time with agents and editors, the chance to read your work aloud for constructive critique, plus time to socialize with fellow writers.

Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat. Apr 27 - 29, 2018. Greenfield, NH.  Includes workshops, individual conferences, participant & mentor readings; hiking & kayaking (weather permitting). Each workshop uses dual mentors.

Colrain Classic 2018. April 27-April 30, 2018. The Inn at Manchester, Manchester, Vermont. A select group of poets will bring their completed or in-progress manuscripts to the Inn at Manchester, an elegant, family-run inn dating from the late 1800s spread across two buildings on sprawling grounds: the Main Inn and the Carriage House. Here, in this beautiful setting, poets will work closely with conference founder Joan Houlihan, (Lesley University Low-Residency MFA Program), Ellen Dore Watson (Smith College), Stephen Motika (Nightboat Books), and Martha Rhodes (Four Way Books). All poets with an in-progress or complete book-length or chapbook-length manuscript are welcome to apply.

Northeast Texas Writers Organization. Apr 28, 2018, Mt. Pleasant, TX. One-day bootcamp.

Western Reserve Writers' Conference. Apr 28, 2018, South Euclid, Ohio. This free one-day writing conference takes place at Cuyahoga County Public Library's William N. Skirball Writers' Center, located in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch library. It features a choice of breakout sessions, a keynote address, and private sessions with editors. It occurs annually on the 4th Saturday in April.

Write Now! Apr 28, 2018, Raleigh, NC. One day writing conference hosted by Triangle Association of Freelancers.Sessions include screenwriting, financial tips for writers, pillars of freelance success, copyediting, trade pubs, column writing, publishing tips and more. Cost: $69; $59 for students with ID and seniors 65+; $80 at the door.

2 New Agents Seeking Kidlit, YA, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Memoir and more

Here are two new agents seeking clients. Stacey Kondla is interested in Young Adult and Middle-Grade fiction and nonfiction. Sonali Chanchani is looking for speculative YA, upmarket and literary fiction, contemporary women’s fiction, psychological mysteries and thrillers, family sagas, and historical projects with a touch of magical realism, popular psychology, humor, essay collections, and memoirs that speak to larger societal concerns.

Be sure to check the agency website before querying. Agents can close their lists and submission requirements may change.

If these agents don't suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of agents seeking clients HERE.
_____________________ Stacey Kondla of the Rights Factory (CANADA)

Living and breathing the book business for the past 15 years has made Stacey Kondla very happy. Her experience includes working as a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing the IndigoKids department at two different Chapters/Indigo stores, accepting freelance editing contracts, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). Stacey has been providing manuscript evaluations for The Rights Factory since October 2017 and is thrilled to be joining The Rights Factory as an Associate Agent.

What she wants: Stacey has a keen interest in Young Adult and Middle-Grade novels. She is also interested in non-fiction for both Young Adult and Middle-Grade.

How to submit: Use the Rights Factory form HERE.

___________________ Sonali Chanchani of FolioLit

Sonali earned her degree in English and Narrative Studies from the University of Southern California and began her career in publishing with an internship at Kaya, an independent press dedicated to publishing authors from the Asian diaspora. She joined Folio in 2015, where she works closely alongside Claudia Cross and Frank Weimann and is actively building her own list.

She is a fierce advocate for underrepresented voices and keen to work with authors from marginalized communities to amplify their stories and make sure their voices are heard.

What she is looking for: Rich, character-driven stories that combine a strong voice with a compelling hook — narratives that are emotionally resonant, inspire discussion, and provoke us to see the world (and the people who populate it) in new ways.

In fiction: Upmarket and literary fiction, particularly in the realms of contemporary women’s fiction, psychological mysteries and thrillers, family sagas, and historical projects with a touch of magical realism. Bonus points for a witty sense of humor and a smart, incisive perspective.

In nonfiction: Narratives with a social justice bent or that illuminate some aspect of our society or culture. "I especially love working with journalists in this space. I’m also interested in popular psychology, humor, essay collections, and memoirs that speak to larger societal concerns."

In Young Adult: Contemporary fiction and fantasy/speculative projects, with a soft spot for myth, fairytale, and folklore retellings.

How to submit: Please send your query letter and the first 10 pages of your project (pasted in the body of your email) to sonali@foliolit.com. Please be sure to include the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject.

Mega-List of University Literary Journals Accepting Submissions in Fiction, Poetry, Art, CNF

CC0 license You may wonder why you should submit to literary journals run by MFA programs, because they seldom pay. Normally, that would be enough to eliminate them from my list of writing markets. But in spite of that  drawback, there are some good reasons to submit to university literary magazines.

MFA department literary magazines are run by young, enthusiastic students and their professors, which means they are more than happy to nominate the stories they accept for Pushcart and other national prizes.

The second reason is that any agent or editor who has graduated from one of these programs in all likelihood has a subscription. (I know of at least one case in which a short story submission to a university literary journal resulted in representation.)

The third reason to consider submitting is that these journals have a "captive audience." Students, professors, and university staff read them, and depending on the size of the university that can be a lot of people.

Click on the link below for 130 MFA department journals accepting submissions. (This program does not allow tables.)

Mega-List of University Literary Journals Accepting Submissions in Fiction, Poetry, Art, CNF

How to Edit Your Own Manuscript

Writer's Block/Drew Coffman/CC license You've written the last line of your book, and you have that expansive euphoria that comes with a job well done. An almost uncontrollable urge to share your accomplishment with the world washes over you. You want to show your new book to your friends, agents, publishers - or, God forbid, immediately self-publish.

Don't do it.

The first draft of anything you write needs to be your little secret. Hug it to your breast, murmur sweet nothings to its pages, but don't let anybody read it.

Why? Because it is filled with mistakes. There are errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice, internal logic, voice, awkward constructions, typos. There are whole scenes you have left out, dramatic high points you have missed. There is a relationship between your characters that you have not fully developed. You may even have used impact as a verb! (AGH!)

If you think none of those things appear in your book, you are wrong. If you think nobody will pay attention to any of those minor blips, you are wrong. If you think your glorious prose will shine through,  like the sun breaking through clouds of dangling participles, you are dead wrong. Those errors will mar your work.

At this point, I may have sufficiently scared you into investigating editors. Don't do it yet. First, give your book a once over. Maybe a twice over. Or a three times over. But take a good crack at it before you send it off to be edited. (You will save yourself some money if the editor doesn't have to fix quite as many mistakes.) Follow these steps:

1) Put your manuscript away for a few months. It will grate on you to simply park your project for awhile, but I can guarantee you need a break from it in order to see it with fresh eyes. You can use the break to write something else. Or you can read. (As you read, ideas about how to make your manuscript better may pop into your head. Either take notes, or make a few changes.)

2) When you pick up your manuscript again, read it aloud. Reading aloud slows processing speed, allowing you to spot errors more easily. If you stumble while you are reading, revise that sentence or phrase. You've composed an awkward or ambiguous construction that readers will find difficult to parse.

3) Open your book to a random page to edit. Writers get "manuscript blindness" when they read through their work from first to last page. It's a natural consequence of looking at something too many times combined with the inner knowledge of what comes next. To find errors you need to surprise yourself.

4) Read your first page. Pretend that your book will be judged on that page, and that page alone. (Often, readers don't even make it past the first paragraph. I know I don't.) Polish that page until you can see your face in it.

5) Repeat step 4 for every page in your book.

Now you can show your manuscript to trusted friends or beta readers. After you have gotten enough feedback to hone your book even further, you can begin searching for an editor. At this point, you will have a much better idea of what kind of editor you want (line editor, proofreader, or, if you are still stuck on structural components, a developmental editor). This article will help you find the editor who is right for you: Costs for Editing a Self-Published Book

When, at long last, you send your book to an editor, she, or he, will find errors, because there are always errors. But you will have had the chance to take care of plot holes, character motivation, missing scenes, and all those things that only you, the author, can do.