You've finished your manuscript. You've revised it, edited it, and read it approximately 138 times. But how do you know if it's actually ready for a professional edit? If you are a first-time author, the answer to this question might not be obvious. Even experienced authors with several published books can struggle with the decision to let go of their book baby and leave it in the hands of an editor.

As a professional, full-time editor for 6 years, I'm here to give you some pointers to help you determine when the moment is right.