Writers prepare themselves for rejection from agents. They brace for silence after sending queries, expect form letters, even rehearse their resilience for the inevitable stack of “thanks, but no thanks.” They know it’s part of the gauntlet.

Writers often assume that as soon as a draft exists, it’s time to call in an editor. After all, if the point is to improve the manuscript, why not hand it over right away? The temptation is real: you’ve finally strung together thousands of words, the shape of a book is there on the page, and you’re eager for validation. An editor will fix it, you think. They’ll tell me what works. They’ll save me from wasting time.

By the time you reach this stage, you’ve already done the hard work. You’ve shaped the structure, cut the excess, checked for consistency, and listened to the rhythm of your sentences. What remains is presentation. The polish pass is what makes your manuscript ready to be read by someone else — not perfect, not finished, but clear enough for an editor to step inside the world you’ve created.