Is it ever acceptable for an agent to offer representation on the condition that the author hire a paid editor/proofreader (either one they recommended or just an editor in general)?
To me, the idea of an agent recommending any kind of paid service is a huge red flag, even if they give you an option to use someone else. If an agent truly feels a project needs that much work and they are unable or unwilling to perform the editing themselves, they should simply decline to represent it.
An agent I spoke to on another writing board said she regularly recommends an editor she knows to her authors (although they are free to use a different editor if they prefer) and sees no problem with it. These are authors that she has already agreed to represent. On the other hand, when I had an agent, she put in hours and hours of editing work on my manuscript for free, which I tend to think is the way things should be done if an agent really believes in a project.
Opinions?
To me, the idea of an agent recommending any kind of paid service is a huge red flag, even if they give you an option to use someone else. If an agent truly feels a project needs that much work and they are unable or unwilling to perform the editing themselves, they should simply decline to represent it.
An agent I spoke to on another writing board said she regularly recommends an editor she knows to her authors (although they are free to use a different editor if they prefer) and sees no problem with it. These are authors that she has already agreed to represent. On the other hand, when I had an agent, she put in hours and hours of editing work on my manuscript for free, which I tend to think is the way things should be done if an agent really believes in a project.
Opinions?