In essence, a Book Doctor is an individual who promises to assist you in making your manuscript ready for submission to an editor or publisher.

The sad truth is many Book Doctors simply provide minimal editing services and little else.

Many potential authors have sought the services of one of these 'professionals' in an effort to make their manuscripts as complete as possible. The belief most authors in this situation have is that the "Book Doctor", like a real doctor, will provide their manuscript with a thorough check-up and will diagnose problems with the manuscript and provide expert opinion on the best means of getting their manuscripts into the best possible shape for publishing.

It may be more advisable to simply have an editor take a look at your manuscript and fix glaring problems and offer suggestions. It is probable that there are some "Book Doctors" whose services are as good as advertised, but for the most part they simply will not do what you are expecting them to do. This scenario creates mistrust, costs valuable resources and causes a writer to become a bit more jaded if they are duped in this way.

If you have well respected writing friends it may be more advisable to approach one of them to assess their willingness to review your manuscript, offer advice and possible offer some editorial suggestions on the work.

The chances are pretty strong that you will get further by approaching a trusted writer friend than relying on a Book Doctor for your editorial requirements.

To be fair, you will find many qualified editors who can assist you in making your manuscript shine. Perhaps the greatest advise is this: if the services offered seem too good to be true - they probably are.

I am aware of several writer friends that I would turn to in a heartbeat if I wanted a complete review of my work, but this type of arrangement happens in the form of a writing community. When you become involved you begin to learn more about what works and who can help.

If you are a writer and haven't become a part of a writing community be sure to look for one in your region. You are also welcome to participate in the online community of FaithWriters.com.