You want to improve your writing, and your in-house editor doesn't have the time to work with you. You get along well with your in-house editor, but she doesn't do much, if any, editing of your manuscripts before putting them into production--and you know your work isn't perfect. You're confused.  Your editor (or agent) has asked you to do two sets of revisions on the same manuscript, and you aren't at all certain that the results are an improvement.  Moreover, you aren't sure anymore if the book is even the story you wanted to write. You've published seven novels in the mystery (fantasy, romance, etc.) genre, but your latest manuscript is an attempt to write for a different genre.  You want to make sure that you've hit all the right notes before submitting. You're the author of thirty published novels, but you haven't been able to sell a book for two years--and you don't know what's wrong. You need someone who understands popular fiction and who is objective (i.e., isn't your best friend or your mother) to tell you if the story you've written makes sense; if the characters are well developed; and if the plot builds, climaxes, and resolves properly. The rejection letters you've received indicate that editors like your writing and that your story ideas are "fresh."  So why do these editors who wrote those words also say your book "isn't quite right" for them? The editors to whom you want to submit your manuscript say they only accept agented submissions, but all of the agents whom you've queried say, although your work shows "promise," they can't represent you.  Translation:  your manuscript needs work before being ready for submission.