Aspiring authors have two basic choices today — self-publishing their work and attempting to be traditionally published, typically with the help of a literary agent. Both routes offer paths to success, and self-published books can definitely become bestsellers now.
You need a skilled editor no matter what kind of manuscript you’re publishing and no matter how you plan to do it. There are no exceptions. Epic fantasy novels and 20,000-word free ebooks explaining how to diagnose what’s wrong with a washing machine both scream to be edited.
Why? Even famous novels have embarrassing mistakes (including Robinson Crusoe, where the protagonist strips naked and then promptly stuffs things into his non-existent pockets). Even great classics have typos (like the early version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that accidentally said “was” instead of “saw” in one instance).
A professional, skilled, experienced, and talented editor is your biggest ally in the fight against stuff that really shouldn’t be in your book. Here’s why.
1. You Suck at Self-Editing
Have you ever taken a look at the beautiful, violent process through which the universe gives birth to brand-new stars? Well, writing is a bit like that. You start with an explosion of ideas, all fighting to be heard. You can’t transform all those sparks into a coherent whole without getting a little messy along the way.
Writing is a struggle. Writers inevitably become attached to the words they labored over. It’s easy, or even inevitable, to read your words and look at the creative ideas that inspired them, losing sight of the plot holes, dead ends, and 2 am grammar sins you left in your manuscript.
Like a parent can never look at a child with objective, impartial eyes, a writer isn’t able to see their book for what it is.
That cuts both ways! Some excessively confident aspiring authors may think their historical comedy is perfect the way it is and, therefore, ready for Kindle Direct Publishing after proofreading it a couple of times. On the other hand, overly critical writers risk hating everything they read and going to town with their control, A, and backspace buttons.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to come to terms with that because you should definitely self-edit your manuscript before passing it on to a professional editor. Never leave it there if you want your book to be the best it can be, though.
2. A Great Editor Is Passionate About Making Your Work Shine
Editors are intensely curious. They’re passionate about language and devoted to helping you create the best manuscript possible. Editors don’t just offer a “fresh pair of eyes” (which also matters a great deal!) but also bring a bunch of experience to the table. They live and breathe manuscripts. They know what works, what doesn’t, and how to transform your book to make it great.
Where writers have to accept a degree of chaos to finish a manuscript successfully, editors love to bring order. By hiring a book editor, you gain a valuable teammate who boosts your strengths and eliminates your weaknesses.
3. It’s Not Difficult to Find the Editor You Need
The internet has made it easier (and faster!) than ever to find an excellent, vetted, and experienced editor who offers precisely the services you require.
Writers planning to publish a full-length manuscript should strongly consider hiring a developmental editor as well as a copy editor or line editor. Those publishing short stories, brief non-fiction ebooks, or important personal essays typically only need a copy editor.
While broader websites where you can find freelance services, such as Upwork or Fiverr, may immediately come to mind, you are better off looking for an editor on a dedicated platform. The Reedsy editor marketplace is one of the best. Only experienced editors with proven talent make it onto the platform, which makes it easy to filter by genre.
Of course, you shouldn’t just pick the first editor you stumble on. The author/editor relationship is intense, and you can ensure it unfolds smoothly by interviewing potential editors carefully.
Ask questions and explain your needs, especially if you have never worked with an editor before. You don’t have to become best buds with your editor, but it is vital that you understand each other’s work and communication styles.
4. Hiring an Editor Increases Your Odds of Getting Published
It’s more or less obvious that you need at least one skilled editor if you’ve decided to go the self-publishing route. Self-publishing removes all the gatekeeping that traditional publishing builds into the process, after all. An editor is the only thing standing between you and a terrible mistake, so don’t skip this step!
You may not think you need to hire a book editor if you have decided to try to get traditionally published. This process usually requires querying literary agents and landing a contract before your agent tries to place your book. As such, traditional publishing incorporates multiple levels of gatekeeping.
While it’s true that publishers have their own editors, you may not land a literary agent and even get to that stage unless you hire an editor before you send your manuscript out. Literary agents skim through numerous first chapters daily and won’t hesitate to toss yours in the bin if it’s not polished.
Hiring an editor is a significant investment but a necessary one — and one that will pay off.
When Should You Hire an Editor?
Aspiring authors should pat themselves on the back, pour themselves a lovely glass of wine, and take a well-deserved break after finishing their manuscripts. Self-editing is the next stage in the process; don’t rest until you’ve done the best you can.
Some authors will work with beta readers or critique partners before hiring a copy editor. That won’t be necessary if you have penned a non-fiction manuscript.
You’re ready for an editor when your book has well and truly left first-draft territory behind, and you’re certain there’s nothing more you can do to improve your manuscript. That’s when a skilled editor can swoop in and work their magic, ensuring your book can become a success.
Recent Comments