I’ve been talking a lot about self-editing on the blog lately. It’s a crucial process for every author to engage in as closely and carefully as they can. But all this talk about self-editing begs an important question: if I master the art of self-editing, do I still need an editor?
Short answer: yes. For the long answer, read on!
Editors Bring Hidden Problems to Light
If you know me, you know that I am a firm advocate for taking structured breaks from your work-in-progress to regather energy and gain distance and clarity. But the truth is, there’s only so much distance you can get from your work. You’ll never be able to take a truly objective view of your manuscript; since this work came from you, your brain’s ability to think about your work in new ways is limited, even after an extended break. As such, you will always have some (more likely many) blind spots as you self-edit.
This is why working with professional editors is essential, even for well-seasoned published authors. We offer writers a fresh, sharp-eyed perspective informed by our extensive knowledge of writing and publishing craft. And while authors can (and definitely should!) get fresh perspectives on their work for free from alpha and beta readers, they can’t fully replace an editor’s laserlike focus and in-depth analysis.
Not only do editors do the intensive work to figure out what’s going on with your book, they also offer carefully-considered solutions based on their knowledge of general storycraft, your particular genre and audience, and your publication goals.
Editors Know How to Talk about Your Book’s Problems
When you hire an editor, you’re not just paying for that trained, laserlike focus—you’re paying for their experience-honed ability to talk about what’s going on in your book. While alpha and beta readers can point out elements that confused them, places they lost interest, or characters they didn’t understand, they often don’t possess the deep craft knowledge (or the time!) to clearly define the issues and the specific language to communicate about them with you.
Editors, on the other hand, have been trained to do just this. They’ve studied the art of communicating about complex plot and prose problems with authors in clear, tactful ways that will both educate and encourage you.
Editors Spend Dozens of Hours With Your Book
Editorial work requires sustained time, focus, and energy well beyond what a typical alpha or beta reader—even a seasoned, knowledgeable one—can offer.
Consider this: A typical reader takes about four or five hours to read a book of around 70,000 words, the average length of a novel for adult readers. A developmental editor, on the other hand, would take between 30 and 40 hours to complete a developmental edit of a book of that length, while a line or copy editor would take between 25 to 35 hours. (These estimates are based on average editorial speeds recorded in the EFA Rates Chart.)
While every editor has their own process and their own speed, you can safely assume the time an editor spends with your manuscript will be exponentially greater than any alpha or beta reader; as such, the feedback an editor can offer you will be exponentially more in-depth, precise, and clear. And because editors take the time to understand where you’re coming from, their feedback will be tailored to your unique vision, publishing plans, and abilities.
Related: What Is Working with an Editor Like?
Professional Editing Leads to Marketable Work
Few artists can reach a professional, marketable level of excellence without professional input, and writing is no different. If you want your writing and storytelling to be clean, professional, and marketable, you need professional input and feedback.
Whether you’re planning to self-publish or hoping to publish traditionally, remember that each manuscript has to compete with literally hundreds of thousands of others. Working with a professional developmental editor, no matter the publishing route you choose, will make your book stand out. And if you’re self-publishing, thorough line and copy editing will give your book an extra competitive edge (if you’re being published traditionally, this is typically provided by the publishing house).
Wrapping Up
As you self-edit your manuscript and incorporate feedback from alpha and beta readers, you’ll eventually hit a wall—a point where you’ve gone as far as you can on your own. At that point, the only way to level up is to seek professional feedback. This is exactly what editors are here for. So when you've hit that wall, look for an editor to help you! Ask for sample edits and consultations so you can find the perfect one for you. And if you’d like to explore working with me, I’m just a few clicks away!
Happy writing!
Comments