Are You Ready for
Freelance Editing?
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
It’s tough to list all of the benefits of freelance editing in one short article. And I might be biased, as I left my literary agent job to become a freelance and developmental editor in 2013. But there’s a very real reason that writers need editing—whether self-editing, freelance editing, or feedback from a publishing house editor. Writers need writing notes because it’s often very tough for a writer to see themselves and their creation objectively.
Whether you’re writing a book, an article, or a whitepaper, you need someone to review your work and provide feedback. This is why people opt for freelance editing—freelance editors are professionals who can help writers create the best possible final product. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of freelance editing and why it might be the right decision for you and your writing career.
The Benefits of Freelance Editing
The first benefit of freelance editing is that editors bring expertise to the table, as well as a layer of professional distance from the work. Professional editors have experience reviewing and editing other people’s work, so they are able to provide guidance on how to improve your writing, especially if they’re versed in your specific genre or category and its expectations. Even better if the person providing freelance editing has worked in publishing or an adjacent industry.
An editor should be able to spot errors in grammar or syntax that you may not have noticed, but editing is much more than proofreading, or making sure the manuscript is error-free before it goes out into the world. This helps you present yourself as an authoritative figure in your area of focus, and boosts reader, agent, or publisher confidence in your work.
In addition to proofreading, a hired editor can offer insights into how to structure your story for maximum impact, if you’re getting developmental editing, as well as advice on how to use language effectively and clearly, if you’re opting for copy editing, and tips on how to make your content more engaging. Overall, freelance editing can improve all levels of your prose and storytelling.
Why Freelance Editing?
Finally, investing in professional freelance editing can save you time and energy in the long run. When you hire someone else to do the editing for you, all you have to do is focus on creating content while the moving pieces are managed behind the scenes and presented in a way that will facilitate your long-term growth as a writer. This also ensures that there are no delays between when you finish writing and when your work gets published—which is especially important if deadlines are involved. If you’re aspiring to submit to a literary agent or self publishing, freelance editing is the way to get feedback before you get in a publishing house editor relationship.
If you're looking for an expert eye and mind to review your writing and help you take it to the next level, consider investing in freelance editing.
Click here to purchase Writing Irresistible Kidlit, my book on fiction craft for MG and YA novels, out from Writer's Digest Books. This will show you my writing craft philosophy and give you lots of valuable advice, including tips for the novel revision process and self-editing. There are over 35 example novels cited and discussed throughout. It’s a valuable resource for any writer’s toolkit.
Click here to purchase Successful Query Letters, my book on query letters, including over forty examples with comprehensive notes on each one. There’s a ton of submission advice, best practices, and insider information in these pages, and you’ll really enjoy seeing what other writers are doing in the slush.