The Benefits of Working with
a Professional Editor
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.
A professional editor can make a big difference in your pursuit of a book deal, but it’s not for everyone. Of course, writing a book is no easy feat. It takes guts, passion, and a lot of hard work. However, completing the book is just half the battle—getting it ready for submission to a literary agent or publishing house https://marykole.com/publishing-house is where the real challenge lies. In today's market, competition is fierce, and aspiring writers need to take extra steps to make sure their work stands out. That's where working with a professional editor becomes a potential make-or-break decision. In this article, I’ll dive into the benefits of working with a professional editor and how it can help you reach your writing goals.
A Professional Editor Gives Objective Feedback
One of the biggest advantages of working with a professional editor is the objective feedback you can receive. Writing is a solitary profession, which means it can be challenging for writers to identify potential weaknesses in their work, especially since writers are famously unable to see their work objectively. A professional editor provides an unbiased opinion and can offer a fresh perspective on your work. They can provide insightful writing notes, highlight plot holes, weak character development or suggest changes in pacing, tone, character development, writing style, and novel structure.
Other Benefits of a Professional Editor
A professional editor helps writers hone their skills: Getting feedback from an editor helps writers develop their writing skills. The editor's feedback helps writers identify their strengths—their writing style, unique voice, tone, writing imagery, etc. It also helps highlight areas writers need to work on, allowing them to refine their skills, eliminate bad habits and improve their writing craft https://kidlit.com/writing-craft. This partnership can take a writer's skill level to new heights. I often say that it takes a village to make a book, and a professional editor can be an integral part of this village.
A professional editor helps to prepare the work for submission or publication: A professional editor can ensure that the work is polished, well-written, and ready for publication or submission. A professional editor, especially a copy editor, will ensure that the writer's work is grammatically correct, with proper sentence structure and punctuation. They will also ensure that the manuscript meets publishing standards so that the writer has the best chance of success in the market.
A professional editor helps writers reach their goals: A professional editor can guide writers towards new opportunities, whether it's in traditional publishing or self-publishing. For instance, they can provide advice on submitting the manuscript to literary agents, suggest strategies to improve the manuscript or assist in creating a logline https://marykole.com/logline or query letter. In addition, a good editor can even help writers develop their author brand and marketing strategy, which can greatly help writers succeed in their publishing endeavors.
But a Professional Editor Is Not For Everyone
While working with a professional editor offers several benefits, it's not for everyone. As a writer on the cusp of breaking out, you need to be mature enough to handle constructive criticism and make necessary revisions. This criticism can be challenging, but it's crucial for growth. Sometimes writing feedback can be difficult to swallow, but it's essential for writers seeking to undertake a professional career. Aspiring writers should strive to build up their confidence and willingness to learn in order to work with a professional editor. Otherwise, they might find themselves challenged by any editor they meet in their future career, including one acquiring their work.
Working with a professional editor is an investment that can have a profound effect on a writer's career. A good editor provides constructive feedback, guides writers in developing their skills, and ensures that the manuscript is ready for publication. Although not for everyone, working with a professional editor can help writers identify areas of improvement and take their work to new heights. A professional editor can offer valuable insights, which can significantly help writers achieve their desired goals. Consider adding advice from a professional editor to your publishing strategy today.
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.