To Hire An Editor Or Not: The Pros and Cons

Are you wondering if you need to hire an editor for your writing?   Do you think it’s better to edit yourself?  You’re not alone. Many writers have thought so too.

This article shows you the prospects and consequences of hiring an editor.  Remember, if you’re curious about hiring an editor, Next Chapters offers editing and coaching services for writers.  Reach out to give our services a try!

The Pros of hiring an editor

1. Constructive criticism:  Many editors are writers too. They desire you to succeed as a writer, because the success of your book is theirs as well. So expect them to critique your work and do not take it to heart because they want you to get better.
2. Offers a fresh look on your work:  Your work might not look fresh to you that moment since you’re familiar with every bit of it. Thus, an error could go unnoticed. And because your brain knows the word, your eye sees it though it’s not there. The fresh look of an editor is needed to detect those overlaps.
3. Helps polish your writing:  An editor would make your writings take on a refined shape. Not only ensuring it is error-free, but also has smooth sentences and consistent flow.
4. Improves your writing: Working closely with an editor helps you improve your writing. You learn to articulate your ideas in quick, smooth, and simple sentences.
5. Improves your self-editing skills: As each blind spot is revealed by the editor, you take note of them. In subsequent writings, you can be sure to edit your own work as you already know what to look out for.
6. Helps to create a great experience for your readers: You may have an information for your readers but may not pass it correctly.  The vocabulary you used may have been lower or higher than the reader’s comprehension. An editor would help sort that out, ensuring that your readers get the correct information, in the way they understand.
7. Helps your book get selected by agents or publishers: If you intend to traditionally publish, then you need an editor. No agent or publisher would represent or publish a work that is not professionally edited.

The cons of hiring an editor

1. It is not cheap: Most writers do not get massive returns on sales of their books so before you hire an editor, you must be certain you can afford their prices and that you would get a return from sales later.
2. You might require multiple revisions for your writing: There’s every possibility of rewriting a large portion of your work after an editor goes through it. That in turn will be further corrected until it is perfect.  Not only does it cost you money, it costs time.
3. You can lose your self-confidence: Can you handle honest criticism? If you can’t, then you shouldn’t hire an editor. Else, you’ll feel demoralised by each correction and may give up on writing.
4. Your work might be completely altered: An editor might tamper with your voice in a bid to ensure your work follows all the dictates of grammar.
5. It might not fit your timeline: You may have to book months ahead to get an editor for your writing.

So, what’s the decision – to hire an editor or not?  Remember, Next Chapters can help you with editing and writing services, and assist you in overcoming the “cons” evident in searching for your own editing services.