Ready for an Editor for Hire?
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.
Writing and publishing a book is a long and arduous journey that requires a lot of time and effort. However, your work doesn’t end when you type the last word of your first draft. In fact, the real work begins in the editing stage. This is where working with a professional editor for hire comes in. In this article, I’ll dive deep into the benefits of working with an editor for hire and how it can take your writing to the next level. I’ll also discuss why not every writer is ready for this step just yet.
What Does an Editor for Hire Do?
An editor for hire helps writers achieve their goals by offering assistance with manuscript development, organization, structure, and execution. They can also provide copy-editing services on the sentence-level writing when the manuscript is closer to completion. They offer constructive feedback, suggestions, and recommendations that can help writers revise and strengthen their work to make it more cohesive, polished, and professional, whether the eventual goal is traditional publishing or self-publishing.
One of the main benefits of working with an editor for hire is the objective perspective they offer. As writers, we often lose sight of their blind spots and opportunities for growth, especially because we’re emotionally invested. An editor for hire can read a manuscript with a fresh pair of eyes and offer an unbiased, expert opinion on how to execute on a writer’s vision in the most effective way possible.
An Editor for Hire Understands
An editor for hire understands the nuances of what makes a manuscript successful or not. They have experience working in different genres and know what it takes to create an engaging, well-paced, and effective story. They can offer insight into the target audience you’re writing for, and how to maximize a reader and gatekeeper’s engagement with your work by making strategic editorial decisions.
Working with an editor for hire can also provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. Feedback from an expert can highlight weaknesses, strengths, and growth opportunities, not just for the manuscript at hand, but for all of your future projects.
Are You Ready to Work with an Editor For Hire?
It’s important to note that not everyone is ready for editorial services right away. Writers who don’t have any experience receiving intensive critique can become defensive or uncooperative, leading to frustration on both sides. An editor for hire knows how to phrase writing notes and contextualize them to be most useful, but giving and getting feedback are more advanced disciplines. Therefore, you should be mature enough in your craft and willing to receive rigorous feedback and revise accordingly. Remember, an editor for hire is offering you a self-improvement tool. What you do with it and how you use it is up to you. This challenge, however, can lead to substantial growth, new skills, feedback, and perspective.
Working with an editor for hire is a valuable opportunity for writers who are serious about improving their craft and taking their writing to the next level. An editor for hire can bring an objective perspective, offer constructive feedback, and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, it's important to acknowledge that writers need to be ready to receive rigorous feedback and revise accordingly when they engage with an editor for hire. With the right mindset and approach, working with an editor for hire can be a proactive decision and investment in your creative writing journey.
Ready to expand your writing and publishing knowledge? Covering a wide range of topics for all stages of the writing process, my books will help you navigate the publishing world and refine your craft. The publishing landscape is constantly evolving, and I’m always looking for new and innovative resources to help writers succeed.