Thinking of Using a Line 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.
For many people, writing is both a passion and a craft. For aspiring authors, the ultimate goal is to publish their work, whether in print or online, to share their stories, ideas, and experiences with a larger audience. However, polishing your work until it shines, and making it publishing-ready, is no easy feat. This is where the magic of a line editor comes in—a professional editor can help you transform your raw writing into a masterpiece by offering a trained eye for detail and a wealth of experience with your genre, target audience, and the larger publishing market. In this article, I’ll explore what a line editor can do for you and why you should consider having your work professionally edited before publication.
The Benefits of Working with a Line Editor
A line editor is a professional who provides editorial services that go beyond simple proofreading for grammar errors and formatting. A line editor will look at the manuscript and provide a detailed analysis of sentence structure, tone, character development, plot, and other critical components of storytelling. They will work on your manuscript in a developmental capacity, offering both sentence-by-sentence feedback, but also big-picture writing notes. By working with a line editor, you can get valuable constructive criticism and encouragement on your work's weaknesses and strengths, respectively and learn how to improve your project overall. The line editor's goal is to polish the manuscript to the point where it's as close to publishable as possible, making it easier for you to submit it to publishers, literary agents, or to self-publish it with confidence.
Why You Need Feedback from a Professional Line Editor
Writing can often be a solitary activity, and feedback from friends and family with little or no writing experience might not be the best option for truly seeing your work with clear eyes. While their opinions can be helpful, they often don't provide the depth and detail necessary to take your work to the next level (unless they’re writers or prodigious readers themselves). A value judgment is not actionable feedback, and only a professional tends to be able to communicate notes in a helpful way. Hiring a professional line editor for editorial services can provide you with specific insights you need to push your thinking and skills to the next level. A line editor will help you identify issues with your manuscript (writers are notorious for having blind spots about their own work), and provide objective feedback.
But You Might Not Be Ready for a Line Editor
While a line editor can help you achieve your writing goals, you need to be mature enough in your craft to handle feedback. An editor will provide constructive criticism that will challenge you to become a better writer. While certain things they say may be difficult to hear, you should be ready to take their advice onboard, work on any revisions you feel compelled to do, and approach the entire endeavor in the spirit of learning and growth. Not everyone is ready for this type of feedback, and some beginning writers can’t emotionally handle the scrutiny involved. If you’re not seasoned enough yet to work with a line editor, that’s okay. You’ll get there as you start to take your craft more seriously. However, if you're willing to learn, grow, and rise to the challenge of rigorous feedback, a line editor will help you to push yourself toward your goals.
While some writers may be hesitant to pursue line editing as a service, the benefits are hard to ignore. Writing can be both rewarding and challenging. Working with a line editor for editorial services can provide critical feedback to help enhance your writing, refine your craft, and open new doors for advancing your career. By engaging with a line editor, you can receive the detailed analysis and constructive criticism necessary to transcend your current blocks and obstacles. If you’re ready for a line editor, find one who seems to resonate with your work, and speed up your learning curve. It’s an investment every creative writer should make for their professional development at least once.
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