The Five Benefits of Editing

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When I finished the first draft of Sābanto, I knew that making the manuscript ready for publishing was not something I could do alone. I knew I needed help, and lots of it. 

First it needed an English edit. I didn’t think any professional editor would look at a manuscript that didn’t make grammatical sense. While I was waiting for my friend to read and correct the manuscript, I wondered what the next logical step would be. I knew I needed beta readers, but after that I had no clue what else was required.

I began to look for an editor. I didn’t think my story needed a developmental edit. It had a beginning, a middle, and a surprise ending, and I felt it was more or less complete, but in order to ensure I had a quality story, I needed an honest, independent opinion. This was where my editor came in and evaluated the manuscript.

When the evaluation came back, I admit, my heart sank. It felt like I’d gotten a school exam back, one I was positive I’d aced, and instead found it all marked in red with everything I’d gotten wrong. 

Looking back at the edits and all the hard work that I put into improving the story, I do not regret getting an editor. I can’t imagine doing all this work without a professional walking me through the process.

Below are what I have found to be the five main benefits of editing with a professional.

1. Everything can be fixed.
   An editor will tell you not only what needs fixing, but also how it can be fixed. Yes, their constructive criticism may be difficult to hear, and you might want to cry a bit. That’s normal. Once you’re able to take it in, however, re-reading the feedback will make you think about how you can improve your work. Criticism should never be a dead end. There are options to explore, new avenues to take, and the story can still be the story you envisioned with just a few tweaks to make it more intriguing and digestible for your readers. It’s all good! 
   
   
2. It leads to brainstorming sessions.
   There may be times during the editing process when you feel alone, as though nobody in your life understands what you’re dealing with. This is a good time to use your editor and the power of brainstorming. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your editor and ask questions, or get their opinions on the changes you want to make. They are there to help you through the journey of editing and publishing.
   
   
3. It improves your confidence
   Confidence is something that many authors lack, and working with an editor might still leave you unsure about your work. The manuscript, however, will always be improved through professional editing. If your editor tells you they like something, trust their instincts.
   
   
4. You’ll avoid embarrassment
   Every writer occasionally makes embarrassing errors. With an editor, these mistakes can be prevented before the general public sees them. An editor will also take time to do some fact-checking for you. They’ll want your book to be as accurate as possible and they will point out potential issues to save you the shame of not getting things right.
   
   
5. Your work will look polished and professional.
   Professionalism is key. This is something that cannot be stressed enough. No matter how good your story is, if you don’t take the time to edit it properly and don’t have a professional editor to guide you, the chances of your book being successful are slim. It’s unlikely you’re a publishing prodigy. Your characters might not be as developed as they could be, your story may contain clichés that could have been avoided, and you may have unnoticed spelling errors detracting from your work. Furthermore, poorly edited work can give independent authors a bad name.

Yes, editing is expensive and it does take time, but the results are worth the money and effort. I’ve read countless books and stories that weren’t professionally edited, and it showed. These books stick out, and not in a good way.