I graduated in 2006 from Bard High School Early College, where writing was a priority and every other subject was secondary. We started every year with week long writing workshops and were forced to write essays in almost every class including math. I didn’t understand it then but now I know that being able to write and edit is an essential part of life. I have learned to embrace and love the art of filtered writing so much that when I graduated from Brooklyn College in 2009, I, boldly, deemed myself the editor of my inner circle. I quickly found out that my friends were amazing writers who did not need me to impede on their academic space!

 

So, I decided to create my own content to edit. I wrote, edited and self-published the short fiction book, “Passage to Heaven.” It took me two years to complete it and I’ll be totally honest...I will never do that again. Editing took me a year and a half! As a professional editor, I have learned that objectivity is imperative to having a successful editing experience. How can you see the whole picture when you are so close?

 

It is not only the editor’s job to find grammatical mistakes (which you will never find on your own); they find and help to fill gaps in the story, remove parts that aren’t necessary, identify parts of the story that need to be explained through detail and description, etc. The editor identifies the voice of each character and makes sure that it is carried out throughout the entire book. If the voice changes, then she/he makes sure that the change makes sense. The editor examines the plot and its complexity and makes suggestions based on what the author is trying to convey.

 

A good editor will also look at trends/branding and will help you to tailor your content for your target market. Can you successfully do all of that for your own work?

 

As an author, you know what you wrote, why you wrote it, and that it is good enough to be sold to the public (otherwise you wouldn’t try to publish!). Your mind may be turned off to changes. An editor can go through that process for you and help you refine your work. You may even find that after working with an editor, your writing skills will be enhanced because of what you have learned from your editor. After working with an editor, you may identify traits in your writing that are strengths as well as you may see some weaknesses. You will be able to use them to your advantage because you have become aware of what you do well.

 

On the other hand, you may be an overly-critical writer who never knows when to stop editing. Nothing will ever be good enough so your book will never be finished. Having an editor even before you finish the book can help you bring your story to a proper end. The editor can help you organize your thoughts and reassure you of the great work that you have completed.

 

Yes, it may be easier, comforting, and cost-effective to self-edit but it can cost you in the long run. Because you are so close to your own work, you won’t be able to see the potential in your book.