Is It Really Worth It To Hire an Editor?
When you’re self-publishing a book, the entire process is not only a massive learning curve about the publishing industry, it’s a delicate balancing act between paying for the services that will set your book apart while also making sure you can afford stuff like rent and groceries that month. So it’s only natural for self-published authors to start identifying the parts of the book publishing process that you can get completed more cheaply. And with the rise of AI and services like Grammarly, it would seem like editorial would be a great place to cut some financial corners, right?
Wrong! But why is that not an area to cut corners? Most of us use services like Grammarly for emails, smaller writing projects, and schoolwork. Why wouldn’t it be a valuable and much cheaper option to get a proofread at least? Let’s talk about it.
Nuance
When you hire an editor, whether you’re working on a structural edit, a line edit, or a proofread, that human will be able to look at your book as a whole rather than ensuring your book complies with whatever algorithm it was given. A human editor will be able to look at your book and find those areas where maybe you’ve used incorrect grammar or incorrect spelling but will be able to work with the nuance of intentionally using incorrect grammar or writing in dialect as a narrative choice. They’ll be able to understand when a grammar rule should be broken for the sake of the book, the character, or the moment in the narrative, and when a rule should be followed. Even better, they’ll be able to help you break those rules in a way that makes the book easier to read. For instance, if you’re writing a character who speaks in a specific dialect, a human editor will be able to help you convey their accent in words in a way that is easy for a reader to understand while also ensuring they read it with the accent you intend the character to have. At this point, there isn’t an accessible AI or computer-generated editor that can handle the nuance a human editor can provide.
Improvement
No writer loves getting edits back, but the fact of the matter is, edits make your writing stronger. And a good editor isn’t there to simply mark up your work with a red pen saying, “Wrong, wrong, yuck, bad, terrible” as they strike through sentence after sentence. Instead, a good editor looks at your book and almost sees it as a puzzle. Where is this manuscript weak, and what are the things the writer could add to make it stronger? Are there erroneous pieces that can be removed without toppling the manuscript entirely? Where should the writer pick up the pace? Where should the writer slow things down? That collaboration and support, the push to improve, and the time it takes for an editor to explain the problems they see and how you can fix it just aren’t available with AI. The human interaction and the context and care you’ll get with an edit simply isn’t possible with a program, but those are the very things that will make your writing stronger in both this book and any future books.
Fresh Perspective
When you’re writing a book, your entire heart, soul, and mind is steeped in the world of your book. That means your brain is making connections left and right to topics that you’ve researched in preparing for writing your book, in ideas you had but never fully formed enough to land in the book, personal experiences, and your own thoughts and opinions. The thing is, sometimes those things blind you to the way information is presented in your book. When you bring in an editor, they can see the book with fresh eyes, reading your words as someone outside of your head, and can let you know where they find areas that maybe lack some context or make you or a character come across in a light you clearly didn’t intend. That fresh perspective is priceless (and is why we also suggest not being your own editor), and having to explain an idea or a concept that might not be fully formed in your book gives you a chance to strengthen your narrative in a way an AI never could.
So…What’s Next?
The thing is, there are a TON of editors out there! So the next step is to explore your options, as every writer needs something a little different from an editor. That’s why it is key to do your research, chat with editors, check out their portfolio, and even get a sample edit where you can to see if you and an editor will work well together. Some editors don’t offer them, but typically if an editor doesn’t offer a sample edit they’ll supplement this with either a probationary period or letting you look at a completed edit—don’t be afraid to ask about options when you’re shopping for an editor! Of course, we’re partial to the editorial team here at Self Publishing Services, but we don’t want you to take our word for it! We offer a free sample edit of the first 3,000 words of your manuscript. That way you can see how we work and decide if you’re interested in fully investing in an editorial partnership.
Editing is important, and is one of those areas that you should never skimp on. As long as you’re letting a computer, a program, or an AI do your editing, there’s always going to be something vital missing from your work. If you want to talk to us about working together on your book, don’t hesitate to reach out; we’re here to help!