Why Self-Editing Isn't Enough

We've all been there. An essay for school is due the next day, and you'd swear you'd read over the darn thing at least a hundred times. There can't possibly be any errors. A few weeks later, you get it back, covered in red ink. Clearly, the teacher just has it out for you, right?

Maybe not.

Even the most talented writers know better than to rely solely on self-editing their work. It's why publishing houses provide editors to their authors, and large companies have teams of editors dedicated to reviewing marketing materials and press releases. You can be an expert wordsmith and still miss plenty of errors.

The reason is that you know what you're talking about. You know what you're trying to say. You likely won’t notice that typo, especially if it’s still a correctly spelled word (bare instead of bear, for example). As a writer, you’re completely focused on the content. You’re not pausing every few minutes to check if that comma should actually be a semi-colon. That’s completely normal! In fact, most writing advice is to get everything down and out of your head first, without stopping.
 
Whatever you’re writing, it’s because you have something to say. The problem arises when it comes to how best to articulate your points. Say you’re writing a story. You know the story inside out, but your readers won’t. Without a new pair of eyes on your work, sentences or entire scenes may completely puzzle your reader (something you should usually avoid unless you’re writing a mystery).
 
There are a few strategies to separate yourself (like reading your sentences aloud) that can help, but they can't replace a fresh perspective. In fact, you'd probably be better off asking a friend to take a look, even if they aren't well-read on your subject.

Of course, your friend is simply doing you a favor. They’ll likely read it over once, point out a missing comma or a run-on sentence or two, and be done with it. Maybe they’ll run spellcheck on it. After all, they’ve got a busy life they need to get back to. Editing isn’t most people’s idea of fun.
 
On the other hand, when someone is being paid to work on something (and has the necessary skills to perform well), they'll usually do a better job. People spend years getting degrees and professional certificates in different types of editing. Hence the editorial industry.

Whether you're self-publishing, preparing a manuscript to submit to traditional publishers, making a website, or creating promotional materials, hiring a professional editor will take your writing to the next level. As an editor, I’ve seen everything from missing words to unclear sentences, character arcs that don’t make sense, timeline mix-ups, references to events the author previously cut (and therefore never happened in the narrative), and so much more.
 
I enjoy helping writers reach their full potential, but I also love seeing how they improve over time. A good editor doesn’t just send back a document with tons of edits. They talk to you, leave comments in the margins, and try to help you become a better writer.
 
I’ve seen clients go from barely knowing when a comma should be used to grammar experts. It’ll actually save you money in the long run. By working with an editor to improve your skills, the next thing you write won’t require as much editing.
 
Have you ever hired an editor? What’s your experience with them been like?