{"id":268,"date":"2012-01-30T21:36:35","date_gmt":"2012-01-31T04:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/?p=268"},"modified":"2012-02-08T18:33:32","modified_gmt":"2012-02-09T01:33:32","slug":"should-you-hire-a-professional-editor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/?p=268","title":{"rendered":"Should You Hire a Professional Editor?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a previous post, I wrote about the necessity of having your work professionally edited.\u00a0 Of course, if your book has been picked up by a major publishing house, you likely will have an editor assigned to your book.\u00a0 (Although I have seen bestsellers from major publishers that made me wonder if the book actually was edited.\u00a0 The numbers of errors in <\/em>American Assassin was shocking.)\u00a0 <\/em>If you are self-publishing, you will pay for the editor from your own pocket, but chances are you will want professional editing before you even send your manuscript to an agent.\u00a0 As the following author says, \u201cPeople inside the industry are known for emphasizing the importance of submitting a flawless manuscript.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Below is an excerpt from an article I recently came across by Jane Friedman, a professor of media and writing at the University of Cincinnati, and the former publisher of Writer\u2019s Digest<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a01.\u00a0Most writers don\u2019t clearly understand how an editor might improve their work (or to what extent). <\/strong>\u00a0Writers must have a level of sophistication and knowledge about their work (or themselves!) to know where their weaknesses are, and how a professional might assist them. When writers ask me if they should hire a professional editor, it\u2019s usually out of a vague fear their work isn\u2019t good enough\u2014and they think it can be \u201cfixed.\u201d There are many different types or levels of editing, and if you don\u2019t know what they are\u2014or what kind you need\u2014then you\u2019re not ready for a professional editor.<\/p>\n

\u00a02.\u00a0I review \u201cprofessionally edited\u201d manuscripts all the time, and I see no evidence of professional editing. <\/strong>\u00a0And in consultations with writers, I hear about some pretty lousy advice that has been delivered by these \u201cprofessionals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a03.\u00a0Writers may sincerely seek professional help, but very few are willing to pay for it.<\/strong> \u00a0You probably will not receive a quality review on your entire manuscript\u2014that will actually affect your chances of publication\u2014for less than $1,000\u2014unless it\u2019s line editing (copyediting, proofreading).<\/p>\n

\u00a0Can you benefit from a professional edit? \u00a0Maybe.\u00a0 Your work already needs to be very good and deserving of the investment. \u00a0Even the best editor in the world can\u2019t turn a mediocre work into a gem. \u00a0But they can make a good work great.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Tips for Hiring a Professional Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n