The Five Benefits of Hiring an Editor

Everybody has a story. And while not everybody feels compelled to share it with the rest of the world, there is a good percentage of us out there who do. Whether you aspire to become a multi-published author, or you are simply somebody with an idea, there is hope for you. The journey from an imaginative idea to a polished piece of literature doesn't have to feel so daunting.

This is where an editor comes in. I had no idea how helpful a partnership like this could be. After attending PENCON a couple of weeks ago, I came away with a new understanding of the various services a freelance editor provides. Here are five reasons why anybody who is serious about writing should hire one.

An editor can ...

     ... help you put an outline together. (Developmental Edit)
     ... make sure the story arch is present. (Substantive Edit)
     ... re-write sentences to improve style and flow. (Line Edit)
     ... correct spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. (Copy Edit)
     ... polish the piece after the manuscript is typeset. (Proofread)

Aside from all of this, a freelance editor can provide coaching or mentoring services. She can even ghostwrite the entire manuscript for you, giving you all rights to the piece.

I am so excited to announce that I've begun training to become one of these sought-after professionals. I am working on putting a website together that will hopefully launch in early July. It is a deep desire of mine to pour into other writers as I build my own writing career. Freelance editing seems like a great avenue with which to do so.

What about you? Where are you in the process? Do you have the seed of an idea that feels too fragile to share? Or perhaps you've been writing the same book for years. Regardless of where you find yourself, I highly recommend hiring a freelance editor to help you get up and over that hump. I will be in business before too long. But if your project can't wait for my debut, I hope you will consider hiring one of the qualified professionals at the The Christian PEN or the Christian Editor Connection.

Have you had any experience with a freelance editor? And if so, what were the benefits?