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?

PENCON Highlights

Writers need other writers. I'm convinced of it. We spend a ton of time alone, typing away at the keyboard, massaging words much like we would a piece of clay until our project finds just the right shape. Then, once the words have been formed, and some sense can be made of author's concepts, the firing process can begin. Another word for this polishing and refining stage is editing.

And editors, much like writers, need to belong to a tribe. As I step into the world of professional editing, I have been so pleased to discover that such a tribe not only exists, but it has welcomed me with open arms. I had the privilege of connecting with top editors at PENCON last week. Colorado Springs provided a beautiful backdrop for intensive workshops such as:

Setting the Creative Foundation, The Spiritual Life of the Editor and Surviving Different Author Personalities by Allen Arnold

How to Be More Productive on Social Media and WOWful (not WOEful) Websites by Laura Christianson

Marketing a Book on Amazon: 7 Tips for More Exposure and Sales by Shelley Hitz

Challenging Clients by Jeanne Marie Leach

Work Smarter: Leveraging the Best Technologies to Improve Your Business and You're the Expert: Attending Writers' Conferences as an Editor by Catherine Jones Payne

Preventing Burnout by Susan Mathis

Business for Editors and Nonfiction Editing 101 by Christi McGuire

Navigating Taxes and Accounting in a Freelance World by Chris Morris

Editing YA Fiction by Donna Stanley

Editing Internet Content by Susan K. Stewart

Bookmapping and Storybreaking: Developmental Tools for Editors by Kristen Stieffel

How to Keep Your Focus When Life Gets Busy by Tiffany Amber Stockton

Get More Clients: Surefire Selling Techniques for Editor and Creativity for Christ: A Biblical Mandate to Have a Blast by Ben Wolf

Who knew there would be so much to this editing thing? Next week I will talk about the different kind of editing that contributes to a polished piece. In the meantime, I hope you will consider one of the professionals above if you are in need of an edit. They come highly recommended. The recordings of these workshops will be available on The Christian Pen website in June. They are well worth checking out.

What about you? Have you used a professional editor before? And if so, what was one thing you appreciated about the experience?