Why Should You Hire an Editor for Your Novel?

So, you’ve poured your heart and soul into writing your novel. It’s finished, and you’re ready to share it with the world. But before you hit that “publish” button or submit it to agents and publishers, there’s one crucial step you should consider: hiring an editor. While it might seem like an unnecessary expense, investing in professional editing can make the difference between a manuscript that languishes in obscurity and one that captures readers’ imaginations.

In this blog, I’ll not only discuss the main reasons why you should hire an editor, but I’ll also provide solutions for those who can’t afford professional editing or simply don’t want to spend the money on it.

Reasons Why You Should Hire an Editor

A Fresh Perspective

As the author, you are deeply immersed in your story. This immersion can sometimes lead to blind spots—areas where the narrative might be unclear, inconsistent, or simply not as engaging as you think. An editor provides a fresh set of eyes. They can identify plot holes, character inconsistencies, or pacing issues that you might have missed. This objective perspective is invaluable in ensuring that your story resonates with readers.

Polishing Your Prose

While you might have crafted a compelling narrative, the execution of your prose matters just as much. An editor’s job is to polish your writing, refining sentences, improving dialogue, and ensuring that your language is both clear and compelling. They help you eliminate awkward phrasing, correct grammatical errors, and enhance the overall flow of your manuscript. This meticulous attention to detail can make the difference between a manuscript that reads smoothly and one that feels disjointed.

Strengthening Your Structure

A novel’s structure is its backbone. Whether it’s ensuring that the plot unfolds logically or that the narrative arcs of your characters are well-developed, an editor can help streamline your story’s structure. They can offer advice on chapter organisation, pacing, and the balance between exposition and action. With their help, you can transform a rough draft into a well-structured, cohesive story.

Ensuring Consistency

Consistency is key in any novel. An editor ensures that details remain consistent throughout your manuscript, from character traits to world-building elements. They’ll catch discrepancies that might confuse readers or undermine the story’s believability. Consistency helps maintain immersion and keeps your readers engaged from beginning to end.

Enhancing Your Voice

Every writer has a unique voice, but sometimes it needs refinement to shine through clearly. An editor helps you enhance and maintain your distinct voice while ensuring that it’s appropriate for your genre and audience. They work with you to preserve your creative intent while improving readability and impact.

What to Do if You Can’t Afford an Editor

Editing is expensive, especially when there are multiple types of editing that need to be done on your manuscript, so it’s understandable that some people may not be able to afford to hire editors. If that’s the case, it’s important to perform multiple rounds of self-editing on your manuscript, and here are the key things to look for:

• Narrative Consistency: Make sure everything to do with the story—character features and personality traits, timelines, plots, etc.—is consistent.

• Grammatical Errors: Ensure all punctuation and spelling is consistent and follows your chosen style guide.

• Sentence Flow: Sentences should flow together nicely for optimal readability.

Consider having a friend or family member look over your manuscript to pick up on things you may have missed. They may not find much, but even just noticing if a sentence feels disjointed can make all the difference. Beta reading is also another great way to get some extra eyes on your manuscript without the hefty cost.

If you’re needing your manuscript edited and want it professionally looked at but can’t afford all types of editing, get in contact. I offer tailored editing services to suit your needs. Let’s work together to make your story shine!