erhaps because of a lack of time, financial resources, or knowledge of the editorial process, perhaps because of fear of loss of control or originality, or for other misguided reasons, some writers feel that it’s fine to dispense with the editing step of the publication cycle.

Other writers and professionals feel it’s enough to have their work reviewed by a colleague, business associate, or university professor. Congratulate yourself if you have not yet fallen into this trap. These folks are respected because of what they do—and they are not professional manuscript editors!

Still others are certain their masterpiece is perfect as is—after all, they’ve gone over it dozens of times themselves. But the fact is that perfection in writing doesn’t exist. Writing is an art form—a very subjective one—and therefore always open to much interpretation and, alas, misinterpretation. And it is also true that by the end of the creative process, the writer is simply too close to his or her own work to view it objectively. Most writers experience “manuscript fatigue” after months of revisions and rewrites.

Having your work edited professionally is not a frivolous option. Many first-time authors who have the foresight to engage a freelance editor are nonetheless shocked at the hundreds of changes and corrections an editor will find in what they thought was a near-perfect piece of literature. Even established authors need editors, and they don’t have to be convinced, having been through the process many times.

A good editor will view your ideas and writing with complete objectivity. A good editor will cause you to give your head a shake and say, “Why didn’t I see that?” I can spot flaws in an argument, weaknesses in overall structure, or incorrect grammatical structure; or I can simply catch a poorly phrased sentence or paragraph, an inappropriate word, or misplaced punctuation. I have an almost photographic memory for the printed word, enabling me to recall and find inconsistencies that may have occurred hundreds of pages earlier in the manuscript.

If yours is a work of fiction, I can assist you in developing motivated characters and realistic dialogue and in establishing strong point of view—often three of the most difficult areas for new authors to master. I can target and smooth out inconsistencies, and I have a knack for spotting the tiniest of “plotholes.” I can view the big picture of a work and suggest improvements in narrative pacing, scene-building, foreshadowing, backstory, theme, character motivation, and dramatic tension that will capture and retain your readers’ interest. Perhaps most importantly, I can assist you in developing a compelling and individual style, without losing the essence of your unique voice.

A myth persists about individual writers not being able to afford editors. Don’t let your precious manuscript become a victim of this erroneous thinking. This work is your legacy. You can’t afford not to engage an editor.