For many of us who write, whether it be professionally or for fun, we tend to go through a self-edit of our work before sharing it. And if we’re really concerned about our writing, we may ask a colleague, friend, or significant other to take a look for any mistakes as well. By now we all know that auto-correct is not correct a lot of the time, and spellcheck can only do so much. Spelling, grammar, and rules in writing are so much more complicated than any computer program can truly understand. A human eye, and mind, is still always better.

Some of us may have a natural talent for catching errors in print, placing commas in the perfect place, and understanding the proper usage of those tricky ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ conundrums. For someone like me, who values language and communication, this is a wonderful thing. Seeing effort put into writing makes reading it a lot more pleasurable. I thank you grammar-picky writers out there!

So then, if you already have ‘someone’ to look at your work, or feel you are talented enough to do a decent self-edit, why would you look to hiring an editor?

Well, it might help to know what an editor is before making that decision. The first thing to know is that an editor’s primary responsibility is to the reader. Yes, that’s right. They may be editing your words, but it’s on behalf of those who will eventually be reading them. Audience plays an important role in both the writer’s and editor’s work. Words, messages, and stories become much more powerful when the intended readers want to read them. Are you writing for your audience? An editor will let you know. Think of an edit as an audition for your writing. It might be spot on right out of the gate, or it might need a few tweaks before being ready for showtime. Knowing this could help put your mind and confidence at ease.

An editor is not there to help you personally feel better about your writing. (Sorry, nothing personal.) This likely will happen, though, as a by-product of editing, especially with positive feedback from your readers. An editor is there to be professional and honest with you, and assist in helping you get your point across clearly for your intended purpose. You’ve most likely put a lot of time, effort, and soul into your writing, and therefore are invested in a successful outcome. That level of success could very well correlate to your level of editing. While a trusted friend or loved one may seem great to you in the editing department, they most likely are more interested in making you feel better about your writing than how the reader will feel. An editor brings true objectivity and feels great when your audience, and then in turn you, feels great.

Many editors not only have experience editing, but have taken courses and certifications in editing techniques. Only through extended education would anyone know what they know about editing. They are trained to do this, and they want to do this. Personally, I took over 140 instructional hours through a reputable university to earn an Editing Certificate. Even though I had edited in the past, I was dedicated to learn how to properly and professionally edit. Many editors, including myself, are here to use our knowledge and skills to help writers bring out the best in their work.

I once read an interview with an editor who said, “The editor works in disappearing ink…” and this is so very true. A good editor is not going to take over your work and make it their own. Satisfaction in editing comes from a writer’s happiness with the edits suggested and/or done. In a way, an editor is a silent partner in creativity, but with the potential to have a large impact.

There is a Copyeditor’s Typographic Oath that many editors know about. To help put you, as a writer, a bit more at ease with working with an editor, I want to share a few of the  ‘oaths’ (via copyediting.com):

• Do no harm.

• Respect the writer.

• Respect the reader.

• Match the editing to the project.

• He who pays makes the rules.

Working with an editor can be a very positive experience for both parties involved, as it’s the love of words that has most likely brought them together. From an editor’s point of view, I enjoy being a step in someone’s dreams becoming a reality. Hiring an editor is a personal choice, but one that is worth considering before you commit to putting your own hard work out there for others to see.

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Merielle M Kazakoff