There’s a saying that goes around in publishing: Only amateurs think they don’t need editors. No matter how polished your draft feels, a fresh set of eyes is the only way to catch the slips and blind spots that naturally form over the writing process. This applies to best-selling authors polishing their latest masterpiece, and to the dreaming teen working on their very first manuscript. After reading the same sentence hundreds of times, your brain will simply skip over missing words or glaring typos. You may also forget that Uncle Johnny was meant to be out of town after chapter 8—so how can he appear at the family gathering in chapter 12? Or that Jilly Magnum broke her arm in chapter 3—so how can she join that troupe of trapeze artists in chapter 5?
So okay, we all need editors—but to what extent?
There are two editing types to consider.
First: your book is complete. You’re satisfied with the story and its characters, and you’re revving up for publication. Enter: your copy editor. Copy editors correct errors, refine flow, and ensure consistency. Maybe you lean too heavily on passive voice. Maybe you’ve read too much Lee Child, and now all your verbs are American. Your copy editor will fix those slips, and catch continuity issues like Uncle Johnny’s unexpected return or Jilly’s miraculous recovery. This is standard stuff for a manuscript that is essentially ready, but which needs a thorough frisk.
Second: you have the core idea, but the details are a little rough. Uncle Johnny? He’s not leaving town—didn’t he leave the country…? Or, wait. Uncle Johhny did leave town. You need him gone before that family gathering in chapter 12, remember? Or hey, maybe he should deliver the big reveal? And Jilly Magnum—sure, she broke her arm. No, wasn’t that her leg…? No, that wasn’t Jilly—we need her fit and ready to join the trapeze artists in chapter 5! Wait, trapeze artists? Are we sure we should keep those in…? If your draft feels shaky or tangled, you need a developmental editor. They specialise in shaping structure, clarifying direction, and helping you bring coherence to the narrative.
So basically: Story’s ready? Sign up for a self-publishing package with Reach Publishers, and we’ll match you with a copy editor. Still not sure about a few important things? Get a developmental editor first, who will work closely with you to reach a final draft you can feel confident about.
Any editor worth their Big Red Pen is there to help. But you are the artist—the mind and soul that move through the manuscript. Find the right editor for your work, who will meet you where it’s at. You owe it to Uncle Johnny, to Jilly Magnum… and most importantly, to yourself.
