Do I Need an Editor for My Book?
Maybe you’re asking, ‘Should I get my book edited?’ or ‘Should I hire an editor for my novel?’ Surely there are authors who don’t use editors. You may be wondering if it’s really essential. Maybe the answers to the following questions will show why you need an editor.
Why not take this simple ‘To Hire or Not to Hire an Editor’ quiz?
Why not take this simple ‘To Hire or Not to Hire an Editor’ quiz?
Q1. Have you considered moving recently to avoid the sprawling tent city of publishers who have set up camp outside your house following your most recent round of unsolicited emails?
Q2. Are you J.K. Rowling, Stephen King or Bret Easton Ellis?
Q3. Have you looked at your manuscript since you’ve had your celebratory box of wine/Cuban cigar/street party?
Q4. There, their, they’re. Where, weigher, weir, were, wear, ware, we’re, weigh her, wey-aye – depending on your accent. They sound the same, so everyone will know what you mean, right?
Q5. Has anyone, other than your mum/grandma/local vicar, read your novel and said something along the lines of, well, it’s a good start/interesting/not my kind of thing/it's getting there?
Q6. Does your protagonist have an affair with the handyman/next-door neighbour/work colleague, and everyone lives happily ever after?
Q2. Are you J.K. Rowling, Stephen King or Bret Easton Ellis?
Q3. Have you looked at your manuscript since you’ve had your celebratory box of wine/Cuban cigar/street party?
Q4. There, their, they’re. Where, weigher, weir, were, wear, ware, we’re, weigh her, wey-aye – depending on your accent. They sound the same, so everyone will know what you mean, right?
Q5. Has anyone, other than your mum/grandma/local vicar, read your novel and said something along the lines of, well, it’s a good start/interesting/not my kind of thing/it's getting there?
Q6. Does your protagonist have an affair with the handyman/next-door neighbour/work colleague, and everyone lives happily ever after?
Q7. Does your novel begin with an alarm clock going off or someone waking up?
Q8. If your book is sci-fi or fantasy, does it involve an abandoned orphan discovering that they are heir to the… (insert cliché here).
Q9. Staying with fantasy, can you look in the mirror and say hand on heart that you haven’t rewritten Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings or Star Wars?
Q10. Last one for fantasy, I promise. Does it have dragons in it? Sibling rivalry? War? It’s Game of Thrones, isn’t it? And you told your reflection a little white lie…
Q11. Have you already started to plan the screenplay adaptation and which famous actor will play the lead character?
Q12. Are you ever going to let anyone read it?
Q13. Do you want to ensure your book is the best it can be so readers want to read more and have no hesitation talking about you in glowing terms on social media and want to set up your fan club?
OK, now for the answers…
Q8. If your book is sci-fi or fantasy, does it involve an abandoned orphan discovering that they are heir to the… (insert cliché here).
Q9. Staying with fantasy, can you look in the mirror and say hand on heart that you haven’t rewritten Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings or Star Wars?
Q10. Last one for fantasy, I promise. Does it have dragons in it? Sibling rivalry? War? It’s Game of Thrones, isn’t it? And you told your reflection a little white lie…
Q11. Have you already started to plan the screenplay adaptation and which famous actor will play the lead character?
Q12. Are you ever going to let anyone read it?
Q13. Do you want to ensure your book is the best it can be so readers want to read more and have no hesitation talking about you in glowing terms on social media and want to set up your fan club?
OK, now for the answers…
If you answered mostly NO, then you need an editor because no matter how well your book is written, it can be improved by a skilled and experienced editor.
If you answered mostly YES, then you need an editor because no matter how well your book is written, it can be improved by a skilled and experienced editor.
In fact (you may have seen this coming) because, much like the orphan twist in your sci-fi/fantasy epic, it’s obvious… No matter how you answered, you always need an editor (yes, even J. K. Rowling has an editor) because that’s how you improve your craft.
By the way, in answer to Q13, I can’t guarantee that you will be trending on Twitter or a fan club will be set up in your honour, but making sure your writing proficiency and storytelling prowess are explored to the max, as well as hiring the services of an experienced editor, will give you the best chance possible – along with promoting your book and a good marketing strategy – of sales and favourable reviews…
So, if you would like to take the next step and make your published book a reality, you’re just the person I am here to help.
Check out my services for Book Proofreading, Book Copy-editing and Ebook Formatting. If you would like to get in touch, click the contact button below, and let’s have a look at your opus/work/oeuvre/creation/brainchild…
If you answered mostly YES, then you need an editor because no matter how well your book is written, it can be improved by a skilled and experienced editor.
In fact (you may have seen this coming) because, much like the orphan twist in your sci-fi/fantasy epic, it’s obvious… No matter how you answered, you always need an editor (yes, even J. K. Rowling has an editor) because that’s how you improve your craft.
By the way, in answer to Q13, I can’t guarantee that you will be trending on Twitter or a fan club will be set up in your honour, but making sure your writing proficiency and storytelling prowess are explored to the max, as well as hiring the services of an experienced editor, will give you the best chance possible – along with promoting your book and a good marketing strategy – of sales and favourable reviews…
So, if you would like to take the next step and make your published book a reality, you’re just the person I am here to help.
Check out my services for Book Proofreading, Book Copy-editing and Ebook Formatting. If you would like to get in touch, click the contact button below, and let’s have a look at your opus/work/oeuvre/creation/brainchild…
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Please read my Terms and Conditions if you would like to use my editorial services so you are familiar with how I work and the requirements of both parties. I look forward to hearing from you.
Please read my Terms and Conditions if you would like to use my editorial services so you are familiar with how I work and the requirements of both parties. I look forward to hearing from you.
