4 Reasons You Need an Editor

We are very pleased today to have for Our Little Books Guest Post Wednesday, Marla Markman, head spell-checker at Markman Editorial Services. You will enjoy her post because she knows what she talks about! Make sure you check out her company, especially if you need editorial services for your manuscript.

You’ve broken through the dreaded writer’s block, you’ve heeded the “4 Tips to Good Self-Editing,” and your book or article has made the rounds to friends and associates. It’s ready for public consumption.

Not so fast! You should have another set of eyes look at it—and that’s what a good editor is all about. Following are four reasons why you need an editor:

1. A fresh, objective viewpoint:  After spending a lot of time writing your masterpiece, poring over it, and rewriting it countless times, you’re too close to your work to look at it objectively. You can’t tell if what you’ve written is effective, makes sense, or in some cases, is even factually correct. An editor will look at your work with a fresh viewpoint and make sure you’re saying what you think you’re saying.
2. Grammar, punctuation and spelling expertise:  I’ll always remember when I worked in the copy editing room of a magazine, and the CEO introduced us to a VIP as “the people who spell.” Although it was simplistic, he was correct. Editors live to find the wrong usage of “effect,” correct dangling participles, and other entertaining gaffes. The surest way for a writer to look like an amateur to turn in a book or post an article riddled with errors.
3. Structure, tone and readability perspective:  In addition to focusing on details, such as spelling and punctuation, an editor can be a “big picture person.” Does the story or article flow well, or does it need to be rearranged in a more logical order? How’s the tone? Does it speak to your intended audience? And finally, does it read well, or is it clunky and awkward? An editor can address and repair all these issues.
4. In short, someone to make you look good!  The best reason to hire an editor is because we help you shine by letting you focus on what you do best, whether that’s story-telling, marketing, sales, or whatever your expertise may be. Let us do our job—making your writing the best it can be—so you can excel at yours.

Marla Markman is head spell-checker at Markman Editorial Services, which supplies editing, design, content creation and project management services to businesses, nonprofits, websites and publishers. For more information, visit www.marlamarkman.com.