f you’re publishing a book—whether traditionally or self-publishing for fun—you might be tempted to skip hiring a professional editor. After all, you’ve spent countless hours perfecting your manuscript, and maybe you even had a friend or family member read through it. But here’s the truth: professional editing is one of the most valuable investments you can make for your book’s success.
Here are our 5 reasons hiring an editor is worth every penny.
Spelling and Grammar Are Harder Than You Think
Even the best writers make mistakes, and typos can be surprisingly easy to overlook.
A professional editor doesn’t just check for basic spelling and grammar errors—they have a trained eye to catch inconsistencies, awkward phrasing, and structural issues that could make your book harder to read. No automated spell-checker can replace the expertise of a human editor.
It’s More Than Just Fixing Typos
Many people think editors only correct spelling and punctuation, but their job goes much deeper than that.
Developmental editing focuses on the bigger picture—making sure your book flows well, makes sense, and keeps readers engaged. An editor will help refine your story’s pacing, strengthen your characters, and make sure your message comes across clearly without any plot holes or confusing scenes.
An Edited Book Gets Better Reviews
Readers notice when a book is filled with mistakes, awkward sentences, or confusing storylines.
A polished manuscript means better reader engagement, which leads to more positive reviews. And in today’s publishing world, good reviews are key to increasing book sales and visibility.
Friends and Family Won’t Always Tell You the Truth
Your loved ones might read your book, but will they be brutally honest if something isn’t working? Probably not.
A professional editor, on the other hand, has no emotional attachment to your work. They’ll give you constructive, unbiased feedback—helping you make your book the best it can be. You might not like hearing criticism at first, but knowing it will improve your chances of selling your book should help you pay attention and take feedback on board.
Unless you are lucky enough to have friends and family members who are editors, they are unlikely to even be able to tell you if there’s something wrong with your book as they aren’t trained to pick up on what works and what doesn’t.
Traditional Publishers Won’t Consider an Unedited Manuscript
If your goal is to attract a traditional publisher, an unpolished manuscript will get you nowhere.
Agents and publishers expect submissions to be professional and well-edited. If they have to struggle through errors and poor structure, they’ll move on to the next book without a second thought.
There you have it, our 5 reasons you should be hiring an editor.
Now that you know why you need one, check out our other articles to help you with other aspects of your publishing journey.
Investing in an editor is investing in your book. It’s an essential step in making your book the best it can be.
And if you’re looking for professional, reliable editing services, our team is here to help!
If you’re ready to hire an editor, click on the link below to book our professional, reliable editing service at a special discounted rate today.
If you aren’t quite ready yet, pop us an email, ask us any questions, or just have a chat and get to know us a bit better.