3 Reasons Why Your Editor Should Be Your Best Friend

A lot of writers feel wary of editors and editing. These writers are afraid that using an editor will remove their voice and meaning from the story and transform it into something else entirely.

Although there are plenty of bad editors out there, an editor is not something to fear and feedback on writing will usually only make it better. Here are three reasons why using an editor can improve your writing.

Editors Provide Balance

If you think about writing like the Force from Star Wars, editors are the Jedi of writing. Their job is to provide balance to any story to make sure that evil and good don’t take up too much room in the story. Editors offer the right balance between plot, descriptions, narrative, dialogue, and every other element of a story or other piece of writing to create a balanced, entertaining piece that presents the story in the best way possible. Adding in enough “bad” elements can prevent a story from feeling too sappy and fake. Conversely, not enough “good” can make a story feel bleak. Editors help all writers find that balance.

Editors Refuse Sub-Par Writing

Lazy writing is easy. Good writing is hard. Most writers start with lazy writing. The words are a rough draft on the page. The editor’s job is to find the weak points of any story (with plot and with writing style) and tweak it until it is precise and offers the best version of the story. No one would want to read any of To Kill a Mockingbird if it sounded like a third-grader wrote it.

Editors Push Limits

A good editor is designed to help writers reach their maximum potential. Similar to how editors don’t allow lazy writing; an editor will help a writer find their best writing limits. Maybe you don’t think you can write as well as bestselling author Famous One, but with a little direction and pushing, maybe you can write something just as good. Editors search for perfection and find it in you.

No matter what industry you are in, editing is one of the most important parts of the writing process. You can do some of your own editing, but the benefit of using an outside source (and preferably a professional editor) is invaluable and will make the end result that much better.

Do you use an editor? Why or why not?

Find seven more reasons why editors make writing better here.

Brenda is a fellow book-lover and coffee-addict. She is a freelance writer, punctuation nerd, and grammar enthusiast. Her favorite book genres are Science Fiction, Fantasy with a Twist, and Dystopian. Brenda blogs about books, writing and more at Daily Mayo. Find her here on CaW for Writing Tips Wednesdays the first Wednesday of every month.

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