Why everyone needs an editor

Though it took me too long to realize I could earn a living working with words, I have done so for the past 15 years. I have been fortunate to have had a variety of writing roles. I have been a technical writer for a software company, written feature articles for a university student magazine, created content for websites, and currently write communications related to a major software project. I’ve also worked as an editor helping professors polish content for their online classes and as a proofreader for a clothing retailer.

There is a big difference between writing and editing. Writing is creating. Editing makes what has been created better. They require two different mindsets. I enjoy them both but learned long ago it is nearly impossible to edit our own work.

Editing is the greatest cost of self-publishing, but it is also the most important.

Two writing coaches have advised me on portions of my manuscript, and early readers have provided valuable feedback on each version of my book, but I struggled a long time with how to organize the material. Should it be entirely chronological or is it okay to move around in time? Which incident should start the book? How much backstory should I include?

Last year, I knew I needed a developmental editor to help me answer those questions, but that didn’t mean it was easy to hear what she said. I kept an open mind when she offered advice about the 90,000 words I had nurtured over the course of 10 years. I reminded myself that writers have to be ready to kill their darlings. Because even the best written sentence may not truly belong in the story.

I spent three months processing her advice and making most of the changes she suggested:

She said to narrow the focus to demonstrate how youth sports have changed over the last few decades.

I cut 30,000 words.

She advised changing the incident that opens the book. I had experimented with three different beginnings, not sure which to use.

Now readers will know right away who I am and whether they want to go on my journey.

I thought I was writing a memoir. She informed me it wasn’t one, really.

I have written a narrative nonfiction sports book.

And now, after many changes, I have a new version of my manuscript and need another editor to copyedit and proofread before I make it final. 

I couldn’t do this work myself. I know my own story too well. I have read the words too many times. I have fine-tuned them over and over. If there was a typo my brain wouldn’t see it because I know what it is supposed to say. If I forget details that my readers don’t know, I will lose them. So, I will appreciate everything my copyeditor brings to my attention for another look.  

I created this story, but my editors will help me make it better.   

Coaches are like editors. They use their knowledge and experience to guide and help players become better at what they do. They take all the players (chapters) and organize them in a way that best serves the team (book).  

And parents are like writers. It can be difficult to be objective about our children. Maybe we dream they will excel in the sport we loved ourselves. Or we want to see them in the starting lineup. Or maybe it’s a certain position on the field that we aspire to (for them, of course).

But in the real world, our kids may excel in a sport we didn’t love. They may become the player who provides a spark by coming off the bench. Or they may contribute more to their team by playing in the outfield than by pitching.

Sometimes parents want their kids to succeed with “90,000 words,” but the 60,000 a coach recommends may be just right.