I’m a really good writer. Can’t I just edit my own work?
You’re encouraged to do a good amount of self-editing yourself, but everyone needs an editor. Hiring someone else to edit your work is not admitting weakness or defeat; in fact, it’s what all good writers do. As the author, you’re incredibly close to the work and you know what you want to convey, so you are likely to miss areas that may be unclear to others. It is always wise to have an editor provide an outside viewpoint.
Why should I hire an editor when I already use spell-check in Microsoft Word?
Microsoft Word’s spell-check is a useful feature, but it doesn’t always account for context. More importantly, though, editing encompasses so much more than simply checking for spelling mistakes. Among other things, a good editor will ensure that there are no errors in logic, that your writing is tailored to your intended audience, and that you have followed a style consistently.
I’m not sure which level of editing I need. Can you advise me?
Yes! If you’re unsure of which type of editing your project requires, I’ll help you with the process and offer my professional editorial opinion before we get started.
Do you edit on paper?
I do edit on paper occasionally for certain types of projects (yes, I am familiar with those squiggly proofreading marks!), but I mostly edit in Microsoft Word documents using the Track Changes feature. Proofreading usually takes place in a PDF file.