Hey fellow writers,
I wanted to open up a conversation around something I think a lot of us underestimate early on in the writing journey: editing.
When I finished the first draft of my novel, I was riding the high of just finishing. You know that feeling—relief, pride, exhaustion. But after a few days, I went back to read it, and reality hit. The pacing was off. Some character arcs got muddy. And don’t even get me started on the plot holes.
That’s when I realized: writing is only the first half of the journey.
The real magic happens in editing—not just trimming words or fixing typos, but shaping the manuscript into something readable and compelling. That’s where professional book editors come in. These aren’t just grammar gurus. They’re story surgeons. They see what’s working, what isn’t, and more importantly, why.
Working with a good editor taught me things about my own writing style I couldn’t have learned from self-editing or beta readers alone. They help elevate your voice while protecting it, tightening prose, clarifying plot threads, and enhancing flow without changing your tone.
So if you're feeling stuck between draft and publishing, or worried about sending something out that isn’t truly finished, I seriously recommend talking to an editor. Even one round of developmental feedback can reshape your whole perspective.
Curious to hear from others: Have you ever worked with a professional editor? What did you learn from the process?
Let’s share the behind-the-scenes of polishing our stories.
