Self-Editing Vs Book Editing Companies: What to Choose?

Mostly, someone with a knack of writing and creativity thinks of becoming a published author.

The content, be it the plot, characters, or narration, comes to them naturally. It is what makes them capable of writing in the first place.

Combining these elements and putting together a draft is an achievement in itself.

While raw writing is powerful, things are slightly different when it comes to publishing.

Crafting a publish-worthy manuscript is much more than just raw writing. A book requires much more than just putting words together.

This is where a writer has to make one of the most important decisions of the entire process.

“Should I self-edit my work or partner with one of the book editing companies?”

Many new authors opt for the first option to save costs and make publishing a hassle-free process.

They fail to realize that this decision must not be made based on the finances but after carefully weighing down the pros and cons of both options.

Understanding the Difference

When it is a matter of publishing a book, editing is not an option but a necessity.

It gives a draft a refined look and helps ensure it is free from grammar, punctuation, typing, and syntax errors. Additionally, it helps lock the synchronization of the chapters with a smooth flow.

Every writer finds themselves at a point where they are fighting to decide between self-editing and working with a professional editor.

Self-editing is the process when a writer self-evaluates their writing for mistakes. The process requires a writer to take at least a week’s break from their work. They revisit the work after taking a break from writing.

This allows them to review their work with a new perspective.

On the other hand, when working with a professional editor, a writer just has to focus on their job, which is pouring words on paper.

A professional editor runs the entire manuscript through developmental, line, and copy editing. Professionals then proofread it to ensure the manuscript is error-free.

While a writer may decide against hiring a professional editor, self-editing is not an option. Whether a writer opts for professional help, they must self-edit their work thoroughly.

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Self-Editing

By now, we are all aware of self-editing and its significance in the publishing process. Let’s explore its bright and dark sides to dive deeper into its nitty gritty.

The Pros

A Cheaper Option, Obviously
The first and most apparent benefit of self-editing is that it’s cost-effective unless a writer decides to treat themselves to a Michelin-starred restaurant after completion.

Jokes apart, this process is about investing non-monetary efforts into preparing a book for publishing.

This is something that writers need to start from the beginning, from the first chapter.
It works wonderfully for anyone on a tight budget.

Perfect to Lock the Authenticity

One of the primary reasons why many writers go for self-editing is their strong connection with the work.

They can easily catch inconsistencies in their work as they have a vision regarding their book.

This connection is definitely an asset for writers and allows them to edit the work without ruining the gist of their writing.

The Cons

Requires Time
One drawback of going with self-editing is the time it consumes. A writer spends months and sometimes years to complete their draft.

Self-editing means they have to put in half of the time it took them to write to edit their work thoroughly.

If this is a passion project and the writer has a job and other responsibilities, taking the time out is nearly impossible.

Ineffective Progress

While self-editing takes time and effort, it might not be very effective. There is a strong reason behind it.

As discussed earlier, a writer builds a connection with their writing, which leads to emotional attachment to some content that may be extra or unnecessary.

This strong emotional connection with a few passages paralyzes them of objectivity, making it difficult for them to understand why removing certain passages is critical.

Restriction in Perspective

The purpose of editing is to make a piece of writing ready for publishing and understandable for the target readers.

But, the connection a writer has with their content makes it difficult for them to edit and evaluate their work from a different perspective.

This restricts their capability to review their work objectively. As they are very familiar with the subject or story of the book, they tend to overlook issues such as ambiguous explanations, weak character development, and flaws or gaps in logic.

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Professional Editing

The second option under the light is that of hiring one of the professional book editing companies. Some may choose self-publishing services for this, while others prefer traditional publishing.

Anyhow, working with professional companies such as Web Vortex also has pros and cons.

The Pros

The Expertise and Experience
The first and foremost positive of working with a professional is, of course, their expertise and experience.

These professional editors bring a strong understanding of grammar, storytelling, language, and tonality.

Additionally, they are aware of what goes into preparing publishing-ready books that sell.

Helps Save Time

While self-editing is very time-consuming, partnering with a professional book editing company means a writer saves all that editing time.

They can put their time and effort into writing and marketing their book, while a professional company is responsible for refining the manuscript.

This significantly reduces the overall publishing time.

Broader Perspective

With experience comes the ability to review a piece from a broader perspective. This is what professional book editors bring to the table.

As they do not have an emotional connection with the content they are editing, they are more capable of removing passages or sentences that do not fit or ruin the writing flow.

While this is a way for writers and authors to decide against hiring a professional service, this is, instead, a pro of going with this option.

The Cons
The Cost

The only problem with choosing a professional book editing company is the cost. It is given that partnering with a company comes with a hefty price.

It is essential to understand that choosing the right company turns this hefty cost into an investment that contributes to generating profit in the long run.

Unfortunately, this is the only point that makes writers skeptical about going with professional help, as they do not realize how this can work wonders for the book.

The Big Question: What to Choose?

You see, making a decision is not that easy. There are several factors that contribute to this and help you make a choice.

The first thing to consider here is a writer’s editing skills. It is important to understand that not all writers are good editors and vice versa. A writer needs to evaluate and assess their editing skills as these are critical players in the decision-making process.

If writers can categorize themselves under great editors, self-editing with beta reviews can serve the purpose. But if this is not the case, opting for professional assistance is the way to go.

The next in line is the timeline. As both options tend to have different speeds and completion cycles, a writer needs to establish the timeline and see the time they have at hand.

If there is time, one can choose to edit themselves.

If the timeline is short, a professional company has the means and resources to expedite the process to meet the deadline.

Another factor that is crucial here is a writer’s capacity to accept critique. For writers who are not very open to feedback and are protective of their work, self-editing is a suitable direction.

As professional editors are detached from the work, they are often ruthless with editing as their goal is to refine a book for publishing. This is sometimes offensive to writers, making the process pretty chaotic.

On the other hand, for writers who are more open to feedback and criticism, working with a professional book editor may work well.

The choice here is personal as there is no one-size-fits-all situation here. Every writer has a different take on their work and how it gets published. These are the factors that matter most when choosing between the two options.

From a professional’s perspective, it is always better to self-edit first and partner with a professional editor to refine the entire thing.

It must not be about which one to choose but how to incorporate both these options to achieve the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is opting for self-editing alone a direction a writer can go with?

No. Self-editing is not an option; it is a necessity. It is always better to self-edit first and partner with a professional editor to refine everything.

It must not be about which one to choose but how to incorporate both these options to achieve the best results.

What are the top advantages of hiring a professional book editing company?

Time-saving
Brings a broader perspective
Experience and expertise

What are the top benefits of self-editing?

Cost-effective
Authenticity is preserved

Is it possible for an author to balance the financial investment of professional editing services with budget constraints?

Yes. The cost associated with publishing must be viewed as an investment as it significantly contributes to generating revenue and profit.