10 myths about book editors

You probably have some opinions or thoughts about book editors and how they work – even if you’ve never met or worked with one before! Book editors are a crucial part of the publishing process, working alongside authors to develop and polish their work before it’s published.

No matter what type of writer you are, or what path you’re on, eventually you’ll need an editor. Writers who sign with traditional publishers are assigned an editor (in fact, multiple, since the author will have a “main” editor before the book ends up with a copyeditor). Self-publishers work with editors to make sure they have a quality product. Freelance editors work with publishers and authors.

But there are a lot of misconceptions around book editors! Let’s dive into some of the most common myths I’ve heard, and debunk them.

Myth 1: An editor will ruin my book

Editors love books. It’s why we chose the profession in the first place! No editor goes into the job thinking I can’t wait to ruin all these books by taking away the author’s creativity and vision (insert maniacal laughter here).

Really, the job of an editor is to enhance the author’s vision – to bring out the best in their work, while improving on the weaker parts. It’s not a dictatorship, it’s a collaboration.

Experienced editors know a lot about storytelling, what works and what doesn’t in the market, and how to make a book shine. Even if they ask a writer to make a change, the aim will be to improve the book as much as possible so readers will love it.

That’s not to say there aren’t bad experiences out there – I don’t want to dismiss that. Plenty of authors have had a negative experience, or worse, been burned by a scammer. Other author-editor relationships are just a bad fit, and that’s nobody’s fault. In general, though, editors don’t want to ruin your book, and just want to help you.

Myth 2: I don’t need an editor

Some writers write very clean, well-written early drafts. They still need an editor! Even if you think your story is good enough, and you’ve gone over it many, many times yourself, you still need an editor in some capacity. There are so many different types of editing, from developmental work to line editing and copyediting. These require special skills and experience, depending on the type.

Authors can’t possibly spot everything in their own work. Being immersed in writing a book means getting extremely close to it over a long period of time, and that can lead to being blind to errors or areas for improvement. Asking a friend or relative to check over your work isn’t the same as having a professional editor work on your book.

Even with the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) and editing software, editors are still crucial. AI and software aren’t perfect – not that humans are, either, but the problem is that a lot of these platforms will make changes that don’t make logical sense. Even Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar checker has been known to suggest some very bizarre changes!

Software also can’t replace someone who will get to know you and your writing style, and the vision you have for your work, and edit with that in mind.

Myth 3: Editors are sticklers for grammar and correct you in conversation

This is a misconception that a lot of non-authors have, too! People tend to believe that if you have a conversation with an editor, or message them online, they’ll correct all your spelling and grammar mistakes and it’ll be horribly embarrassing. But outside of the job, editors aren’t that pedantic! 😉

Unless we’re being paid, we really don’t mind if you misspell something on Instagram, so there’s no need to be self-conscious!

Myth 4: An editor might steal my work

Some authors will ask editors to sign non-disclosure agreements, because they’re frightened the editor will steal their manuscript. Most editors won’t do this, as it just complicates their process and business practices, although it’s understandable why authors might be fearful, especially if they’re new to sending their work out.

Editors are professionals. Some book editors are members of editorial organisations that have a code of conduct or code of fair practice, which their members have to adhere to. Most editors who work freelance have contracts or terms highlighting how they keep an author’s work safe and confidential. Copyright laws protect an author’s work too – once written, the work is copyrighted to you automatically.

Lots of editors are also authors, myself included! So long as the editor/author has good testimonials and experience, and is transparent about their position, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s common for publishing professionals to have multiple roles such as author/editor, literary agent/author, and so on. Not all writers are comfortable with this, and that’s a personal choice. But working with an editor who is also an author can actually be very helpful. They may have more insight into the industry based on their dual roles, and can empathise with a writer’s struggles more easily.

The publishing industry is massive, and it’s incredibly rare among reputable editors for stealing to take place. Remember that author-editor relationships are built on trust. If you’re worried, make sure you vet your editor carefully – check for testimonials, credentials, experience and a portfolio. Read any terms or contracts carefully.

Myth 5: Editors make a book perfect

Editors are human like everybody else! Even editors who offer services like copyediting or proofreading and focus on catching mistakes in grammar and spelling can’t guarantee a 100% error-free manuscript. That’s unrealistic. Many traditionally published novels have typos!

You’ve probably seen reviews complaining that “this book needed an editor” because it was long-winded, or questioning whether the book had an editor at all. Odds are, plenty of other reviewers didn’t have the same complaint! So much of writing (and reading) is subjective, especially at a story level. Editors can’t guarantee that your story will be perfect and appeal to everyone. We all have our own tastes and preferences.

What’s more, an editor can’t control a book once it leaves their desk. The author might choose to reject all of our careful corrections!

Myth 6: Editors are money-grabbers

If you work with an editor at a publishing house, you absolutely should not be paying them anything! They’ll be paid a salary by the publisher. But when it comes to freelance editors who charge for their services, some authors believe they are money-grabbers or scammers, looking to take advantage of authors.

If we take this and apply it to other professions, we can see how ridiculous it sounds. Is the repairman who comes to fix something at your house a money-grabber? If you pay someone to bake a custom wedding cake, are they a scammer looking to take advantage of people who are getting married?

Editing is a profession, like any other, and freelance editors deserve to get paid for their hard work, expertise, and experience.

Note that this doesn’t mean scammers don’t exist! They certainly do – and you should be aware of what literary scams are out there. But if someone is charging for a professional service, this doesn’t automatically equal scam. Editors have to eat!

Myth 7: Your editor will be your best friend

If you work with an editor, they’ll definitely care about your work and about helping you to make it the best it can be. You may even work together long-term on multiple books!

But your editor is a collaborator, and it’s a professional relationship. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a good relationship with them, but it’s important to make a distinction. While editors can be supportive and understanding, they aren’t the people to message at 5am when you’re having a writerly existential crisis or freaking out about a negative review. This is what writer friends are for!

There is a bit of a fine line here – plenty of editors have a “coaching” element to the way they work and a more personalised approach. But I do think it’s important to draw a line somewhere.

Myth 8: You have to listen to everything an editor says

You don’t have to unquestioningly accept everything your editor says, particularly when you’re considering developmental feedback. If you feel strongly about something, you can disagree. Discussing this with your editor might even bring about ideas for changes you feel better about!

That being said, editors are professionals who are familiar with what makes a good book. Embracing constructive criticism can help a writer to grow and learn – and can create a much better book! Learning to take feedback on board is a crucial part of having a healthy author career.

There’s more of a grey area surrounding things like copy and line editing. Generally, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the editor in these cases to avoid errors. But you absolutely still have the final say when reviewing changes.

Your book is yours. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to disagree or find compromises and solutions!

Myth 9: I can use beta readers instead of an editor

Beta readers can be extremely useful. They allow a writer to get feedback from a reader’s perspective to gauge how the market might respond to their work. But beta reading can’t replace professional editing.

This is because the role of beta readers is to give their subjective opinion as a general reader. Most beta readers aren’t trained editors or even writers; they’re your target readers. It’s like a beta tester trying out a product for the first time. Typically, a beta reader’s feedback is based on taste and preference, rather than an understanding of the book market or a deep understanding of literary conventions and writing craft techniques.

Feedback from beta readers can vary massively in terms of its quality and scope, making it tricky to wade through and implement. It’s not meant to address deeper elements that professional editors would cover.

Professional editing is much more consistent and highly tailored, with more comprehensive evaluations based on years of experience and expertise.

Myth 10: All editors do the same thing

As I mentioned before, there are different types of editing, including developmental (story) editing and copyediting. Not all editors are cut from the same cloth: some editors only do copyediting, others specialise in developmental work. But there are also other, fancier-sounding editor roles at publishing houses!

Have you heard of commissioning editors? A commissioning editor is someone who works at a publishing house, and buys books for that publisher. They find new authors to publish, and they may work with these authors to develop their manuscripts before they go to print. There’s a lot more to this role than simply working on manuscripts, such as watching out for trends in the market, networking, working with literary agents, and so on.

Editors tend to specialise in particular topics or genres as well – some do fiction (or specialise even further by genre), others certain types of non-fiction. Editors definitely aren’t all the same!

Thank you to Angela at Lambda Editing, Cheryl at InkSlinger Editorial, and Sarah at Three Fates Editing, who all contributed thoughts and ideas for the myths in this post!

If you’d like to work with a freelance editor on your book, check out my editorial services.