Break the Stigma Around Seeking Writing Help

There’s a strange sense of individualism that I’ve noticed in the writing community, and maybe you have too.

This is that feeling that in order for our work to be legitimate, we will have to do it on our own. To seek out help on our books, especially professional help, is viewed as a sign of being less. A sign of not being equal to other writers.

Well, I’d like to shut down that sentiment here and now. There are several reasons why seeking out the help of an editor or writing professional for one’s own book should NOT be frowned upon. Breaking down these reasons below, my hope is that you come out of this read with an ability to assess the circumstances where professional editors can be a huge resource. After all, if a traditionally published author of novels and short stories like myself once did it, why can’t you?

Editors are teachers

For me, hiring an editor came during the middle of my journey to publication. I really felt like I was hitting a groove and had a couple of completed manuscripts under my belt. However, I knew I wasn’t ready for the querying trenches just yet. In order to help me level up, I hired a professional editor for a developmental edit. Now, that wasn’t the novel that ended up landing me a six-figure book deal, but it was the novel that came just before. What I learned from that editor's notes gave me the insight to hone in on what parts of my craft needed improvement.

Similarly, hiring an editor shouldn’t be viewed as a “fix” for a novel that isn’t working. After all, unless you hire them to ghostwrite, you’ll still be having to implement their suggested edits. BUT your writing will have leveled up significantly for it. There’s an expression that goes, “Give a person a fish, feed them for a day. Teach them to fish, feed them for life”.

Yeah, think of working with an editor like that, only you’re learning how to construct a novel!

Some things are beyond our experience

If I wanted to write a novel set in Japan, I would certainly do research, but that wouldn’t be enough as an Arab-American who has only been there once. Unless I’m immersing myself in Japanese culture, studying the language, and learning the history, I’m not going to have the perspective of someone who has. Therefore, I might consider seeking professional help, whether to consult me or offer a sensitivity read for my novel.

A sensitivity read is when you hire someone with a particular background you’re using in a novel to read and provide notes on your novel. It’s become a common practice, and a good idea to ensure authenticity in the book!

Writing pros do it already

Now, let’s break the stigma.

“But professional and published writers don’t use editors!” you might say.

To that, I will provide evidence that they do. That evidence, as previously stated, is MYSELF. I have hired an editor and learned so much from the experience. Whether character development, pacing, worldbuilding, or other story elements, working with an editor is a great way to get a solid perspective on your novel. Remember, we need other eyes on the story to tell us what’s working, as we tend to be biased towards our own work.

I’ll add that I’m not the only traditionally published author that I know who uses an editor. And don’t even let me get started on the fact that, technically, all traditionally published authors use editors. Those individuals who acquire your book from agents will also provide the same kind of edit letters and line edits that a professional editor you hired would. The only difference is that these editors are employed by the publishing house, and therefore, you do not need to pay them.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve discussed the three topics above, my hope is that you are much less concerned about pursuing professional writing and editing help if you feel it’s the right option for you.

Don’t let the stigma perpetuated by toxic individualism convince you that writing is a solo sport. It’s a collaborative exercise, and one that I hope will lead to other good habits. After all, every journey isn’t about the destination, but the friends you meet along the way!