How Editing Can Help Authors Love Their Books Even More

As an author, your book is your baby—a creation born from your imagination or expertise and weeks, months, or even years of effort and dedication. But like any great masterpiece, it’s rarely perfect from the start. That’s where professional editing comes in. 

Some authors wonder whether they really need professional editing. Have a few colleagues read it and share feedback? Get an English major friend to proofread? If your goal is a professional-quality book, this isn’t enough.

Professional editing doesn’t just polish your prose or fix grammar mistakes—it helps you see your work in a whole new light. High-quality editing refines your vision, strengthens your voice, and ensures your book reaches its full potential. Professional copyediting polishes each sentence. Here’s how professional editing can help authors fall even more in love with their books.

Make Your Message Shine

Every book has a core message or theme, but sometimes it gets a little buried in the writing process. Editing helps authors clarify and sharpen that message, ensuring it resonates with readers as intended.

For nonfiction authors, this could mean reorganizing chapters so the ideas flow logically and persuasively. For example, an author writing a book about time management might discover through editing that combining two chapters on prioritization techniques strengthens the overall argument. The editor’s input helps the book become clearer, more compelling, and easier to follow.

For children’s book authors, the focus might be on simplifying complex ideas while keeping the magic alive. Imagine a story about a curious little hedgehog learning about kindness. An editor might suggest trimming unnecessary dialogue or adjusting the pacing to keep young readers engaged. When the story shines brightly without distractions, the author feels a deeper connection to their work.

Strengthen Your Voice

An author’s voice is what makes their book uniquely theirs, but sometimes that voice can get lost in a first draft. Editing helps authors rediscover and amplify their voice, ensuring the book feels authentically "them."

For nonfiction writers, this might involve tweaking the tone to strike the perfect balance between authority and relatability. Take a health coach writing a book about wellness. An editor might suggest adjusting overly technical language to sound more conversational, helping the author connect with their target audience. The result? A book that feels true to the author’s personality and purpose.

Children’s book authors benefit from a similar process, but with an added layer of imagination. For instance, if a whimsical story about a talking balloon feels too formal, an editor might suggest playful word choices or rhythmic phrases to enhance the storytelling. When the book feels like it’s written in the author’s natural voice, it becomes even more special to them.

Turn Good into Great

Even the best ideas need a little polishing. Editing takes a good book and transforms it into something extraordinary by refining every element, from structure to sentence-level details.

For nonfiction authors, this might mean tightening up arguments or adding anecdotes that bring ideas to life. A thought leadership book about the future of marketing, for example, might feel too conceptual without real-world stories about businesses. An editor can help the author expand on their key points, making them more impactful and memorable.

Children’s books, on the other hand, often benefit from trimming excess or finding creative ways to express big ideas simply. Imagine a story about a lost puppy learning bravery. An editor might suggest removing a subplot that distracts from the main storyline or enhancing descriptive imagery to make the puppy’s world more vivid. These thoughtful changes elevate the story, turning a good book into one the author truly loves.

Editing is more than just fixing errors—it’s about helping authors uncover the best version of their work. By clarifying their message, strengthening their voice, and polishing every detail, editing ensures that authors not only feel proud of their books but fall even more in love with them. Whether you're writing nonfiction that inspires or crafting a magical world for children, a skilled editor can make your vision shine brighter than ever. So, don’t discount the value of professional editing—embrace it, and watch your book transform into something you’ll cherish forever.

Would you like to publish a professional-quality book in months instead of years while keeping creative control, copyright, and most of the royalties? Click the Submit Your Book link at the top of the page to send us your book proposal.