1. A pro is going to treat you in a businesslike manner. This is a good thing, since the IRS wants proof that you are conducting yourself in a businesslike manner. Hiring a pro in the industry lends credibility to your writing.
2. A pro will give you his/her very best. Granted he/she won’t have the CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style) memorized, but will probably have a good eye for catching glaring problems.
3. A pro won’t always get to your project right away. It might not be done in days. Might be weeks. Likely, your editor has a full plate. But he/she will do the job—and do it well, so hang in there!
4. A pro might have to go over the project more than one time. There might be an initial cost and a “second pass’ cost.
5. You can expect to work with the same person and not be passed around (unless you ask).
6. You can expect that each editor has his/her own way to “do edits.” One service might offer one approach, another something different altogether.
7. There are occasionally going to be misunderstandings about the text/manuscript. Things in your story/document might be crystal clear to you, but might not make sense to your editor. If he/she doesn’t get it, chances are your reader might not, either.
To hire. . .or not to hire?
Hiring a pro is definitely something to consider if you’re feeling hesitant about taking my suggestion in the next lesson: attending a conference. If you polish the manuscript before attending, you will have less to worry about while you’re there!
Moving on, my friend. Now it’s time to get really brave.
