How Do I Know If I Need an Editor? 

If you’re asking this question, you’re already closer than you think. Most writers don’t need an editor because they’re “bad”; they need an editor because a book is a big, complex object—and it’s hard to see your own work clearly from the inside.

First, what kind of editor are we talking about? 

“Editor” can mean different things. Broadly:

• Developmental editing helps with structure, argument, chapter order, and clarity of ideas

• Line editing improves readability, flow, tone, and sentence-level clarity

• Copyediting checks correctness and consistency

• Proofreading catches final errors after layout/formatting

If you’re not sure which one you need, don’t worry; you can work it out by looking at what’s currently hurting most.

Signs you might need an editor now 

You’ll benefit from an editor if:

• You can’t tell what to fix next, so you keep “tweaking” forever

• You’re too close to the manuscript to judge it clearly

• The structure feels wobbly (chapters overlap, the middle drifts, the ending doesn’t land)

• You’re worried the book isn’t delivering what it promises

• You want the book to be publish-ready, not just “good enough”

Signs you can wait a little longer 

You may not be ready for an editor just yet if:

• You’re still writing new chapters or rewriting major sections weekly

• You haven’t read the manuscript start to finish

• You’re not sure what the book is really about yet (the “promise” keeps changing)

• You haven’t done a first self-edit pass to fix obvious issues

In that case, do a calm self-edit first; you’ll save time and money later.

A simple way to decide what you need

Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Is the structure solid?
   If you’re unsure, start with developmental work (even a light review).

2. Does it read smoothly?
   If the ideas are good but the writing feels clunky or unclear, line editing helps.

3. Is it consistent and correct?
   If it’s nearly finished and you want it clean and professional, copyediting comes next—then proofreading last.

The “ready for an editor” moment 

You’re in a great position to hire an editor when:

• you’ve completed a full draft

• you’ve done at least one self-edit pass

• big structural changes are unlikely

• you can explain what kind of help you want

A gentle next step 

If you want a calm, step-by-step method to prepare your manuscript (and work out exactly what kind of editing you need), Course 1: Editing Foundations will guide you through it.