Why Hiring an Editor is an Investment, Not a Cost for Authors?

You’ve finished a 100,000-word novel. A freelance editor quotes ₹60,000.

Feels over budget, right? Especially when the publishing itself costs over 2 lakh Indian rupees.

But editing isn’t an extra cost. It’s what gets your book read.

Moreover, you do recover this investment.

Say your book price is ₹299, and you earn ₹100 per sale. You sell 600 books and you recover the cost.

And, good editing makes this happen. You do sell 600+ books.

Let me show you why this investment is worth every rupee. 

Book Editors Do More than Typo Fixing

A good book editor will not only help you fix the typos but also improve the structure, character development, pacing, and consistency.

They will specify the why for all the suggestions they make. If they think something is not working out, they will give you the reason and also suggest how to address it.

And, they will do this while respecting your voice and vision.

If you’re able to find a skilled and experienced editor, they will go paragraph by paragraph to ensure your book is on par with popular books in the market.

You have to think of the book editor as the first reader.

They work as a fresh set of eyes, bringing a different perspective from the point of view of the reader.

For example, I once edited a personal finance draft full of jargon and bulky paragraphs. It felt like it was written for bureaucrats. I simplified the content so the beginners could understand it easily.

Here’s a redditor sharing his experience with a book editor:

Source: Reddit

Saves You From Negative Book Reviews

Sloppy writing and editing can damage an author’s reputation, especially if you’re a first-time author.

Readers (whom you don’t know personally) are unforgiving.

When they find flaws in grammar, flow, or clarity, they will be brutal in reviews.

Once your book gets too many negative reviews, it can affect the sales. No matter how you promote or try to redo it, the damage is done.

An author’s credibility, once hampered, is difficult to mend.

Boosts Sales and Visibility

You must already know how word-of-mouth is the best way to boost your book sales.

Editing makes your book clear and compelling. Your readers enjoy reading your book. They give positive reviews, and positive reviews bring more customers.

Positive reviews = higher engagement = better algorithm performance

On Amazon, especially, the more reviews you receive, the more likely the algorithm will recommend your book to its users.

These are the users who may be interested in the same genre as your book. 

Source: Baeldung

For example, recently I have been searching for self-help books, and Amazon started recommending me more such books.

Higher Chances of Getting Accepted by Book Publishers

Being a book author and a passionate reader, you must have seen book publishers always announcing that they are looking for fresh new authors.

But here’s the truth: 95-98% of manuscripts submitted are rejected.

The most common reason for rejection is poor writing quality.

Other reasons are:

●       No market for that book.

●       It is written by an author who has failed in the past

●       The book is on a theme that’s already quite popular (no new concept)

●       It is edited by a wrong editor.

If you look at these reasons, you will understand that the basis for all these is “writing quality.”

What I mean by “quality” here is, there shouldn’t be any basic grammar issues, the readers should enjoy reading, and learn something new.

A good editor will thus help you polish your writing and ensure that it’s not a widely known repurposed or rephrased concept.

So, expect your editor to be a brutal critique.

Increases Lifetime Value of the Book

You don’t have to spend on revision or reprints of your book after a few years if the editing is on-point.

Many a time, authors have to revise or reprint their books.

Issues with content or negative reviews are two of the major reasons.

In such a scenario, some authors reinvest in both editing and printing, which adds another ₹70,000.

So, investing in professional editing early is a smart cost-saving move.

However, you may have to revise your book after 5-10 years to ensure it’s relevant even in future.

For example, an author, Tahlia Newland, revised her originally published book on meditation from 2016 in 2023 to add more value for the readers.

Unlocks More Revenue Streams

Polished and high-quality books will open doors to more opportunities — podcast gigs, workshops, audiobook deals, and bulk orders from organizations.

However, this happens only when your book becomes popular.

For example, Devdutt Pattanaik, a well-known author in India, has written multiple books deciphering mythology and folk stories.

It didn’t take him much time to land podcast gigs, Television shows, and invites to news debates. He also worked on a show on the EPIC channel named “Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik”.

So, with a good quality book and smart marketing, you’ll be able to create multiple stream of revenue.

How to Reframe Your Budget For Book Editing?

You need to break down what you want from the editor. List all those requirements. It’ll help you finalize a book editing budget.

Here’s a sample editing requirement checklist!

Now, you need to compare editing with other book publishing investments such as cover design, marketing, and more.

To invest in editing, you may have to cut down your budget for cover design and marketing.

For example, you may let go of Meta ads for your book promotion or hire someone who quotes less for your book cover.

If you want to stay within the budget, you need to start early and prioritize the type of editing you need.

You should also compare the freelance editor vs the agency editor cost to adjust your budget.

Are You Ready to Invest in a Book Editor?

Editing is not only for authors who have a huge budget. It’s an essential component of book writing and publishing process.

Most of the successful authors avail editing services. They consider it an investment rather than an expense.

If you manage to get a good editor, he or she will not only maintain your voice but enhance it.

Your end goal should be to provide a quality reading experience to your readers, and book editing plays a major role in this.

Still having queries about book editing? Book a call with me today!