: Re: Why does an author need an editor? I'm firmly in the camp of "your novel needs an editor, and that editor better not be yourself." But recently I was asked why that was, and I couldn't

@Goswami879

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Writers can't help but fall in love with their own writing. As we know, love is blind; therefore, an editor is the cool head that is needed to make the tough decisions. Apart from grammatical mistakes,

An editor will make recommendations
as to where the text can be pruned.
An editor will pick up on
inconsistencies in argument or plot,
and fallacies of logic.
An editor will point out areas of
text that could be rewritten to
improve flow and cohesion.
An editor knows when to rein in a
writer who has galloped out of
control, especially in indulging in prose that is too flowery or turgid.

An editor can do this because he or she is an impartial and experienced observer of prose. For example, an editor would almost certainly tell me to rewrite the words in bold. Most writers will benefit from having their work edited, no matter how good a writer they are.

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