Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
An editor though, is essential. There's an old saying that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. That's even more so with editing. You CANNOT edit your own work; it needs to be done with an impartial eye.
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I agree to an extent.
Specifically: I agree that a good editor is invaluable in helping bring a story to its greatest potential. Everyone has mental blind spots, over-used words, and hideous phrases that ought to be evicted from one's vocabulary. Also, after working on the same manuscript for months (or years!), it's difficult to spot places where a new reader may become confused.
However, I would add the caveat that all editors are not created equal. You would not believe some of the nightmare stories I have heard about overzealous copy-editors who systematically introduce errors into a manuscript. No editor is better than a bad editor.
So, respect your editor, yes. But make sure he or she is also worthy of it.