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First of all let me start off by saying, my stuff has been copyedited. It's also been beta read and several novels have had the benefit of a wonderful developmental editor.
That said, some authors can and do all their own editing. Jim Chambers did all his own editing for Recollections. I couldn't find a single error. Michelle Scott did some of her own editing (not on recent books) and I think I found one typo. Frank Tuttle has beta readers and he did a lot of his own editing on his self-published works. Personally I think he did a better job on his own than his publisher did on a couple of the works (by my error counting.) :>)
I'm not advocating "Not editing" or "no professional editing" but I've read many books with several typos. If the plot carries it, the plot carries it. Would that work for every reader? No. There are people who are very picky and it's going to bug them to no end.
Amanda Hocking started out with no editors and her reviews reflect that. *But in the end, her plot and characterization carried her to new levels. The audience loved her books enough to read them and keep reading them.* Her timing into the market wasn't bad either.
Her Hollowlands book (self-published) supposedly had an editor. It could have used another beta reader and there were multiple typos. I still enjoyed the story.
The fact is, there are MANY readers out there who don't care about an occasional misstated fact, a plot hole or multiple typos. They'll pick up a novel and they either like the content or not. Would an editor improve things? Quite probably. Can a writer get better and better at self-editing? Yes. Do beta readers improve things further? You betcha.
Editors can play an important role, but there are readers across the spectrum:
Far end: Aren't that good at grammar and don't notice
Middle: Just reading, don't care. See things, but go right by them (This is a large group, IMO.)
Far end: Every t must be crossed, and there better not be a single typo or I want my money back and schools must answer to me.
That middle ground is actually fairly large from what I've seen. It covers the casual reader all the way to some intense readers who notice the typos or even a plot hole and while they frown, if they are enjoying the book, they just keep on reading.
There are editors out there who have a particularly awesome talent. They can read a book and see areas where just a little tweaking (or a lot) can hugely improve a book. (Nancy Fulda, I'm looking at you.) There are editors who are great at copyediting, but don't really have a "feel" for the story. If a writer is lucky enough to find one, it's going to help her. You do have to be looking. You do have to form relationships and figure out how you're going to pay for it. It's part of clawing your way to the next level.
Accept that some editors are not going to be able to help you. They either don't have the experience or they possibly don't know enough about the genre or have no talent. You may waste some money on them. Move on. Always look for people that can help you be better and if it isn't working out, move on. Art work is the same way. I have a folder of art I can't use. I paid for it. Oh well. The artist (in some cases) told me he could do x and I got a stick figure that might be part of an "a."
My point is, no one size fits all and some writers are going to claw their way out there any way they can. Sometimes it works. Some writers are constantly improving. Some aren't. People are different and the great thing about this time in history is that a lot of readers and writers are getting an opportunity to create and experience outside the normal "standards."
It's going to evolve and become pigeonholed again. That's just the way it is. Copyediting and other editing is important, but the most important thing of all is the story. Either you do a good job of telling it or you don't and you should do everything in your power to keep the reader focused on that story--including copyediting to the best of your financial ability. If you work with the right people, the sum can be greater than the individual parts. Just going through a traditional publisher in no way guarantees a better product. It might up the chances, but going self-published doesn't mean you have to do without the expertise.
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