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The Truth About 7 Book Editor Myths
April 25, 2025
Book Editor Myths You Need to Know
If you’ve been in the professional writing world for any amount of time (even just getting started!), you’ve likely already heard a few book editor myths. Working with an editor— especially for the first time—can bring up a lot of concerns and questions. That’s okay!
It’s completely natural to feel anxious about hiring an editor for your book (especially if it’s your first time). BUT professional editing is an essential part of publishing a book, and I don’t want anxiety to get in your way because of misconceptions about book editors floating around on the internet!
Hi, I’m Kaitlin, a freelance editor for indie romance authors. If you’re going to be a professional author, you need to know how to find and work with a quality editor. So today, I’m going to debunk common myths about editing so you can move forward with getting your work published.
Okay? Okay. Great! Let’s jump right in.
Myth 1: An editor is going to steal your work.
This one is pretty silly, but it still gets tossed around. Some authors worry that an editor might steal their work.
The chance of this happening is extremely low. For starters, did you know as soon as you write down your book, you automatically own the copyright to that work?
Here’s the other reason this is busted: As a professional editor, I can tell you that stealing someone else’s work is the worst business idea ever. These days, it’s pretty easy to find out if work has been plagiarized. Anyone who is discovered stealing work is going to lose their reputation and very likely their entire career. It’s just not worth it.
Most editors wouldn’t dream of stealing your work, but yes, there are always a few bad apples out there. How do you make sure you find an editor you can trust?
Here are three quick tips:
*Look up their qualifications and memberships
*Request a sample edit to get a feel for their work
*Review their editorial contract carefully to make sure it protects you as the author
Myth 2: Your editor is grading you or judging you.
Submitting your book to an editor can feel like being judged or graded—like submitting an English paper and waiting for your score—one that implies “good” or “bad;” “pass” or “fail.”
But your editor isn’t your teacher, red pen in hand, ready to write a percentage or letter of the alphabet at the top of the page. Their job is not to give you a score, but to work WITH you to help you tell the story you want to tell. Editors will absolutely correct errors and suggest improvements, but it’s because they want to help you improve your writing and either work with a publisher or self-publish your book!
That being said, getting a manuscript back full of comments and suggestions can feel overwhelming or even discouraging. This stage is a normal part of the publishing process, but it’s okay if those emotions start to pop up. There are lots of ways to move through them and make the most of this editing stage!
Myth 3: An editor will make your story unrecognizable.
An editor’s job is to make your story stronger and more polished, not to erase your voice or writing style. However, trained editors will recognize any parts of your book that don’t benefit the story as a whole. They can let you know what may need to be cut, clarified, or reworked— things you might not catch because you’re too close to your manuscript.
Editors are on your team! They want to help you tell YOUR story.
Plus, you always get the final say on whether to accept or reject any changes.
Myth 4: A book editor knows all the rules.
Editors know a lot (that’s why they do what they do for a living), but they don’t know everything. No one can memorize aaallll the grammar and spelling and punctuation rules; there are just too many! That’s why editors have access to resources (such as style guides) they can use when any questions come up.
Confession: As an experienced editor, I look up things all the time. You’re paying me to improve your book as much as possible, so if I’m not sure of a specific rule, I look it up.
Context can also change how rules are implemented. The answer to “is this word/sentence/verb tense correct” isn’t always a simple yes or no. Many times the answer is, “it depends.” Your editor’s job is to understand how certain words, phrases, and stylistic choices will appear to readers of that genre—what enhances the story and what detracts from it. That’s why it’s important to hire a trained editor who doesn’t just memorize and follow rules, but understands how to use them to make your story its best.
Myth 5: Hiring an editor means your book will be error-free.
Book editors are human, so they can’t guarantee they’ll catch 100% of the errors in any given manuscript. In fact, a study done by the University of Hawaii showed that a 95% error catch rate is actually the best that human beings can achieve.
So yes, that means 5% of the errors in a manuscript may slip through. You’ve probably noticed typos in other books, product labels, etc. In other words, this is normal!
The important thing is to eliminate as many errors as possible (again, up to 95%), so that your book meets industry standards and is ready for publication.
Pro tip: The more self-editing you do before handing your book to an editor, the fewer mistakes that will remain after they get through it.
Myth 6: Book editors are out to scam you.
Most book editors are good people with legitimate qualifications. They are in business to help you, not take advantage of you.
If you have encountered a scam before, though, don’t beat yourself up! Scammers invest a lot of time and effort into their scams, and people fall for them all the time. But this doesn’t need to be the case with your current book.
Hiring a reputable editor can be simple and straightforward if you know what to look for (and where). Most are legitimate, so it’s just a matter of researching their specific qualifications, experience, and process, and deciding if they’re a good fit for you and your book.
Myth 7: All editors do the same thing.
This is definitely busted! Since there are four different types of editing (developmental editing, copy editing, line editing, and proofreading), an editor may offer one or more of those types depending on their expertise.
What are the differences between the types of edits? And how do you know which one(s) your book needs?
So glad you asked!
This post outlines how each kind of edit improves your manuscript so you can decide which one(s) to hire an expert for.
Book editor myths: debunked!
Were any of these myths about editors on your mind? This isn’t an exhaustive list either—there are plenty more to go around!
Finding a good editor can feel intimidating, and that’s normal! Just remember not to let fear get in the way of your journey to becoming a published author. You can do this.
Feeling ready to find your editor? I offer a free 1,000-word sample edit so you can see if working together is a good fit. Send me a message, and let’s talk editing!
Need help keeping everything organized as you work toward your publish date?
Download my FREE Self-Publishing Planner!
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