We’re still in Beta and let’s assume you did what’s best for your story, not for your ego, and your novel is even better.
Now you’re entering the final stage of Beta—working with an editor to get your book in the best shape ever. You want your baby to be an Olympic. A gold medal winner.
I know, I know, you’ve spent a lot of unpaid time writing it. You’re thinking why would I pay somebody else to edit it? I know grammar, I’m pretty good with my spelling, I don’t need it.
Well, you’re too involved in this. You’ve become blind to it. You can’t see it anymore. You need a professional to bring it to the next level.
Not only that, but consider that there are multiple types of editing you can choose from. You never know how any of those can help your story shine. Really shine.
You can also think I’ll be published by a publishing house and they’ll have their own editor to do the job. That’s also true.
But to get there, to be selected by a publishing house you need your manuscript to be in the best possible shape. Even if that would mean the publishing house’s editor is left with very little to do. You want your best chance when hunting for a publisher.