Hiring an editor is scary but you need to frame it as an investment in yourself, not just an investment in your book.
Watch my video below, or read the transcript, to find out why you are worthy of investment.
Hello my lovely writers!
I’ve made a big step forward in my writing career and I wanted to share it with you because, on the one hand, I’m super-super-excited about it but, on the other hand, I’m also a bit scared about it.
Hiring an editor is scary
I’ve just hired an editor for my next book and it’s scary because that person is going to be giving their feedback on my work. They’re going to tell me whether they think this is a job well done, along with what’s working but, crucially, of course, what’s not working and where they see problems.
Now, for all I know, they could come back at any time and say, ‘It’s all a mess, it’s all a problem, you need to go back to the drawing board and start again.’
Of course, being a creative, hiring an editor and putting my work out there for someone else to critique, my mind immediately goes to the worst. My mind immediately makes the worst assumptions because it’s wanting to say to me, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Keep your work to yourself. Don’t show it to anybody because that’s the way you’ll stay safe. The way you can still feel good about yourself is by not doing something you perceive as dangerous.’
But I’ve got to do it, haven’t I? I want to make my work better. I want to make the stories better and improve myself as a craftsperson and as a writer. So it’s important I do it.
There’s also the secondary fear that comes with spending money on hiring an editor – and not an insubstantial amount of money, either. That also brings fear because, obviously, there’s no guarantee working with this editor means I’m suddenly going to have this bestselling book and I’m going to recoup the investment I’ve made in my book. There’s no guarantees in that.
Invest in yourself
I have to be brave and know I’m doing this for me and seeing it as an investment in myself, rather than an investment in the book. I’ve got to frame it that way for myself to make sure I view this as a worthwhile expenditure. That it’s an investment and I’m not just spending money for the sake of it because I’ve nothing better to do with my time. I need to tell myself this is going to help me get to where I want to be in the long term.
Both of those things are scary. Both the spending of money because, as writers – and women in particular – we don’t like to spend money on ourselves. We find spending money on ourselves hard and we feel guilty about it, so I’m having to dig deep into that and trust myself I’m doing the right thing.
Also, on the emotional side, I need to trust I’m doing the right thing by putting myself forward, investing in my craft and helping me in the long term. I need to trust the editor who’s going to be helping me is doing it with the best of intentions, wants me to succeed and wants me to do well just as much as I do.
So, lots of things going on there in my heart and in my head but, I know if I do this, this will get me where I want to be in the long term.
If you’re having these same mindset queries about whether you’re worthy or not, just know it’s the same for everybody and you do deserve it, you are worthy. Your books and your stories are fabulous and you want to put them out in the world.
Emma xx
Emma Dhesi
Emma Dhesi is a Certified Author Accelerator Book Coach and bestselling author who helps writers let go of perfectionism, self-doubt and writer's block through her signature programme, Unlock Your Creative Block.
She is the host of the YouTube Channel, Emma Dhesi, where she interviews debut and experienced authors alike.
Through her 1:1 coaching programme, Emma helps new authors start and finish their first novel.
Emma provides personal written feedback on their pages and guides them through the emotional rollercoaster that is writing a novel!
