From the SRP Editor blog:
If readers notice your editing, something has gone wrong.
That may sound strange coming from someone who makes a living editing books, but it’s true. Good editing is like good sound design in a movie. When it’s done right, nobody notices it. When it’s done poorly, everyone notices — immediately.
Editing isn’t about showing off clever fixes or rewriting the author’s voice. It’s about removing friction between the reader and the story. And friction shows up in predictable places.
Where Stories Lose Readers
Most manuscripts that cross my desk don’t suffer from a lack of talent or imagination. They suffer from:
- unclear motivations
- uneven pacing
- structural gaps
- continuity errors
- scenes that don’t actually move the story forward
- emotional moments that don’t land as strongly as the author believes they do
None of these problems shout. They whisper. But readers feel them. They experience it as boredom. Confusion. A vague sense that something “isn’t working.” They don’t know why — they simply stop turning pages.
That’s what editing fixes.
Editing Doesn’t Replace Your Voice
A common fear among authors is that an editor will “change their voice.” A good editor does the opposite. Your voice is the one thing that cannot be manufactured. Editing removes the obstacles that prevent readers from hearing it clearly. Think of it as cleaning the glass rather than replacing the window.
The goal is always clarity, momentum, and emotional impact — not conformity.
Structure Is Where the Magic Happens
Much of the real work of editing happens at the structural level. This is why tools like Story Grid analysis have become so valuable in modern publishing. Structure determines:
- whether tension escalates properly
- whether scenes have purpose
- whether the ending satisfies reader expectations
- whether emotional beats land when they should
When structure works, readers experience a story as inevitable. When it doesn’t, they experience confusion or disappointment — even if they can’t explain why.
Good editing helps make structure invisible.
Why Professional Editing Saves Money
Cutting editing to save money is like skipping the foundation when building a house. The problems always appear later — and fixing them after publication is far more expensive. Professional editing protects:
- reader trust
- author reputation
- long-term sales
- series potential
Publishing is competitive. Readers have endless options. A professionally edited book signals professionalism before the first chapter is finished.
The Best Editing Is Never Seen
When editing works, readers simply fall into the story. The pages turn effortlessly. Characters feel real. The ending satisfies. Nothing pulls them out of the experience. They never think about the editing.
And that’s exactly the point.
(If you’re planning a project this year, editing bookings are currently filling into March. Early contact is strongly recommended.)
— Mark
