What is a good writer without editors? Usually, we hear talk about writers only ever having one editor, those editors are usually cast as tough and precise because they know what they're talking about. But what most independent authors, especially new authors, don't realize is that in most cases there are two editors who play two different roles in making their manuscripts crisp, pristine, and near perfect. 

In no particular order, there is the developmental editor and the copy editor. The developmental editor acts as a beta reader, but to a greater capacity. They will help reconstruct your manuscript, proofread to some capacity, and make you really think about the potential of your story. Usually, you hire a developmental editor and if they're the real deal every buck will be worth it. They read your manuscript thoroughly and don't just give you feedback, they give you helpings. They get down and dirty and throw themselves into the trenches with you and point out all the flaws to your manuscript, but they also advise you on how to fix those flaws. 

If there's a plot hole, they'll point it out. If something doesn't make sense, they'll ask you to make it clearer. If something makes too much sense and takes away a lot from the depth of your story, they'll ask you to tone it down. They communicate with you to help you make the best out of your manuscript and your story overall. Good developmental editors know what they're doing and are communicative. The best developmental editors are like the good ones, but they also know what your core audience wants. 

Let's say you're writing a story for a specific genre. If you're writing a post-apocalyptic, steam-punk romance novel, you should have a developmental editor that has knowledge and experience with those genres. Otherwise, if you just choose any developmental editor you'll end up with a pristine manuscript that no publisher will want because it lacks a clear audience and that won't do if you're trying to make money. Publishing is a business; just because your story is good doesn't mean publishers will take it. They need to know if people will buy it.

Hence the importance of a developmental editor who knows your genre well. Beta readers are solid and good, but if you want to take that extra step and if you have the funds to do it, don't cheat yourself out of an opportunity to work with a professional. 

Copy editors are much easier to understand. They polish your manuscript in the way auto-correct polishes your text, but to a higher degree because they account for your grammar, the fluidity of your writing, and although it isn't actually their job they will flag things that could cause serious legal issues for you because of something you wrote in your story. Anyone can be a copy editor, but the sad truth is not just anyone can be a professional. Just like developmental editors, you do not want to cheat yourself by not finding a trustworthy professional to handle your manuscript. I cannot stress this enough. I have read a lot of self-published works that have made the mistake of not doing their research and skipping out on a professional copy editor altogether. The result of these works? They have an abundance of grammar and spelling errors, but the worst part of it all is how frigid, broken, and abominable the writing sounds when it's read out loud. 

I'm not trying to instill fear into new writers, because the fact is there are so many ways to avoid hiring either of these editors (I would not recommend that). It's understandable too, most editors cost an arm and a leg. Nevertheless, skipping out on these editors more times than not will result in you having to go through a bunch of mediocre hullaballoo. So think on it and always do your research.