There are many times when a professional editor can assist a writer in creating a better book. They can find errors you don't see and assist with style patterns. But there are a few major misconceptions you need to take into consideration when choosing to hire an outside professional editor.
They can't make your book better.
If your book is mediocre to begin with, a professional editor can't make it better. They will be looking for misspelled words, grammatical errors, syntax options, and tense usage, but will not turn your bad plot into an exciting one, or develop your characters into dimensional beings.
They can't guarantee you will get more leads.
Having a professional editor review your book is not the same as having an "in" with the industry. Using such a service is no guarantee that your query will be taken seriously or that your manuscript will be spared the slush pile. You still need to do the work and make the contacts to develop relationships with publishers and agents.
They can't guarantee you'll get published.
Publishing houses and in-house editors work differently than professional editors that check your book for their-there-they're mistakes and missing semicolons. These editors are looking at a much larger picture than what you have in print. There are marketing, management, and financial considerations to make. It might turn out that your book theme just doesn't fit what they print! Don't expect that using a professional editing service will make your book more appealing to editors. That's your job.
Hiring a professional editor is not a one-size-fits all solution to your book problems. They can't make all your issues go away and create magic opportunities. Use them for the value they provide, and don't expect miracles. After all, you're the author, it's your responsibility to make miracles with your stories!
