If you’re old enough, you may remember those old-fashioned radios that changed stations via a dial. If you didn’t have the dial turned exactly “so,” you heard static and interference. But even a slight adjustment made a world of difference–you could hear your favorite music coming through loud and clear.
I like to think of book editing in the same way…an editor’s job is not to change the station (over-edit so the original voice is gone), but to fine tune it. This is especially true with content editing. I’ve found that authors usually really know what they’re talking about, which is a blessing and a curse. It’s often difficult for them to step outside their expertise and step into the shoes of their readers. Some sections of their non-fiction book might be too technical, or not thoroughly explained. The reader hears a lot of “static” and either gives up reading your book, or finishes it, but feels unsatisfied.
Never be too proud to use an editor. I’ve co-authored two books, and even as a professional editor, my co-authors and I have utilized outside editors. There is no substitute for an impartial, skilled editor to fine tune your book so your message, just like the radio station on the old-fashioned radios, comes through crystal clear.