I am a development editor apart from being an author.

Working on other writers’ works helps us zone in on editing and revising even if it is not one’s own. It’s good practice for when I do my work.

It also builds up relationships with other writers.

When we edit our WIP, we tend to glaze over mistakes by the millionth time we go over it as we meticulously want it to be as perfect as possible. It does not matter how minimal the edit is when we think we are closer to something we will never get to with our manuscript. Perfection

We can get close. We need beta readers, critique groups, and editors to help us with the process. And a long process it is especially if your WIP is a nice size from 80 K words and more. My Jasper Amazon parrot and Squirrel Mafia series are not even close to that. Yet, I have three manuscripts in that range, and getting ready to revise is daunting. Not to mention an unwelcome one to boot.

But it is part of getting our work out to the public.

We can’t avoid it. No, that isn’t right. We shouldn’t avoid it. Putting out a poorly edited product will only get you so far, even if that step one can see from one’s doorstep.

So, the better we are at it, the more your work will shine. Even if that means editing another WIP.