I have been agonizing over the editing of Stenson Blues.  It’s a question of quality and cost.  On the one hand, I want to put out a good quality story.  This means I need to ensure it has been adequately edited.  My writing network is not as robust as it was a few years ago, which means I don’t have any writing friends with the skills or inclination to have a go at it for me.  Also, I do feel time pressure on getting this book out.  I’ve had some friends/family read, give me feedback, and proofread the story.  Still, I know I need more input before I’m comfortable sending it out.

The other side of the coin is that editing isn’t cheap.  I’ve been researching and pricing editors for several days now and have come to the conclusion that the likelihood of selling enough books to cover the cost is low.  So I’m thinking to myself, it’s an investment that will pay off in the long term, but I have a hard time justifying the expense if I’m looking at it as a single book project.

I’m wondering how many authors out there have paid to have their book edited and never recouped the money.  It’s not really a money thing, I can afford to get the book edited, but I think you have to weigh out business options when you start publishing books rather than just writing for your own enjoyment.  I guess investing money in any venture has risk.  I’m just trying to get comfortable with the idea.