Do You Need a Writer or an Editor? (Here’s How to Tell)

You’ve got something to say. Or maybe, you need to say something? A message. A mission. An email you've been putting off sending for a week. Maybe even a 10-page Google Doc titled “V2_FINAL_FINAL_forRealThisTime!”

But before you hit Send (and then proceed to panicking?), you’re wondering: Should I have had someone else do this for me? A professional writer, perhaps? Or an editor? Or... both?

Here’s a quick guide to help you figure it out.

📌 You probably need a writer if:

• You don’t have time to write that thing that needs writing;

• You know what you want to say, but can’t figure out how exactly to say it;

• Your outline looks like a constellation of sticky notes and side thoughts;

• You’d rather explain it in a voice memo and let someone else translate it into clean, purposeful prose.

  
  

A good writer will take your ideas, your goals, and your voice - and build something clear, compelling, and structurally sound. Think of it as outsourcing the struggle, but keeping the soul.

✂️ You probably need an editor if:

• You’ve written a draft, but something feels a little off;

• You’re worried the tone is wrong, the flow is meh, or it’s “too much but also somehow not enough";

• You need someone to cut through the noise and sharpen what’s already there;

• You’re too close to the content to see what works and what doesn’t.

  
  

A good editor will keep your voice while perfecting the rhythm, flow, clarity, and structure of your piece. Think of it as polishing the thing you made - until it feels right and sounds like what you had imagined in your head it would.

✨ And sometimes, you need both.

Sometimes you need a writer to help shape your notes into a rough draft and an editor to bring it across the finish line. That’s normal, and that’s what a lot of my work looks like.

The bottom line? Whether you’re stuck at the start or circling the end, the right person by your side can help makes the process smoother, sharper, and way less stressful.

Got something in the works? Let’s talk about what it needs! You don't have to do it on your own if you don't want to!