Even if you've never met him/her, if your editor is as committed to your manuscript as you are, then that person is your best friend hands down. I mean if you can actually find one. Sometimes an editor, like a best friend, has to tell you things you don't want to hear. And if you truly have a best friend, then he/she will do that. And so will an editor who is as committed to your manuscript as you are.
Unfortunately, a lot of writers don't want to hear criticism. It's human nature, I suppose. Who wants to hear things that are not complimentary? But the reality is that no one's perfect. You might have a great story, and your writing could very well be excellent, but there will be things that are not right about it, and you need an editor who is not afraid to tell you what you did wrong. And I mean everything you did wrong.
And there is the thing about style and taste. Some editors I've had in the past had no problem with some of the things I did in The Vase, but those things were not allowed to happen with my current editors. But still, I am glad to abide by everything, no matter how picky or even trivial they may at first appear. Because every little thing that improves my manuscript only makes it better. And what writer wouldn't want that?
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