Learn to Edit Your Own Work

 
I think every writer needs to learn to edit their own work. To me, this is as obvious as the sun in the sky and the grass underfoot (or, currently, the moon in the sky and the executive chair I'm sitting in). But it seems, based on a recent forum thread, that this isn't obvious to everyone. (OK, I can understand why the professional editor refuses to agree that writers should or even could edit their own work.)
 
Note that I did not say "don't edit your book". I said, "Learn to edit your own work." Which is emphatically *not* the same thing.
 
Also, and I think this part of the debate is often lost or overlooked (perhaps deliberately): "editing" is not "story fixing".
 
Editing is not magic, and won't turn a pile of crap text into a great story. If a writer doesn't learn to recognize when he's writing crap, no amount of editing (his own or someone else's) will make any difference. Once a writer *does* learn to recognize when he's writing crap, he can take steps to solve the problem. After that, all he needs an editor for is fixing his typos and moving his commas around. Which he can probably learn to do on his own.
 
The whole idea that writers cannot possibly see what's wrong with their work is ludicrous on the face of it. No other collection of artists or craftsmen would put up with the level of interference in their work that writers are assumed to need and expected to willingly subject themselves to. (Except maybe Hollywood filmmakers. But, really, do you want to follow *their* soulless example?)
 
Every artist has to learn how to do this, regardless of their medium. The artist must learn how to step back and view what they're doing or have just done, and judge it. Maybe add something. Maybe take something away. Maybe move B before A. Repeat until finished. Then move to the next work and do it all again, hopefully better this time.
 
Why writers think they're somehow different (and somehow helpless in this regard) is beyond me.
 
I'd also like to point out that I'm not saying, "Don't get outside input." First readers or beta readers are a great asset. I have several, and I listen to what they have to say. First readers can sometimes spot flaws you completely missed, though most often they'll just tell you what you already knew but were hoping they wouldn't notice.
 
Learn basic grammar. Learn how to click on the spell check button in your word processor of choice. Learn how to use tool's like Serenity's Editor.
 
Learn to edit your own work. It's not just possible, it's not even hard to do.
 
-David