Does Seeking An Edit Help or Hurt?

Why does an author cringe at the thought of having someone else, either another writer or a professional editor, edit the manuscript?

In the case of a book, picture this: 

Author gets story idea.
Author outlines book.
Author slaves months, maybe years over the manuscript.
Author hires an editor to go through the beloved manuscript.
Editor takes a long time to do the job.
Author waits impatiently.
Editor returns manuscript with so many marks that it looks like a flock of chickens ran through it.

What's next? The author must go through the entire manuscript, correct and revise, add or toss out. Guess what? That's not much fun. It might feel like starting from scratch. It can be defeating, or deflating. You could feel like there's a ten ton weight pressing down on you. It's time to make a decision. Revise and re-edit or toss the project in the trash.

Do not make this decision on the same day the manuscript is returned. Take some time to consider the situation from all angles. Take the old Pro and Con route. Make a list of each for either dumping the project or continuing to work using the suggestions the editor you hired has given you.

If your ultimate goal is to have the story published, then it's almost a given as to what you'll decide to do. Even so, it's not easy to accept the fact that you thought you had sent the 'perfect' manuscript to the editor but it wasn't. It's the reason you wanted that editor--to help you find the mechanical errors and trouble spots.

When we're down with a virus, we call the doctor for help. He prescribes some medicine. Take it and you'll eventually get better. Let it sit on the counter untouched and you'll continue to be sick. As much as I hate to see a critique of my work come back with all kinds of marks, I know I'd better swallow the med and make that piece better than it was.

Being both a writer and one who critiques other peoples' writing (via my online group), I know that it's far easier for me to locate trouble spots in the work of others than in my own.