Absolutely. Heck, if you know the right people, you can even freelance hire the same editors who are working at major houses right now. (Side note: if anyone at

Absolutely. Heck, if you know the right people, you can even freelance hire the same editors who are working at major houses right now. (Side note: if anyone at HN wants that, I'd be happy to make the introductions.) My only point is that the editorial process is important and finding a good editor just as difficult as finding a good designer or programmer. It's not a problem you just throw money at. For this purpose you could even argue that going freelance is better because you get to choose your editor and have control over choosing a new one if that person leaves the profession or isn't any good.