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Carl Sandburg once said,
“I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it.”
Even one of the most lauded writers of the 20th century understood the power of a good edit and editor.
When a writer decides to put their words to paper, it is in the hopes that whoever reads their work will be inspired, entertained, or informed. The intention to make obvious and correctable mistakes is never the first thought. It does not matter whether it’s a
children’s book or the next great American novel, an author wants to put their best foot forward to the world. No matter how great the idea, theory, or story might be, if not properly developed, the reader will never realize an author’s brilliance. The reader will only see the result of bad writing.There are three reasons why one who wants to be considered a great writer would use an editor, constructive criticism, encouragement, and proper writing science.
An editor is empowered to bring constructive criticism to the project, ensuring the best ideas, characters, and storylines make it to the pages. Authors tend to be very protective of their writing. A young mother would never be happy to allow someone to call their child anything perfect. Likewise, an author does not like it when anyone criticizes their work. A great editor strikes a balance between bringing constructive advice and keeping the author comfortable with necessary changes. They are not afraid to challenge the writing without insulting the writer. In this way, becoming collaborative coworkers is the end result.
When an author and editor work closely together, there is an opportunity for a deep and professional relationship to occur. An editor becomes intimately involved with the manuscript as much as the author. It’s vital to maintain an unbiased opinion about the writing while bringing encouragement to the author. By giving them the emotional tools necessary to succeed, an editor helps bring the best writing forward. Challenging the thought process, pushing the writer to explore their feelings, and being a safe place for transparency to flourish are all hallmarks of being a great editor. If an author can feel comfortable with their chosen editor, it will only help the writing later. Trust must be established between the two so the best writing can be done.
No matter how good a writer might be, it is a general consensus in the publishing world that being a good writer does not necessarily mean being a good editor. Just as accounting, biology, and law are all absolutes, with rules and regulations governing their application, so is editing. Editing is a specialized science. It is subject to rules, regulations, and standards upheld in the native writer’s language. An editor is a student of language, grammar, writing and editing styles, syntax, sentence structure, etc. Editing is not as simple as making sure a word is correctly spelled. It is ensuring that a writer’s words are uniform in tense, sound in structure, and effective in communication with the reader. The science of editing is necessary to bring the overall manuscript to life.
Simply put, when an editor does their job effectively, no one will ever know that there was a need for editing in the first place. Only amateurs in writing cut corners by eliminating the need for an editor. As a writer, we need the constructive criticism, encouragement, and professionalism that only an unbiased editor can bring to the table. It is too easy to miss the mistakes that can make a book, research paper, or website copy read as unprofessional and amateurish. Whether one is a novice or a seasoned writer, it is important to put yourself in the place of your reader and give them the experience possible. Using a professional editor is one way to utilize their expertise, skill, and experience to the advantage of your work.
Are you ready to have your words edited and polished to perfection? Let’s Chat today about Hand of the Olive Tree becoming your editor.