“When you’re editing, you want to be the perfect appreciator, not another writer.”- Joseph Kanon

No matter the type of written work you produce, or how experienced you are as a writer, every piece of work needs to undergo some manner of editing. Moreover, for the most objective and effective results, editing should ideally be done by someone other than the writer as writers are often too involved with their work to be able to detect all errors and areas of improvements. Sure, self-editing is necessary and useful, but it is just the tip of the literary iceberg for written work that needs to live up to the test of public standards.
As a writer, it is important to understand the type of editing available to you. Depending on the project you are undertaking, there are varying types of editing. For a full-length manuscript intended for mass production, you will need the whole “shebang”. That means, you will need an editor who can give you big picture consultation about your ideas and structure (developmental and structural editing) as well as detailed editing (line and copy editing) which delve into the actual content on the page.

Generally, copyediting is the most common type of editing you will need for your work if you are not writing a novel or other large scale project. A copyeditor’s core job is to ensure that your work has a professional finish, is clear and easy to read and is coherently structured, telling a complete story with little to no gaps. In editing your work, they will consider features such as spelling, grammar, repetition, capitalisation, dialogue tags, tone, point of view and structure. They will ask the writers questions if there are ambiguities in the content and restructure where necessary to ensure that the overall message is delivered. A good editor will also place themselves in the position of the reader to ensure that the written work sends the right message to the intended audience when it is finally published.

How involved should editors be?
The answer to this question is generally pretty simple: it depends on the arrangement. In client-based relationships, the involvement of the editor must be expressly agreed upon before the project begins. A writer, upon submitting his work for editing must state exactly what type of editing he wishes for his work. Where an editor is being paid for a specific job, they are therefore required to carry out the exact duties of that job, offering only suggestions for the writer’s consideration if other issues arise.

In editorial settings where editors are in charge of the overall layout of a bigger publication, the writer’s work usually falls at the mercy of that editor and their specific style. Some editors are very meagre in their editing while others are excessive. The extent to which these editors should change the work of writers has been a matter of debate for quite some time. Should the editor be able to rewrite parts of an article if they think that the article does not live up to standard?

I think that editors should always seek to maintain the writer’s style and voice while their editing must affect only the structure and clarity. That means that if a writer expresses a statement that is clear but, perhaps, not the way an editor would write it, this does not mean that it should be rewritten. If an editor has such a problem with the way an article is written, then it should be returned to the writer with notes, questions and recommendations for that article to be reworked. Where a writer does not have full control over the finished product of their work, it could be disheartening to find their work stylistically rewritten without their consent. Again, rewriting for structure is different than rewriting for style and that should always be remembered in such settings.

Dos and Don’ts for editors
To hone my writing and editing skills, I subscribe to the annual Writer’s Handbook which provides advice and resources from renowned literary professionals. In the 2001 publication, I stumbled across the following tips for editors to remember when going about their duties. These tips are also good for writers to keep in mind so that they understand fully the role of editors:

• Love the language- indulge in endless reading to widen your vocabulary. Editors must be informed enough to be able to assess another person’s writing and must, therefore, have a strong handle of the language.

• Details are important- don’t skim when editing. READ. That is the only way you can ensure you get the whole picture and can provide quality editing.

• Stay true to the author’s voice- just as the quote in the opening of this article states, editors should be appreciators of the content they are editing, not writers. The writing ultimately belongs to the writer, so stylistic changes that change the voice of the writer should be communicated by way of questions and recommendations rather than your own rewrites.

• Know what is relevant- sometimes your job calls for massive clipping and cuts to the work. This is okay, but it calls for an eye of knowing what is not relevant to the story and can, therefore, be omitted.

• Communicate with your writers- editing is not just about churning out a polished finished product. Editors should be able to offer writers constructive criticisms and feedback on ways they can improve their work. Be objective and don’t be afraid of hurting feelings, so long as you know that the information is crucial to their development.

Just as writers’ style should be respected, so should editors’ as they are the glue to polishing your work and providing the public with the best possible version of it. It is always important as a writer to ensure that you communicate with your editor. Let them know what you want to achieve in a finished product and in editorial settings, seek feedback for areas of improvement if you see the published version with significant corrections.

Interested in contributing to this column on writing? Email me at thewritemind592@gmail.com