Damn Editors

Damn editors!

I hear that a lot from writers who don’t want anyone “messing with their work.” As a writer, I can understand that. I don’t like people telling me what to do, either, especially when it’s my creation. I hate seeing those red lines from Track Changes when the editor suggests rewriting my passive voice to active voice, or comments suggesting a subtle change to enhance the story.

But in the end, I know they’re right. Because honestly, I cannot edit my own work. I can try, and I do try, but I miss things. Lots of things. Because in my head I know what it is supposed to say, so I cannot see what is really on the page. In fact, I’m fairly certain that this blog post, unedited by another, will have a mistake. 

It’s the way things are.

But back to those pushy, know-it-all editors, of which I am one. Why do they insist on changing things? The answer is simple:

Because we love the written word.

And since we love reading and everything that goes with it, we want to make sure things are the way they should be, that the words are the best they can possibly be, and that the story shines in the memories of readers for a long time.

Editors are on your side. In essence, when you hand your work to an editor, it’s like passing the basketball to your teammate to make a shot. You want to score, right? Good, then let us do the work of cleaning your prose. The ideas are yours, the concept is yours; we’re just polishing what you’ve already done.

We are truly on the same team.