Communications 8/15/2016

Every Writer Needs an Editor

And here’s why…
Editing is a key step to producing quality work. The editor looks at the copy not only with fresh eyes, but with objectivity and an eye for detail that the writer does not have. The writer is simply too close to the work, making it almost impossible to self-edit. Think forests and trees. For this reason, no writer should ever be expected to edit their own work (or proof it for that matter).

The editor’s job

Experienced editors understand voice, tone and style. They follow brand guidelines. They not only “hear” the words on the page, making sure there’s a natural rhythm to the writing, but they live and breathe grammar. If a rule has been broken, they’ll fix it.

This is important — it makes the writing look polished and professional. Think The New York Times, not The National Enquirer.

It’s an editor’s job to check:

  • Basic grammar. Awkward construction. Run-on sentences. Dangling participles. Misplaced modifiers. Comma splices. An experienced editor finds it and fixes it, no questions asked.
  • Readability. The editor makes sure the piece is written to the target audience. This means checking reading level, overall flow and structure. They check for mixed metaphors and make sure the lead isn’t buried. If there’s a problem, the editor might change your work, but that’s their job.
  • Accuracy, redundancy, taste. The editor will fact check the writing to make sure what you submitted is dead-on accurate, and if you missed anything, they’ll fix it.

Ultimately, an experienced editor reads the copy through the eyes of the audience and makes the writing easier for them to read. Don’t take offense to changes. Embrace them.

So the next time you think “I don’t need this to be edited,” remember this advice: To forego the editing process, including proofing your work, is to do so at your peril. Many a print piece has been distributed with embarrassing, and sometimes costly, errors because the copy was not edited and proofed by someone other than the writer.

 

Happy writing!

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