The crafts of writing and editing are very different, and they require unique skill sets. Not all good writers are good editors, and vice versa, but both arts are essential to the other. In a nutshell, it is the job of the editor to support the writer’s vision, writing style, and overall story so that the work comes out as clear and polished as possible, much in the same way a theatre director makes sure the intentions of the playwright are communicated pristinely to the audience.
The most common misconception of the editor’s job is that they get in there and rewrite the author’s language, turning it into their own project and changing the author’s intent. This could not be further from the truth; in fact, the editor’s job is exactly the opposite: to champion the author’s intentions by tuning in to their unique voice and style to make sure the whole book is consistent and clear; catching any inadvertent grammatical mistakes, or areas where the writing is not clearly supporting the overall story; and suggesting alternative ways of phrasing within the author’s own style.
For example, editors are there to catch inconsistencies in dates, times, spelling (especially with proper nouns like character names), and story details, like making sure hair colour, or job, or family members, or characters’ ages, or time of day (etc., etc.) don’t accidentally change throughout the story. They will also consider the big picture of the story, and if necessary suggest ways to make it flow more efficiently. Perhaps there is a character introduced to the piece who ends up without any effect on the overall plot … a good editor may suggest that this character be removed, or given an integral role in moving the story along.
While editors will make suggestions to illuminate problem areas, they will not compose substantial sections of text, and will never make permanent changes to the manuscript. All revisions must be implemented by the author, and not left to the editor to complete.
We as authors inevitably become intimately involved with our story and our characters, and it is helpful and highly recommended to engage a professional with your best interests in mind to support your work to make it the best, most marketable book it can be. Remember that every book you have ever read has gone through a rigorous editing process, and all your favourite authors will testify to how much they rely on their editors to help them do their best work.
Your editor is first and foremost your teammate and head cheerleader, and wants your voice and your expression to be the cleanest and clearest it can be. The author-editor relationship is one of the most important aspects of your publishing process, and here at Tellwell we take that responsibility seriously, and with the utmost care. We are very grateful that you place your trust in us, and absolutely love being a part of making your publishing dreams come true.
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