Working with an editor

Have you ever worked with an editor? Some people are nervous about that prospect. So I do my best to put people at ease when their work comes across my desk. I strive to be “both an enthusiastic supporter of the author and a faithful advocate for the reader.”¹

Here are my top 10 suggestions for working with an editor:

1. Remember: an editor is not your enemy. This isn’t personal to them. Be professional in your interaction with them. Editors want to make your work shine; work with them to help that happen.
2. View an editor as your “first reader.” Their job is to catch things that will puzzle or bother your readers. They can give you a fresh perspective.
3. Trust their experience. The editor probably understands your audience better than you do (this is especially the case for magazines).
4. Understand that your work is not perfect. When you give it to an editor, they will make changes.
5. Welcome rewrites. Trust the editor if they ask for one.
6. Take note of deadlines, word limits, and other instructions an editor gives you. If you’re having trouble meeting a deadline, let the editor know sooner rather than later.
7. Communicate succinctly with the editor. They are busy with many authors, and multiple emails/texts/phone calls from you may muddle the communication.
8. Be accurate—make sure you check your facts and sources. The integrity of your writing depends on you to verify these things.
9. If you make any changes when an editor sends you edited content, make sure you note where you made the changes (e.g. by using Track Changes in Word).
10. Be aware of style guides. Many magazine and other publications have them, and it will save the editor time if you’ve paid attention to the guidelines in those carefully compiled documents.

I gladly submit my writing to an editor I trust, because I know that they will make my writing better. Editors help your writing communicate clearly and shine brightly. Do your best to work with your editor—together you will achieve the best result for your writing.

1. Richard A. Swenson, Margin, (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2004), 11.