Editors are Pure Gold

Editors are priceless. They are so much more than a grammar or spell check. They dig right into the heart of the book, the setting, plot, and characters. They also tackle the art and mechanics of the writing itself.

 Editors see the things I can’t see. To write is to be vulnerable, to reveal yourself to others, to open yourself up for scrutiny and evaluation. That is a hard thing to do.  

There are numerous times, when an editor’s comments have given me insight, not just into my writing, but into myself as a person. We all have blind spots. An editor artfully exposes those in the kindest, but clearest way possible. If you want to write, you must be able to listen to what is being said.

 That doesn’t mean you’ll always agree, but you must be able to step back and look at your work objectively, then change and revise. Sometimes you have to let go of a favorite passage or a scene that doesn’t contribute to the whole. That’s why you need another perspective. An editor is that second set of eyes that helps you see your writing in a new, more accurate way.

If you can work through this difficult process and listen to what’s being said, you can move your writing  to a whole new level and create something even better than what you imagined. A big part of that is learning to trust your editor’s feedback.