Why You Need Editors

The character musing does seem to be a little self obsessed! Saying that my friend is a film editor and watching how long it takes for him to put together 10 seconds of image is agonisingly slow!

You're right, of course. Odd thing is, the editor-me knew it too, but the writer-me said screw it. That happens... :-)

Case in point:
"Just as bad editing drains the life from a living thing as does as any fanged character on Alan Ball's True Blood, good editing does the opposite."

as does as???

Like a fanged character on Alan Ball's True Blood, bad editing drains the life from a living thing. Good editing does the opposite.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I've been a newsletter editor for many years (any time I join a group or get a new job, I always end up editing the newsletter). I'm also a born editor, for which status there is a simple, infallible test: when a born editor meets someone for the first time, his or her immediate first thought is, "What can I get this person to write for me?"

Abowt to retyre and a nartzlettrs nut, I have jus siened up for an onlyne Prrfreeding and edditting corse.

I am mutch enkorridged by the ebuv posts.

Though I am not a professional editor, I am in awe of those who are. Over thirty years ago, when I was in college, it was an honor to be an assistant to the head newspaper editor. I felt pride when refining text that would be a handheld piece of communication. What has happened with 'the media is the message'? Current media communications lack the professional quality of years ago. Typographical errors are abundant in print and online. It is with great dedication (and an addiction to proofreading) that I began to send letters to publishers. Ben and Jerry's, Apple (on their text edit page), TimeOutNY (could not spell Broadway)..... just a few which I found disturbing.
I am over fifty and in college typed each page with care. Now I find errors and would love to get back into the field, but my competition is spell check software. I wish I could agree that there is a future for editing, but twitters and text messages sent for speed.

I may be one of the few creative writers who is in awe of editors and look forward to working with a good one. All you others SPEAK UP! (And editor would probably have cut the caps,) Editing work is intrinsic to my creative process and always makes me see my writing much more clearly.

After working with a particularly fantastic editor on my first novel I sent her a card and in it about 100 little confetti sized pieces of paper with punctuation marks on them as thank you.

Cool post. I'm the editor of an arts magazine written by artists. I see a strong role, still, for editors - especially in a world where everyone is a journalist. I'm certain that I should spend more time with strunk and white, but I also know that as an editor I have helped over 100 artists craft read-able articles about their own work. I lament the passing of professional arts journalism; I think the future of professional arts editing is bright. Would love to hear what you think of that... I'm submitting my magazine for consideration in a couple of competitions. you can see it at: http://www.bourgeononline.com