Editors: A Kick Start for the Inspired and a Break for the Absurd

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Tara Walker English Language 350 Brother Gardner 1 April 2011 Prompt One; Editors: A Kick Start for the Inspired and a Break for the Absurd When I used to think about editing, some very specific things always came to mind: a sharp, snappy little suit, a leather briefcase, a new stack of books with crisp bindings, a stimulating conversation about words, and an abundance of late nights with a red pen and a wellloved but slightly irritating manuscript. I am not sure if all or any of those things have been removed from my list, but I know that several have been added. Now, when I think of editing, I think of The Chicago Manual of Style and all of the rules of usage and grammar it contains, including the serial comma and parallel structure. I not only think of the rules, but also of the exceptions to those rules and the importance of understanding when they should be applied. I think of detail, of precision, and of the finished product. When I think of all of these things I realize how much I want to be an editor. I want to be an editor because I love words and the power they have on readers; I pay particular attention to details; and I can be both kind and direct while giving suggestions because I understand the difficulty of the writing process.

One of the things that draws me most to an editing career is the close relationship that editors have with words. Editors are continually working with words—they are always seeking better ways of stringing them together or searching for better words to fit the author’s intended meaning. I love the power that a single word can have on a reader. Growing up I spent hours reading books. My mom was always telling me she was going to burn them because I would

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neglect my chores and read instead. The only safeguard I had against her threat was that they were usually library books; fortunately for me the library has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to vandalism. I loved the way that certain words tasted in my mouth. I was addicted to imitating words and phrases that I heard or read. They seemed to float around in my mind until they became like old friends. I want to be an editor because I also love to talk and write. Both of these things are really important because editing requires mastering the language in use—it necessitates having a love and appreciation for elevated sentence structure, every-day colloquialisms, and technical jargon. Editing requires an appreciation and respect for language and the power it can have on the people who speak, hear, or read its bi-products. Editors are essential for helping authors to say exactly what they mean. It isn’t enough for writer or reader to only come close to the intended meaning.

Fortunately, finding the right words has a lot to do with detail, and detail is something I am good at. Paying attention to detail is one of the most important aspects of being an editor. “In many ways, being a copyeditor is like sitting for an English exam that never ends: At every moment, your knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, syntax, and diction is being tested” (Einsohn 4). Because all of these different factors play into creating a clear and polished manuscript, editing can often be overwhelming. I am very detail-oriented, so it is often frustrating to work on large projects or papers because of pending deadlines and the reality of never having enough time to create perfection. At home and in editing, it often comes in handy though. My husband always says that I take longer than anybody else to do laundry. I know it isn’t always necessary, but I love making sure everything is right-side-out and neatly folded.

Usually everything stays cleaner and more organized because I took the time to do it carefully. In many ways, being an editor provides me with the opportunity to pay careful attention to detail,

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while also forcing me to let go of the least important things when I have a time crunch. Learning how to edit has helped me to make a strength out of focusing on details because in editing, small items like punctuation, capitalization, and spelling make all the difference in meaning.

Another important aspect of editing is having the ability to communicate well with the authors that one works with. Nobody likes to hear about the things that they need improvement on, but good, sound advice is necessary for positive change. It is never so much that the writer lacks the skills necessary to communicate well; he or she usually just struggles at first to say what they really mean. “Most experienced writers get something down on paper or up on the screen as fast as they can. Then as they revise . . . they understand their ideas better” (Williams 8). This is where the editor comes in to play. At first, the author may not be interested in what the editor has to say, so it is important that the editor approach the situation carefully. “Treat the manuscript, no matter how poorly written or prepared, as though it were the author’s ugly newborn. That is, no matter how ugly you may think the baby is, you would never say so to the new mother or father; no—surely, you would find something polite to say” (Einsohn 45).

Because I have been in the author’s position many times, I know how important it is to treat a paper or manuscript with tact. I know how hard it is to write and how difficult it can be to articulate exactly what you want.

The writing process can be so stressful. It is difficult to forget the many sleepless nights I have spent staring blankly at the computer screen—words refusing to come—while wishing that the next day wasn’t the deadline for my unfinished paper. Upon reaching this point in the writing process I have often forgotten the point of my paper and have proceeded to write aimlessly with very little direction. The result has left me with pages of unsubstantiated claims hidden beneath flowery prose and interesting but unrelated quotes. Nearly every time I tried to write, it turned

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into a frustrating and mind-boggling experience. I knew that I had important things to say and I speculated that the thoughts rolling around in my head might even be slightly profound if only I could articulate them. But when I sat down at the computer, it was as if every intelligent thought I had ever had collaboratively decided to jump ship. I ended up feeling frustrated and alone in the despairing chasm of writer’s block. All that I really needed was another editor to help direct the backed-up traffic of thoughts and words in my mind. The truth is that “editors are really necessary to inspire [writers], spur them, sometimes push them to write at the top of their form. ... editors have an authentic creativity of their own, one that few writers have: the gift of critical analysis, detachment, and expressions that is there for the writer to make the most of” (Gross xviii). Even though I can easily be that “gifted” person for everyone else, I have never been able to bring cohesion and clarity to my own papers.

One particular night of unsuccessful drafting sticks out to me because an editor saved me.

My best friend is the senior managing editor for Stampington & Company in Laugna Hills, California. I was working on a paper for a literature class and could not find which way was up.

My husband had no idea what I was writing about and he was so frustrated that he couldn’t help.

I was exhausted and found myself at a complete standstill when I suddenly realized exactly what I needed to do. I called my friend and she excitedly agreed to look over my paper. I emailed her what I had and roughly ten minutes later she returned it neatly polished and nearly completed.

She had taken all that I already had and found ways to fill in the gaps. She was kind, but she didn’t beat around the bush. I recognized what I could change and I didn’t feel hurt or upset about fixing those things. It was a huge relief and needless to say, I was overjoyed at being on the opposite end of the revision process. Additionally, this experience gave me greater insight into being a better editor who is sympathetic, tactful, and direct.

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I am looking forward to being a professional editor, whether I get to wear a tailored skirt suit or not. I love editing simply because it provides me the opportunity to work closely with words and with people, two things that I enjoy very much. Editing also fits my personality because I am very detail-oriented and because I know and understand the struggles that come with being a writer. Because of the numerous experiences I have had in my life, I feel that I am equipped with the necessary skills that it takes to be a good editor. These experiences and skills will aid me in helping and directing the authors that I get to work with. Being an editor will come with its fair share of challenges and it may not always live up to my expectations. But because I love editing and the books, magazines, and journals that it produces, I will always find joy and satisfaction in doing it.

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Works Cited Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications. 2nd ed. Berkeley: U of California P, 2006. Print.

Gross, Gerald, ed. Editors on Editing. 3rd ed. New York: Grove, 1993. Print.

Williams, Joseph M. and Gregory G. Colomb. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 10th ed.

Longman: Boston, 2010. Print.