Who Needs Editors?

I often give presentations about the level of "clutter" out there in terms of written content -- both print and digital. Yep, there were nearly 500,000 books published last year in the US alone. Indeed, there are hundreds or thousands of new blogs started every day (including this one). And now Twitter gives folks a whole new way to express their thoughts in writing, often dozens of times a day.

Two key questions arise from the proliferation of written clutter: one, as a reader, how do I determine what is worth reading? And two, for a writer, how do I make mine worth reading?

The first question I'll save for a later post, perhaps I'll even a host a roundtable on the topic.

On the second, my usual answer to writers is to make sure you are writing from a place of expertise, of authenticity, and of relevance to your target audience. But recently a couple of colleagues -- one a writer, another an editor -- have needled me about leaving out the role of an editor in helping a writer to hone their writing.

It's funny that I needed to be reminded of this; after all, I've spent most of my career as a book and magazine editor. I think for a time it seemed like the role of the editor was in permanent decline; that the democratization of the publishing process would make us obsolete except in the most specialized circumstances, or simply as proofreaders (and even then only sporadically if you judge by most writing out there).

But I am being reminded that quality writing often is a product of a collaboration between the the writer and an editor, and how my own writing was improved by working with great editors over the years.

Nowadays, though, most writing is produced outside of the context of publication or publishing house that has qualified editors on staff. So how does as self-published writer -- blogger, book author, newsletter producer, Twitterer -- find an editor to help them become the next digital Hemingway? Here's a few tips:

1. Determine your needs. You need to be honest with yourself about the quality of your own writing, and the relevance of the ideas you have. Hopefully you have friends, family or colleagues who will tell you honestly about the strengths and weaknesses of your writing. Then, you need to be aware of the difference between an editor, a copy editor, and a proofreader.

An editor focuses on the quality of your ideas and how they are expressed, as well as on the lucidity of your writing. If you find a good editor, she can become a true partner to you in helping to express your thoughts and in reaching your target audience.

A copy editor is a wordsmith; they look at each line and figure out the best way to express it according to the rules of grammar and guides to excellent style. If you have good ideas but difficulty expressing them, a copy editor can be invaluable.

A proofreader is a technician -- an expert in spelling, grammar, and sometimes word choice, who can help you avoid pitfalls that make writers seem unprofessional or unpolished. If you hated grammar in school, are a lousy typist (like me) or simply can't spell...you need a proofreader.

2. Finding the Right Partner. Once you've figured out what you need, it's time to find him. Fortunately, there are no shortage of freelancers out there in all three editorial categories. Craigslist, Media Bistro, and eLance are all sources for experienced editorial talent. When deciding on who to hire, you should lean toward someone who understands the topic you're writing on, usually through previous experience editing similar materials. But as important as topical knowledge is temperament, especially if it's an editor you will be working with closely and frequently.

The relationship between an editor and writer is similar to the relationship between the patient and therapist...one person is extremely vulnerable and paying the other for their expertise to ease the vulnerability. Most people take their writing very personally, and you need an editor who is sensitive to your personal and professional style, otherwise you will continually butt heads and the work will ultimately suffer.

Spend time in person or on the phone with your editor. See if he gives you the warm fuzzies. And it doesn't hurt to go with your gut. And remember, just because some was referred to you as a good editor, doesn't mean that he will be appropriate for your particular project.

Dear readers: Leave comments about your experiences with editors, both good and bad...I'd love to hear your success stories, or about problems that still need to be solved. Oh, and any smartass comments about how I need an editor can be left out!