Why I Love Editing, Part 2

Editing is a mélange of creative, analytical, and relational elements. It is a task that is devoid of monotony because of a renewable supply of ideas and a plethora of ways to contribute value to the writing. The infinite variety involved in editing never ceases to amaze me. As an expression of love for the work, the following list associates the art of editing with other subject areas.

Creative aspects of editing reflect the inspiration of a muse in which artistic and musical forces are embodied in the words.

Good editing is like art. A palette of colors can be added by word choice, punctuation, and literary techniques. Whether the result is vibrant or subdued, the artistic product showcases the value of thoughts and the individuality of expression.

Good editing is like music. One aim of editing is to help the language flow melodiously like music. There is a pleasing overall structure, the cadence of sound, staccatos and rhythmic ornaments that add uniqueness to the language, and a pulse on the appropriate level of emotions, which culminate in a masterpiece worthy of presentation.

Analytical qualities of editing imbue ideas with precision and authoritative knowledge.

Good editing is like a scientific inquiry. A writer can apply principles of good writing, but it is through experimentation with language that writing is taken to the next step, in consideration of the overall context and minutiae of details. An editor can advise and evaluate whether the content is crystalline clear, the connections logical, and the piece engineered well so that all parts fit together harmoniously.

Good editing is like a puzzle. When writing is done in the heat of the moment, the rules are sometimes sacrificed so that the words can simply flow out onto the page. The editor’s task is to then ensure that the ideas fit well together. It is a fun challenge to analyze the writing in its comprehensive context and extrapolate meanings of the prose—in fact, this process makes editing seem like a word game rather than work.

Relational imprints of editing demonstrate that the editorial process is best achieved via collaboration.

Good editing is like journalism. Enhanced clarity is essential to comprehension, so regardless of how complex a topic might be, the objective is to determine how best to convey the information in layman’s terms. An editor can help render the language neutral and fair, as well as point out if there should be sources provided to corroborate data. If the writer wishes to present a point strongly, an editor can judiciously help craft the tone of the language so it is sophisticated, diplomatic, and thus more persuasive.

Good editing is like teaching. In the quest to make continual improvements in the written piece, an editor provides plenty of explanations, bestows encouragement, and raises many questions so that the writer can offer personalized answers to the inquiries. Effective editing takes writers where they are so that unique self-expression is preserved while the bar on editorial excellence is raised.

The editor’s consummate passion about the work translates into benefits for the writer because there is always evidence of devoted care and energy in the final product. Providing an editorial service enables me to make others happy and successful, so that is more than enough reason to continue the tradition of editing excellence.

Read Why I Love Editing, Part 1