Comments on: The editor you write for today may be the writer you edit tomorrow

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:57:58 +0000

I’ll definitely check it out – thanks for stopping by.

Michelle

By: Tricia Rosetty

Tricia Rosetty — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 05:03:11 +0000

I’m a reporter with a small daily newspaper and freelance out my writing and editing in other areas so I have experience with both types of work environments.

Unfortunately, as newspapers are trying to cut more and more, one of the things I’ve seen lacking is a good mentorship between editors and writers. I have people copyediting my work every day, but no one partnering with me to really make it better overall. I need someone to give me direction, not just catch typos!

You guys might like my blog, http://www.thewritersdoula.com – it’s all about fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between writers and editors with a focus on the editor experience. I’d love to hear your feedback on my posts!

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:02:24 +0000

Emily, I can answer your questions for contract editors like myself (v. staff editors): since I started a contract editing assignment in late fall 2009 I spend more than half my time on activities related to that – coming up with story ideas or taking pitches, assigning stories, editing stories, prepping stories for our site’s content management system, helping with strategy, etc. But I still do a substantial amount of writing – not as much as I used to, but a good bit. I know a number of contract editors who also mix editing and writing. It’s a bit more of a juggle than if you stick only to writing, but it is possible.

Michelle

By: Emily Holmes

Emily Holmes — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:03:35 +0000

Hi, great stuff I was wondering if many Editors also write there own stories and books? or do they not usually have time on the means to move around a bit more. What I really want to know is – is the field flexible enough to do both?

By: Words on a page » Blog Archive » A few links for the end of the week - A blog about writing, in its various forms

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:32:46 +0000

[...] Remember that the editor you write for today could be the writer you hire tomorrow [...]

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:30:39 +0000

Lori: Writers who’ve ever been on staff at a newspaper or magazine – or these days web-only news organization – have an advantage in this area because they’ve had the experience of working side by side with editors so understand exactly what you’re saying. There’s no mystique, no intimidation factor. But many freelancers haven’t ever had that opportunity, therefore come at the relationship with a different mind set. And I agree with you that both parties benefit with there’s open dialogue that goes in both directions about what could make a story better. If a writer feels intimidated by an editor that might not happen and the story would suffer as a result.

Michelle

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:37:46 +0000

Maybe it’s because of my editorial background, but I’ve never quite understood writers who fear the editor and editors who look down on the writer. In my best dealings with both, we’ve been a team. I’m more likely to work with writers who listen, do the job, and tell me when they think the story has a better direction. Amen! That’s helping us both look good, which means we both benefit from more assignments.

By: Tweets that mention The editor you write for today may be writer you edit tomorrow | WordCount -- Topsy.com

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:31:12 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tim Beyers, ASBPE, Lilian Wu, Delia Lloyd, topsy_top20k and others. topsy_top20k said: RT @ElizabethSCraig: The editor you write for today might be the writer you edit tomorrow: http://tinyurl.com/y8eg9qc [...]

By: Carroll Lachnit

Carroll Lachnit — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:03:29 +0000

This is excellent advice, Michelle. I would just add that it’s easy for editors to forget what it feels like to be a writer. When I start to lose sight, I think about times in my newspaper-writer career when I had articles come back from an editor in a “bucket of blood,” with red-text edits everywhere, and a lot of curt, dismissive commentary along the way. Painful.

With that in mind, I try to apply a variant of the Golden Rule: Edit others as you would have them edit you. In other words, with courtesy and respect; without snark and superior attitude. We are all in this together.

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:45:46 +0000

Thanks for the affirmation. For some reason this was a hard post for me to write – I struggled with finding the right words to articulate what I was feeling. So glad for the feedback that other people can relate.

Michelle