[Editor’s Note: While I’m out of the office, please enjoy this rerun of one of WordCount’s greatest hits. I’ll be back next week with new material. — MVR]
Freelancers love to grouse about bad editors. But good editors are a treasure.
Good editors share a lot of the same qualities. They:
1. Understand business etiquette. They call or email about your story pitches or edits in a timely fashion.
2. Are organized. They keep track of multiple writers working on multiple stories for multiple issues without constantly acting like the world’s about to end.
3. Have a solid grasp of their publication. They understand their audience, their approach to the subject or their particular department. As a result, they can explain why a pitch is or isn’t a good fit, and if it’s the latter, make suggestions for changes that would bring it on target.
4. Suggest sources. If they can’t share specific names, they can recommend types of sources to tap. If needed, they make themselves available for brainstorming sessions.
5. Have solid self esteem. They don’t feel the need to put their hands all over your copy if it’s good enough as is.
6. Are prudent copywriters. Whatever work they do to your copy makes it even better.
7. Aren’t raging egotists. They relate to writers as equals, not underlings.
8. Don’t change their minds (without a really good reason). They don’t ask for a different angle for your story after it’s in and done. The only exception would be if circumstances have changed — something’s happened in the news that needs to be included, for example — that warrants a change in direction.
9. Follow through. Whether it’s on promises of quick turnaround edits, contracts delivered when they say they’ll be or that you’ll get paid what and when you’re supposed to.
10. Show appreciation. They say thank you, acknowledge when you’ve done a good job, share their praise in public, and give you assignments.
What qualities would you add?
I love these, Michelle. I might add “Fights for higher pay for writers.”
Very true. I would add that a truly great editor sets realistic expectations. If she approaches you on the Friday before a three day weekend, then it will be tough to find sources for interviews that afternoon (funny how that works, isn’t it?) and she should give you a reasonable deadline that allows for that. She should also respect your time off and understand that even freelancers need a vacation every once in a while.
Great points Paula and Susan, thanks.
can an editor have other qualities as an eye for detailed person because he needs to be careful in the editorial works he will be doing
A good editor does not allow her likes and dislikes to come in the way of editing i. e. she remains unbiased.
A good editor helps the writer to bring writer’s story to life on the page. She must not interfere in the story or the plot. For example, I wrote a story about an Irish man and approached an editor. Her first comment was ‘I hate Irishmen. Why don’t you write about Indians?’ Her job should have been to guide me to write what I wrote to make it sound authentic.
In my experience some female editors (most editors are female by the way) are also fanatic feminists. They are too hard on you just because you happen to be male.
editorial work is a huge task in its self.Am a writer my self and young at it.Though ,in couple of weeks to come i will be an editor.My point here is that editors should try to give their work their best so that credible outcomes will be to the maximum.I also use this medium to commend those who are always at their very point of duty.
You just described some of my favorite editors, Michelle. When an editor possesses the qualities you mentioned, work feels more like a collaboration and less like, well…work.
I would add that they help their writers improve their craft, a mutual benefit for the publication and the writers. Also I would add to “is organized” that they understand how their payroll works and have an editorial calendar.
Great additions Ruth, thanks for sharing.
Michelle
Editors are the voice of a print organization and an organisation without an editor should be considered as a man without a back bone.
congratulation for a good explanation
All true. I would also add a good editor makes sure your invoices are processed promptly and your payment is not delayed. Too many editors on salary don’t seem to understand that we write for a living, not hobby income. Cashflow is crucial to us, just as it is for them.
Good points Caitlin. I just finished a six-month content marketing editing job and the writers I worked with loved it because we were using Contently, the web-based editorial project management platform, to assign, edit and publish stories. The instant I approved copy, writers were paid via PayPal.
Michelle
great point about editorial