Understanding Your Editor

I have written elsewhere that I have very little use for About.com. In my snottier moments, I paraphrase William S. Burroughs; I find the advice on About.com to be roughly on the “Confucius say” level.

Today, however, I am pleased to report that I am eating the tiniest helping of crow, as I’ve found a quite redeeming article on About.com, and located in the Freelance category to boot!

Allena Tapia’s article, “Tips For Dealing With Your Editor” may seem like a list of revenge ideas if you go by the headline alone, but speaking as an editor myself, Tapia hits the nail squarely on the head with this short, readable list of things that can make your life as a writer and mine as an editor much easier indeed.

Her most valuable bit of wisdom? Here’s a quote. “Despite the editor’s role in your writing, the writing is still your job. Turn in the most flawless work you can.”

I cheered when I read that and I can tell you–again, from the editor’s perspective–it doesn’t happen nearly as much as we’d like. Sure, dear reader, I know YOU turn in flawless copy…but that ONE guy who turns in dorked up material on a regular basis puts the whole operation back for as long as it takes to chase him down and get him to fix what should have been right the first time.

Read this quick, informative article and you won’t regret it. The only advice missing from this piece is not to take it personally if the editor doesn’t get back to you in a timely manner once the article is put to bed for that issue–we’re usually putting out other fires in the meantime.

A good editor will eventually drop you a line, but sometimes there are other little crises to deal with between approving your submission and going to print or live on the web.

That minor nitpick aside, this article is spot-on, and I wish there were MORE of them. Recommended reading.