The Complete Editor, 2nd Edition

chapter

5

The Complete Editor

 

 

• The Editor–Writer Relationship

• Responsibilities of the Editor

• Honesty and Fairness

• Skepticism

• Acting Ethically

• The Five Commandments

• Exercises

 

 

Editors and writers do a delicate dance. The writing and editing process requires that they pay constant attention to one another. They must try to read each other’s minds and understand the verbal and nonverbal cues that are being presented. They must cope with personality differences and tensions that may arise. They must also deal with the stress of their working environment—the multiple demands and the deadlines.

The product of this dance should be something worthy of the publication, and it is the editor’s job to make it so. Good editing, like good ...