Getting an Editor Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Write
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First of all, if you’re reading this because you need to hear what’s written in the title, welcome. If you need reasons to help you stand on why this is true, please keep reading.
It’s worth repeating: working with an editor doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. Both of your editors here at Ground Crew feel strongly about this, and we’ll happily and strenuously argue the point all day long. Recently, several online discussions have spurred some troubling conversations about the need, if any, for authors to work with editors. I’m convinced these conversations are motivated by good intentions—editing can be expensive, and authors have other costs to consider as they put their words into the world. However, these messages contain an abundance of inadvertent fallout, chief among them being if you need editing, you’re not a good writer.
There’s a lot to unpack in this topic, but today, I want to stress that everyone can write. Your ideas are good. The way you express yourself is unique. Working with an editor is just one way to not only improve a manuscript but, more importantly, develop the critical thinking and writing skills that will make a lasting impact on the work you create.
As the brilliant Brenda Ueland says, “Everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say” (from If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit). Sometimes you need someone else to help you discover that talent, originality, and importance are in what you’ve written, too.
Editing is developmental, not remedial
Both of your editors here at Ground Crew Editorial started off as writing tutors. I worked in universities for years, helping with everything from outlines and thesis statements to MLA formatting and graduate school applications. Though I assisted students across the curriculum, most came in wearing the same half smiles or frowns and explained their assignments like they were making an apology. They didn’t always say that they’d been sent by a professor, that they were required to come, or that they were stuck. They didn’t have to. Everything about the way they sat in their chair said, “I’m here because I’m a bad writer.”
Everyone can write
Since that time, I have literally made it my job to demonstrate that everyone can be a better writer, which, to me, means a better thinker. Every piece of writing is a puzzle, a word problem that requires a lot of thought and intention to bring the threads of audience, tone, and structure together. Some writers might be able to produce a first draft that looks like your third, but as with any art and craft, there is always room for improvement.
The work you do in revision—whether you’re doing it in a critique group, with an editor, or on your own—is developmental, not remedial.
Editing helps you grow
With the explosion of the use of AI in the writing field, there’s been a tidal wave of hubbub online about the need for editors. Why should authors give good money and time to a human editor when AI can do it for so much less? There are many answers to that question, some we may get into with other articles, but the one I’ll focus on here emphasizes the growth of the writer. As with anything that promises results, the most beneficial and rewarding is that which requires high personal investment. Working one-on-one with an editor and using AI is the difference between getting a personal trainer and streaming an on-demand exercise class—you’ll get results, but only the former can give you ones that align with your individual goals.
Editing as a masterclass
Working with a proficient editor can be a masterclass in craft, providing you the tools and foundation you need not only for your current project but for the next three you put to paper. In this literary relationship, you’re interacting with a professional who sees you and understands your work, someone who can respond to your unique needs and ability and provide useable suggestions because they have the experience to steer you well.
Editing gives you access to insider information
Editing, like other writing aids, is a tool to take your manuscript to the next level. There may be dozens of ways to get there, but an experienced editor can reduce the time and stress it takes while helping you build the confidence you need to keep writing. A skilled editor stays current with trends and conversations in publishing, and they prioritize continuing their own education in the field and reading widely. When you collaborate with an editor, you gain access to their knowledge and training, and their expertise is wholly at your disposal. Having someone who solves word problems every day look at your manuscript can provide invaluable insight. Even if they don’t immediately have the answer you’re looking for, like an expert librarian, they know exactly where to find the resources to help you succeed.
Everyone gets edited
You may not know this, but most, if not all, of the books you’ve ever read have been edited. Even the most famous authors you can think of have had their work edited, and though they may have worked with an-house editor rather than a freelancer, their drafts were reviewed and marked up. Even editors who write have other editors review their work (Ariane and I do this all the time).
Edits don’t mean you’re a bad writer. They simply show opportunities to reconsider and deepen what’s on the page.
Word choice can make all the difference in the tone of a chapter. Honing character motivation can make a functional scene unforgettable. On the technical side, grammar can appear insignificant, but those rules streamline understanding so your words come across crystal clear to someone you’ll never meet.
Anyone can improve
Editing should always center around improving your craft, strengthening it on a technical level as much as making it sound more and more like your unique voice. As I mentioned above, working with a proficient editor can be an education in itself, especially for authors who haven’t formally studied writing or literature. An editor can teach you the terminology to put language around what’s on the page, which in turn helps you see what needs revision as well as what’s already working well. Some writers have a natural storytelling instinct, and their knack for dialogue, plot, or other elements can certainly produce doubt in writers who have to work harder at those components. However, no one has perfected every aspect of writing. Because of this, writing is a pursuit that can’t ever be truly mastered, but it’s also one of the few things that we only get better at over time.
Your editorial experience with Ground Crew Editorial
With all of our services, we strive to give you an experience that reflects our belief that no one is a bad writer. In our hangar, you’re an expert among experts—after all, you’re the leading authority on your story. Your ideas are why we love to talk shop. Through our conversations and suggestions, we will work hard to give you the tools and foundation you need to feel inspired, to keep going.
We’re here to help you take off.
Interested in working with us?
We’d love to hear how we can support you on your writing journey.
You can read more about the wide range of editorial services we provide, from manuscript assessments to reviews of submission materials on our services page. If you’re not sure what kind of support would be the most helpful, feel free to get in touch! We’re happy to answer questions via email or during a complimentary 15-minute Zoom call.
Thanks to Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash for the photo!
