This blogging world is full of solo ventures into the wild blue without a safety net of any kind. Is that a mixed metaphor? Not sure. Where’s my editor?
Certainly on the whole bloggers are a talented bunch of writers and thinkers. But the one thing that most of us don’t have is an editor. Some of you may have never worked with an editor before. Others may have been traumatized by a bad editor (you have my sympathies).
Others of us know that as maddening as it can be sometimes to work with an editor, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
To put it plainly, having an editor provides an essential filter between the blogger and the reader. In some cases, of course, editors can cause unnecessary delays to getting a story published.
For bloggers, I would venture to guess that having a good editor is the exception rather than the rule. In case you’re wondering what an editor might be good for, other than correcting typos, here are three functions that I think are most important. Certainly they’re the ones I miss most in the editor-less world of blogging:
1. Keeping the big picture in focus
An editor always has her eye on the big picture. That can really take a load off your shoulders, giving you the freedom to focus on the story (or blog post) at hand. The editor looks at each potential story and determines which stories to pursue based on whether it fulfills the publication’s editorial mission.
Some story ideas you pitch to the editor, other story ideas she assigns to you. In both cases, the editor is thinking about the publication’s relationship with its readers:
- How does this story (or blog post) contribute to the publication’s editorial mission?
- Which topics are readers responding to?
- What new ideas should be explored more deeply?
2. Keeping your stories and posts on track
Bouncing ideas off an editor can be a valuable exercise. Print publications may develop a story over weeks or months, in which case the writer and editor have numerous chances to talk about reporting and writing strategies.
Blog posts are a bit different, but the concept remains the same. Imagine discussing the development of a series of posts with an editor:
- Which subtopics are most important to address?
- In which order should they be presented?
- What sources of information or interviews should be included?
A good editor can help sharpen your thinking and improve your approach to reporting and writing. This holds true whether you’re writing a magazine-length piece, a thematic series or a single blog post.
3. Keeping your writing sharp and honest
Write for your readers, rewrite for your editor. That pretty much sums it up for me.
When writing a first draft, you don’t want to get too hung up on producing perfect copy. But once you’ve got that draft down on paper, it’s time to summon your inner editor.
The more you interact with a real editor, the stronger that inner editor becomes. Few things can give you greater joy as a writer than anticipating your editor’s reactions to something you’ve written and fixing it before he has a chance to read it.
Back and forth exchanges with an editor can have a lasting impression. I remember one heated argument I had with an editor over active vs. passive voice. He claimed I used too many passive verbs. I said I didn’t. He read my story aloud to me, emphasizing each passive verb. I talked louder, arguing why the passive voice was appropriate in each case.
This went on for about 15 minutes, much to the immense pleasure of our layout editor, who was caught in the crossfire. On deadline. The argument left me with a few temporary bruises to my ego and a lasting lesson on sentence structure. All of 14 years later, I still think about that argument nearly every time I write.
What’s a blogger to do?
How a blogger manages to find this kind of editor is anybody’s guess.
It would be nice if bloggers could do this for each other, but too often we are overextended already. It also pays to have an editor who isn’t involved in the day-to-day task of producing content.
I suppose this task could be outsourced, similar to the way that technical blogging issues can be outsourced. But you would have to find someone who has a vested interest in your writing and in the blog.
Maybe a blog’s readers ultimately become the collective editor, at least in terms of helping to shape a blog’s direction. Maybe some bloggers develop enough trust amongst themselves to conduct what amounts to editorial audits for each other.
How about you?
How do you fill this editorial void? What have you seen other blogs do that seems effective?
Photo by Cayusa
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Bill,
It is no mistake that the three books I picked up on writing recently are written by an editor and an agent. Why? Structure and focus. It’s like having a critique pal, but one who offers constructive solutions.
No one can write for me, but they sure can help me structure, pace, and correct the glaring mistakes that I make regularly.
I look forward to the day when I have a REAL editor to work with, but for now what I do is try to srengthen my inner editor by doing a little research and then working on what they suggest. I also read voraciously. I know good writing when I see it, so lately I will note what makes me like this piece or that so much? How is it working?
.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Gentle Ripples in the Sand
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
What me and my brother do, since our blog is written by both of us… We try to have it looked over by each other before it’s published.
If he is about to publish, I take a look at it and e-mail him my suggestions. Some of which he won’t end up following.
I think what is key with a blog, is you want your content clear. We as the authors know exactly what the article is conveying; the information is emanating from our minds after all.
The reader, in contrast, is seeing it for the first time. They have to interpret it. So it’s really helpful to have someone else look over your material, to make sure it’s written clearly, in a way that can easily be understood by the reader.
That’s the ideal, but isn’t an option for everyone. So, regardless, the author has to be as objective as possible and really give a good look at their copy and ask if the presentation is clear and easy to understand.
It’s cool you’ve had experience with having an editor. I’m certain this has sharpened your writing skills.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Things That Seem Like a Good Idea at First (But Aren’t)
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
@ Bamboo - yes, having a partner you trust to work with can be a big help. Judging from the final product, I’d say that you and your brother work well together.
Your comment on clear content is a good point. I meant to include that in the post but forgot. We all have those moments when we think we’re being clear but aren’t. Editors are great at pointing those out.
@ Janice - Reading books on structure and pace is a really good idea. It does help you to see your own writing differently and to identify what makes other good writing good. I should take your advice and start re-reading some of my writing books.
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
My dad was a technical journal editor, and for awhile he worked at a publishing company (Clarke Irwin), which was really cool because I got to ‘test drive’ Denis Lee poetry. I digress. Anyway, we were all taught to write, and plan writing, well. However, I still get the Urbane Lion to read my posts for flow, typos, etc.
I really like how you expand the editing job to the Big Picture. This is where my skills really come into play, since the Lion and are a blogging creative team. In the beginning, he was all over the map. I had to keep bringing him back to the central theme, and agreed upon big picture. Now, he too understands the importance of staying on track.
Good post!
Urban Panthers last blog post..The toughest crowd yet
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hello Ms. Panther,
It sounds like you learned from the best. Did you write in fragments and run-ons during your teen rebellion years?
I agree with you that no matter how well you learn to write, it always helps to have someone read your stuff. As for the Urbane Lion, he’s lucky to have a skilled editor on his side.
on Aug 8th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Nope, but I do now! It’s my philosophy that once you know the rules, it’s okay to break them. *smile*
Urban Panthers last blog post..The toughest crowd yet
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Words to live by.
on Aug 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I have been severely traumatized by an editor, but I lived
I love the immediacy of publishing on a blog, and not having to work with other people. Wouldn’t swap it! I think you are right with your suggestion that the readers shape a blog, though - that is what I’m finding, anyway (not that anyone actually agrees with what I am saying!)
Robins last blog post..Letting Creativity Just Slip In
on Aug 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Robin, sorry to hear about your editor experience. I’ve had a bad editor or two myself. Fortunately, they’ve been the exception.
And don’t forget, your readers enjoy not always agreeing with you.