I want you all to know how much I value you—not just as a resource for TheHighCalling.org and FaithInTheWorkplace.com—but as writers and poets and prophets and visionaries who challenge this thing we call church in America to rise up and act more like the Kingdom of God.
Sometimes I know you may feel like I am a hard master with your essays. And a lot of you think I am way too young to be pretending to be a master at all. You’re right.
But listen, this is the task I’ve been given.
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Partly I edit your essays to streamline them for a business audience. Let’s face it, a lot of you are academics and you write for academics. There is a certain kind of slow meditative and reflexive style to academic writing that other readers just don’t have the patience for.
That doesn’t mean we should complain about the lack of patient and meditative readers in the world. And it doesn’t mean we should complain about the difficulty of pacing of academic writing. Both contexts are legitimate.
But I edit for readers who expect a high school reading level. Our readers are used to the New York Times—no slouch in the style department. They are used to articles and books (and mutual funds) that are loaded on the front end as inverted pyramids.
This sounds like I am criticizing you, writers. But that’s the hard part. See, criticism is my job. I’m not a critical person by nature. And certainly, I’m not criticizing you as a person. I read your work before we ask you to write, and all of you have touched me personally, deeply.
You are a good steward of your abilities and your vision.
But I have a vision to steward. Unlike you, I defend a vision that is not my own. When I edit your sentences and your content, I am not attacking you personally. Nor am I questioning the quality of your writing in a particular instance or in the broader sense.
I am simply making sure that your article aligns with the vision I defend: God values all work. When we do good work, provide good service, and create good product—even when we are not being explicitly Christian—our work glorifies God.
I also defend the sensibilities of our audience demographic. We know who these people are and we know what kind of essays will appeal to them.
This doesn’t mean I am always right. My edits are not sacred. But I do consider them a way to honor God. Neither are your words sacred. But I will bet that you consider them a way to honor God.
Most important of all, the way we interact with each other should honor God.
The emails we send.
(Let’s not be nasty and rude with each other.)The conversations we have about the process.
(Let’s not gossip or spread rumors.)The attitudes of our heart.
(Let’s love each other more than we love ourselves.)The purpose of our work.
(Let’s love the Lord our God more than we love our work.)
I write this to remind myself how to act with you, writers. Editing is an incredibly intimate process. I know that, but I forget sometimes. (God, help me be loving as I edit. Let my words glorify you.)
But I also write this as a message of good faith. Most of you will never read this, but it needs to be said. Editors are people too. I take pride in the polish I give your work as much as you take pride in the work itself.
An editor’s job is simply this: to make you look good in the context of our publication.
I’m on your side.
17 comments ↓
Marcus
I think I’ve said it before - you do indeed make my articles look good! I think that you have the right disposition for an editor.
“…criticism is my job. I’m not a critical person by nature. And certainly, I’m not criticizing you as a person.”
I think the best kind of editors are the ones who aren’t critical by nature. They recognize their much needed contribution but do it humbly.
Your ground rules for interaction are a great reminder.
Thanks for taking your work seriously and doing it for God’s glory.
Andre, it’s always good to hear from you. I was just working on one of your articles this morning–adding links and proofing and what not. Thanks for your kind words.
Working with you has been a real joy.
A personal fashion consultant! Great! I need you to make me look good.
And you look good all on your own, LL! My only job as an editor is to make you look good to the readers I understand best.
Oh, okay, I’ll be your fashion consultant if you want.
You sound like you might be my editor someday:)
Eve, you make me smile.
“I’m on your side.” What a great sentiment to believe and work for, Marcus. I’ve always been a little bit afraid of editors, afraid they won’t see the vision of my article or essay. I am learning to see that they have the same hesitation: that I won’t see the greater vision of their publication and the audience they are reaching.
Your writers are lucky to have you!
That’s a great way to put it Charity. The vision of the work is just as important as the vision of the publication.
And it reminds me that editing is a kind of negotiation.
Thanks for your kind words.
And don’t be afraid of editors–at least not any more than you would be afraid of other people. I mean, editors can be mean. Editing can be painful, but growth usually is. Maybe it always is.
Mostly, I think a good editor is just a fresh set of eyes–and the willingness to tell the writer what we see that is working and what we see that isn’t. Gulp. This keeps sounding worse and worse! : )
Hi Marcus
That’s one hell of a proper ‘job-description’ you posted.
No surprises for ‘the boss’ (i.e. your clients)
Marcus,
Thanks for swinging by my blog! (I love comments:)
I’ve added the info you requested.
Karin, you crack me up! I hadn’t thought of it as a job description per se, but I guess that’s what it is.
It’s funny how everyone gets in their own little bubble and forgets the contributions that other people make.
I guess I was just trying to write yet another apologetic for editing.
I talk about grammar and syntax a lot around here, but editing is as much about the vision as it is about the tools that help us help a writer meet that vision.
Thanks for dropping by!
Eve, I appreciate the heads up about your response. And I love commenting on other people’s blogs! That’s half the fun. Maybe more than half.
Marcus,
I know what you mean! By the way, the links are there-must have missed them
Doh!
I know I’m a lurker commenting on an apparent work relationship, but in general I think it is good to know that you as an editor are working to glorify God. I don’t see how bad can come from that!
Blessings as you all work together!
Stacy, no need to apologize for “lurking.” Only a few of the people who comment here are actually writing for TheHighCalling.org. Most of the writers I work with don’t read blogs. Which continues to frustrate and confuse me.
And which has prompted some real soul searching. What is blogging about? Who reads blogs and why? Are blogs an emerging media or just a bridge to the next thing–whatever that will be? How soon will that next thing be in coming (if there is a next thing)? And what will happen to blogs then?
Poor Marcus. Have other writers been abusing you? I’ll go beat them up for you. You’re one of the best and easiest editors I’ve ever had (not that I’ve had all that many, granted, but that doesn’t matter, does it?).
Camy