Right now, I am surrounded by a sea of words. I’m swimming in them – everywhere I look! Even if I close my eyes, they are there, bobbing around and running into one another. You see, I’m deep in editing territory. Somehow I have acquired not one but two comprehensive non-fiction works by other authors to edit – and soon my own non-fiction work will return to me from my manuscript readers/editors, no doubt with many a red mark on it. On top of that, I have just finished critiquing the first fifty pages of three other manuscripts for a writing intensive day coming up.
Now I absolutely love writing. But I have to say I also enjoy editing – even editing my own work. There is nothing like throwing out by the bucket load the very words one has laboured over for hours. When I began my writing journey around eight years ago, I was horrified at the slightest suggestion I might need to dispense with some of those precious words I had so lovingly crafted. Now, six novels and a non-fiction work down the track, I find I don’t think twice about it – well, not usually, anyway. I’ve come to realise, you see, that if I created them all in the first place, I can probably do it again, with a bit of effort.
But what about editing others’ work? Now that’s quite a different matter. I tread very carefully indeed in this territory for several reasons. Firstly, I feel honoured when other authors choose make themselves vulnerable and trust me with their ‘baby’. I value that and want to respect the faith they have shown in me.
Secondly, I tread carefully because I want to appreciate who these authors are and what has gone on in their heads as they have crafted their novel or non-fiction work. I don’t want to come blundering in, trampling their ideas underfoot and failing to appreciate where they’re coming from and what has motivated them to write. They are children of God just as much as I am, with gifts to share with this world – and my task is essentially to help them use these gifts to the best of their ability.
Finally, I tread very carefully because I can so easily make snap decisions about the writing style of others – or even the topic they have chosen to write about – simply because it is not what or how I would write. I need to be impartial and not let my own likes and dislikes get in the way. After all, readers have widely differing tastes in books and in writing styles – no author can please everyone.
So I try to move forward with grace through my sea of words, treating other authors as God would treat them. Yes, I need to tell them the truth about their writing as I see it, which may be hard to hear at times – but I need to do it in love, and with kindness and compassion, as Paul urges us to do in Ephesians 4:15 and 32. I am only one voice. And I don’t have all the answers – I need to become a better author myself. But I believe they can too and I want to give of my best so they can give of their best.
And that’s one of the greatest privileges around, I believe.
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
🙂
Ah yes I know the perils and privileges of editing only too well, as the editor of Footprints magazine. Here’s a post I wrote about it, called “The Art of Rejection”, that you might enjoy! http://footprintsaustralia.com/blog/wp-admin/post.php?post=1131&action=edit
Thanks, Janet. I have tried the link to your blog that you sent, but unfortunately I can’t get to it, for some reason. I’ll keep trying though. But we’re up early to drive to Brisbane in the morning, so might have to leave it until I come home. Hopefully I’ll see you at the Writers’ Fair!
Silly me! Try this http://footprintsaustralia.com/blog/2011/07/04/the-art-of-rejection/.
It was lovely to catch up with you at the Word Writers, even if it was only very briefly. Love Rochelle’s idea of turning it into an onsite conference/camp for the whole weekend – more time to chat!!!
Thanks for the new link, Janet. I just checked it out and can understand your dilemma! Yes, perhaps the easiest way out would be to contact only those whose work you could use, but then again, it’s so helpful if authors know why they are rejected. Perhaps they can then learn something from the whole process then.
Re catching up at the Writers’ Fair,. I think I only got to smile and say hi at a distance, unfortunately. And like you, I agree a whole weekend conference would give us more time to chat, but it would also make it more expensive, which would probably cut me out – unless it’s close enough to Brisbane for me to be able to stay with relatives at night as I do now. Perhaps the trick is to start planning and saving now!