A client recently asked me to “do some surgery” on an important, lengthy business letter. “Do whatever you can to fix it and make it good,” he said. He was willing to put the fate of a specific professional goal in my hands. And I was confident that I could give him what he needed.
His request made me think about how editing is sort of like surgery.
My workspace may not be sterile, but it’s organized and well-lit. With focused eyes, I open the document. I begin the procedure by examining the writing and addressing the most pressing trauma first. As I work, the body of the text begins to look like a bloody mess of red marks. With precision and patience, I resect and repair the ineffective parts. I excise words that don’t work and insert new ones. I make minor alterations to restructure sentences—perhaps some major ones too. I correct the problems. When I’m finished, I close up the file with my work carefully saved. I’ve left the text repaired and stronger than it was when it came to me. It doesn’t look perfect yet, but it’ll be healed in the final draft. I’m happy with my work. My client might feel some pain when he sees the editing marks, and he’ll have some work to do. But I know if he adheres to my treatment plan—my suggested changes—he’ll have a good outcome. And I’ll follow-up and review the final draft—“posteditive” care.
What do editors and surgeons have in common?
- They diagnose—Editors evaluate the chief complaint (maybe the writer has noted a specific writing issue), take a history (discuss with the writer the goals for the project and any problems with past projects), do a physical exam (look at the text to determine the state of the writing), develop a treatment plan (identify the type of editing needed and the time it will take), and provide follow-up care (review the final draft after the writer has implemented the suggested changes).
- They’re decisive—They must be confident in the decisions they make not only because they’re making decisions based on what’s best for the writer/patient but also because the work they do is time-sensitive.
- They do no harm—They’ll leave your text/body in better shape than it was originally. They will not introduce problems.
- They’re conscientious—It’s critical that nothing is missed. There’s no room for errors.
- They’re perseverant—No matter how challenging a text/case is, they must put in their best effort until the end.
- They’re skilled—They must have the necessary skills and always be willing to learn more.
So why does this matter to you?
You might hesitate to have an editor evaluate your text. Who knows what the outcome will be? Will it make things worse? Will the editor discover a major problem with your writing? You might also hesitate to let a surgeon operate on you. Who knows what the outcome will be? Will it make things worse? Will the surgeon discover a major problem with your body?
Just as the benefits of surgery can sometimes be worth the risks, the benefits of working with an editor might outweigh your fears about the process. Although letting an editor evaluate your writing may seem daunting, remember that editors (like surgeons) want to give you the best possible outcome.
Editing is, in a sense, elective surgery that’s performed on your writing. So you want to be informed before you decide to move forward. Go ahead and ask your editor the same questions you’d ask your surgeon: What’s your background? Are you certified? How many of these have you done? What are the risks? What can I expect when you’re finished editing?
If you’re considering working with an editor, don’t hesitate. Editing is an effective therapeutic option to ensure your writing is in excellent shape. Using a client-centered, minimally invasive approach, your editor will improve your writing as painlessly as possible.
