As an editor, do you think it's helpful to also be a writer? Jeff Herman
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As an editor, do you think it's helpful to also be a writer? Jeff Herman
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It makes sense that playing the position help you to teach others how to play the same position. Jeff
Some seek it out. Most of my cred as an editor and assessor comes from my writing awards. I doubt I'd have a full-time biz without them. They are often the hook, despite 7 years of editing, but I work for writers, not publishers. Editors who come from the other side of the tracks (publishing) rely on their editing track record. Many of those still rely principally on work through publishers and writers often approach them in the hope of leveraging their publishing contacts. Which is better at attracting writers, I can't say. It's a very interesting question, Jeff. I hope you get a spectrum of answers.
Do you find that potential clients ask about your own writing? Jeff Herman
Helpful but not necessary. What is necessary, however, is that the editor be a reader.
I think being a writer has helped me as an editor if for no other reason than because I can come up with creative ways to explain important writing concepts, such as giving examples of showing vs. telling. It also allows me to be more encouraging to authors as I mark up their manuscripts, since I have firsthand experience with seeing my own manuscript covered in red comments.
To turn the original question on its head, being an editor has improved my writing.
Probably, but not essential.
Yes, I think being a writer is immensely helpful in functioning as an editor. But I have also known some excellent editors who are not themselves writers. I am both.
I definitely feel like being a writer has helped me in my editing. A writer puts a lot of time and effort, sweat and tears into a story/manuscript, and I've heard stories of editors who acted like their only job was to slash and burn a writer's work to fit a certain idea (while destroying a writer's self-confidence in the process, as fragile as it already is.) As an editor who also writes, I never forget how much energy a writing client has put into his/her work and I edit (or review books, for that matter) with that in the forefront of my mind. I know what it's like to be edited and how uncomfortable it makes me feel, and if I know that my editor gets on the gut level what my story means to me -- even if some of the words need to be tossed -- then I don't mind the editing. Much. So I strive to give my writing clients that same feeling.