Eight Reasons Why Editing Is a Whole Lot Harder Than You Think It Is…
Editing is hard work.
I read complaints about editors on forums and on blogs all the time. While I realize that sometimes a particular editor may be unfair, there are other times when I just have to wonder what the writer was thinking.
The way I look at it, if someone is paying you to write, then they have the right to ask that your work be edited.
Now I realize that many writers have never had an editing assignment. They don’t really know what it’s like to edit someone else’s work. They don’t realize how difficult editing can be.
Personally, however, I have a great deal of appreciation for editors. Overall, I think that most editors do more good than they do harm.
I’ve actually worn both hats. I’ve had many writing assignments and quite a few editing assignments. I can tell you that editing is not easy. In fact, sometimes editing a piece is just as hard a writing it.
Here are eight reasons why editing is a whole lot harder than you think it is:
- It’s difficult to estimate an editing job accurately. Every editing job is as unique as the writer who produced it. With a writing job, you can usually estimate time and cost based on the length and subject matter. With an editing job, what matters is how careful the original writer was. You can’t really know that until you see their work.
- You have to read every single word to edit. Believe it or not, most of us skim through what we read. Even if we think we are reading something carefully, there is a tendency to read quickly and read the piece as a whole. An editor has to change that habit. An editor must look at each individual word that comprises a piece as well as consider the piece as a whole.
- No matter how objective you try to be, there’s always a subjective element. I usually try to edit to a particular style or according to specific standards. Even with a style or standards in place, there is always a subjective element. This means that the editor has to make a tough decision. Usually the decision is something like this: “this is really awkwardly worded, but not technically wrong. Do I fix the piece or let it be?“
- It can take longer to edit a really bad piece than it would take to write a completely new piece. Clients often don’t understand this point, but it is true. If a piece of writing is really bad to start out with, it’s often much more efficient to start over than to try and save the original. Fixing errors takes time. If there are a lot of errors, it takes a lot of time.
- Some people don’t like it when you change their words. Most people don’t like to see the “red ink of correction” on their work. Even though most editing is now done online, having one’s work changed is still about as popular as a trip to the dentist. So, despite the fact that most editors are only trying to help improve the quality of a piece of writing, they are often not well-liked.
- Someone else’s bad writing style can leak over into your own work. If you’ve ever edited a longer piece or spent a lot of time editing, then you may have experienced this phenomenon. You can actually get used to seeing poor sentence construction or grammar errors if they are repeated often. (This is why editors need to take breaks and then return to the editing with a fresh eye.)
- If you spend too much time editing, you will naturally start to see errors in everything around you. It takes a certain mindset to edit. As I mentioned before, you need to look at every single word. You become used to looking for mistakes. Often, this carries over to your personal life. You start to notice mistakes in magazines, newspapers, or even on restaurant menus.
- People hold you to a higher standard in your own work. Readers can usually forgive a typo — unless they realize that you also work as an editor. Once that is discovered, all of the sudden the writer becomes fair game for criticism. “Who does he or she think they are? They edit other people’s work and look, here is a mistake in their own writing.“
Editing is hard work. While it’s often viewed as a sort of afterthought to writing, good editing actually requires a lot of time and takes a lot of discipline. Not every writer can become an editor.
What if you can’t afford an editor? While nothing can truly replace the value of having a second set of eyes looking at your work, there are some proofreading tricks that you can use that will help to improve your work.
What do you think of editors? Have you ever been an editor?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
About the Author: I am a successful freelance writer with 20 years of copy writing experience. I am available for consulting, business writing, copy writing, editing, technical writing, and web content writing. In addition, I have written an ebook, 
Russell | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
I’m an English teacher at a middle school, so I can commiserate. Scoring papers is the least favorite part of my job because of the exact reasons you listed. I have a lot of respect for editors.
Laura Spencer | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for your comment Russell!
I’m sure that grading papers (especially English papers) can be a lot like editing. You certainly have my sympathies…
Lillie Ammann | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Laura,
I almost always charge by the hour for editing work, though I will give an estimate based on a sample edit and answers to a questionnaire the author completes. Often writers have polished the first chapter of their manuscript so it looks like an easy editing job … then by chapter 3 or 4 everything starts to fall apart. The total cost for me to edit a book varies greatly, depending on the writer’s ability and carefulness.
As for the typos in my own work, I always repeat what an editor friend of mine says: I can catch everyone’s mistakes but my own.
Laura Spencer | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Lillie,
What you say makes a lot of sense. For writing jobs I typically charge by the job. However, for editing an hourly charge is probably more practical.
Do clients ever question your total if it exceeds their expectations?
Thanks for sharing your experience in this area.
sefcug | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
I edit two computer user group newsletters and enjoyed reading this post.
These are strictly volunteer editing jobs, but almost all you have written about applies.
I enjoy doing this, because I get to see all of the interesting information that does not make it into the newsletters.
Matt Keegan | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Editors are there to help writers improve. At least that is what I must remind myself of when something is returned to me to fix.
We writers must have strong confidence in our own abilities while recognizing that editors are tasked with making sure that what we wrote makes sense, follows a logical outline, and completes other requirements.
I only self-edit, not desiring to wear an editor’s hat if I can help. I admire people who can do both, but I much prefer not having to cull through people’s work looking for mistakes and more.
Laura Spencer | Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Good points about editing!
Matt, I especially agree that organization and self-checking are important. Even if you know that an editor will be looking over your work, it’s important to put your best effort forward.
M. | Dec 11, 2009 | Reply
You’re so right about the need of a good editor. Especially when you are working for a new client and that tiny, simple mistake you glanced over a hundred times–and missed–causes your client to say “Um…there’s typo here…”
Ugh.
Get an editor, make sure they are good, and pay them well. You’ll never regret it.
Brandi | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
Hi Laura!
I’m new to your site but have been following you on Twitter. Thank you for writing this post. It really gave me a new perspective on what it’s like on the other side, for the editor. I’ve never had a problem (*knock on wood) so far with editors editing my work. Though it’s always a little scary to see what will be changed, I am always appreciative of someone having to go and reread my work. What I have more trouble with is an editor completely changing the focus of the story without telling me and then not paying me in full because of it.
Lori | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
Yes, yes, YES! Laura, I wish I could frame this and send it as gifts to every editing client I’ve ever had. Editors terrify writers because we/they change words. Writers often think that means tearing apart the soul, but I like to look at it as enhancing the soul message.
I think all writers should at some point in their careers attempt to edit something not their own. Only then can they appreciate the work involved. I had that experience when a writer friend helped me edit. The labor he put into it was an eye-opener for him.
Laura Spencer | Dec 22, 2009 | Reply
Thanks to M., Brandi, and Lori for the comments.
Brandi, I totally understand what you’re saying. That bothers me too — particularly if a piece has my byline. However, what it comes down to for me (speaking as a writer) is that I am being paid. In most cases that gives the client the right to change the piece to reflect what they want. In the case of a bylined piece, you could try discussing the issue with the editor. If it happens all the time and it bothers you, you may have to write somewhere else.
Lori — I wonder what the client would think when they got a framed copy of this blog post? I fully agree with your point about enhancing the message. That is always my intent when I pick up my editing pen.
When I first published this post I actually expected a few comments from editors. Surprisingly, that didn’t really happen. Maybe there aren’t as many editors out there as I thought, or maybe they are just busy editing.
Jocelyn Lee | Dec 28, 2009 | Reply
Yes editing is one of a great and important part of writing.If you write a blog and you have posted it without reviewing then this can be bad idea.Editing is necessary which makes your blog quit good.
sernan | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
Happy New Year Laura!
Eru | Jan 10, 2010 | Reply
Lovely post. Enjoyed reading it.
I completely agree with you on each and every point out there. I’m primarily a writer, though I’ve done a few editing assignments as well. It has hardly been 3 years that I’ve started with my career in writing but I do pay attention to detail. Proceeding to the post of proofreading tricks by you. That is how I learn. Thanks
Nancy | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Great blog, love your articles. I tried to subscribe to the latest updates by email, but after I entered my email address, it said that the feature was not enabled. Any chance you might enable it?
Nancy | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
I have been a freelance editor for several years, and I can testify that your comments are true,true,true.
My experience has been that many fledgling writers submit pieces to editors expecting they’ll be returned (quickly) with lavish praise and very few corrections. That’s why I always offer a free five-page edit; they can see my editing style and decide if it’s right for them before making a commitment to work with me. It also helps me determine a cost estimate, once I see what will be involved. I choose the 5 pages myself, so I can hopefully avoid the “pre-polished”ones and get a better time and cost estimate for that job.
One more point I’d like to add: please respect your editor’s time.
I had a client who presented me with a 700 page novel, and every time I returned edited chapters to him, he continued to add to the story or make more changes. The problem was that he expected me to re-edit his changes as part of the initial cost estimate- even though he was doubling my workload. I’ve also had clients email me in the middle of the night, and be upset that I didn’t get back to them immediately.
I’m always happy to try to accommodate my clients and I can appreciate their excitement and possible anxiety about their work, but I’m not a machine. I have a family and a life too, and I try to gently remind them that I can be better dedicated to their writing piece when I’m fresh and rested.
Laura Spencer | Jan 14, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Nancy!
I’m glad to have you as a reader.
I’ll look into the subscription problem. In the meantime, glad to hear from another editor.
Moviem@tica | May 15, 2010 | Reply
Hi!
I work as an editor (and sometimes as a writer and content creator) since 2001.
Reasons #1, #2, #4, #5 and #7 are my favorite! But all of 8 are absolutely true!
Great article.
Laura Spencer | May 23, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Moviem@tica!
Best wishes on your editing career.
Stacy | May 25, 2010 | Reply
I went back to college late in life, and decided early on in my “late-in-life” college career that if I planned to commit to such craziness, I’d better be passionate about the subject. Quite naturally, I opted for the remarkably impractical BA, English/English Lit. degree, with a formidable double-side of philosophy (full emersion in Ethics). I love the language. I love to write. I would love to be an editor, and I see that I’m on the correct backward track on #7. I proofread and edit everything, and I mean everything, quite unconsciously. I proofread/edit not only what I read, but also what I hear. I’m in a constant kvetch about the downfall of the English language at the hands of those who should be first to protect it, considering the “exposure factor” — television, radio, and other “journalists.” I have yet to read a web site content that isn’t, if not fraught with errors, at least marginally littered with them. Bad writing is everywhere. So………….where do I sign up to edit? I know, without fear of contradiction that enabling my own mania will likely keep me out of a rubber room in Outer Slobovia. For all I know, I’m already there.
Laura Spencer | May 25, 2010 | Reply
Hi Stacy,
First of all, congratulations on continuing your education. I do want to say that I think an English degree may not be as impractical as you think. If you can write well there are many opportunities (not just writing) that you can explore.
Are you ask for advice on finding editing jobs? There are many sites that list jobs for writers and some of those include editing jobs. Also, you should look into joining one of the many professional societies for editors.
Good luck!