What to Do When You Finish Scribbling or: “What’s an Editor For?”

May 3rd, 2009 admin

Let’s take a look at both sides of the war that is prose. In one corner we have the Beleaguered Writer who has poured sweat, blood, and other agonies of creation onto the page and has thus wrought out of the raw material of life something Great (we hope). In the other corner we have the Bespectacled Editor whose wisdom and experience (and pride) knows no bounds, the very smallest movements of whose red pen cause trembling on the part of the opponent. But no, it isn’t all that bad! It’s collaboration, after all. We all want the best for this piece of writing, and surely we two rational people can come to an agreeable understanding in the name of that cause. And we do. Usually. When we don’t, it’s often because either

(a) the editor is a shameless tinkerer without regard for the authorial Voice or

(b) the writer is hapless.

“Hapless” is a word not used often enough these days, and so I use it here in honor of those writers whose work needs more than the usual trimming down and sprucing up, whose prose needs not a light dusting but a rather heavy buffing, preferably with industrial equipment that moves easily on wheels.

Terribly Important Advice to Writers and Editors
In the case of (a), the writer must gird himself with the warrior’s courage that allowed him to write the work in question in the first place, and defend it against editorial violation. One must be fierce. Polite, but fierce. It may help to remember that this poor editor is probably a writer as well (or was once, back when giant lizards roamed the earth, and now, instead of answering the longing to return to her own work, has begun fiddling with yours until–alas–she is Making Stuff Up rather than Editing. Be firm, but kind. Conversely, if you are the editor, and a writer suddenly rises up in your path with bear-like ferocity, do not make any sudden moves. Holster
your red pen and slowly back away from the manuscript.

In the case of (b) the writer has two choices: to find a wonderful ghostwriter and be exceedingly nice to her, or humbly accept the obvious. Unfortunately, the obvious is not readily evident to everyone. If you are the editor working with a hapless writer, it is best to be patient and kind. The writer may discover that writing is not his strong suit, oralas again–attempt to blame your ineptitude for his syntactical errors. There is no cure for this malady but humility, and not everyone enjoys the good fortune of wisdom and humility in great abundance. And so, as my favorite aunt always said, we must be charitable.

Imagine This, Writers!
Your writing has returned covered with commentary and besieged with suggestions. Do you weep? Wring your hands and feet? Or calmly walk into the sea? No, none of the above! You examine the evidence, and consider the source. Be circumspect as only the author of Your Original Work can be. Ask one question only, and then give yourself at least a week to answer it: “Will this change better serve the reader?” Yep. That’s what it’s all about (that and the Hokey Pokey).

Ceci Miller is the author of Sacred Visitations: Gifts of Grace that Transform the Heart and Awaken the Soul, endorsed by Chicken Soup Author Marci Shimoff, Mars/Venus author John Gray, and bestselling author John Bradshaw. The book’s touching, often magical, stories guide readers beyond mere memoir into the profoundly personal world of their own sacred experiences. Ceci’s workshops teach the 5 Steps of Sacred Awareness. A student of meditation since 1976, Ceci’s heartfelt stories of spiritual experience and contemplation–shared in articles, books, and public talks–have inspired meditators and seekers throughout the world. She is the author of two children’s books and has co-authored and edited numerous books for adults. To hear Ceci read an excerpt from Sacred Visitations, or to hear her interviews with people about their spiritual experiences on the Sacred Visitations Podcast, go to http://www.sacredvisitations.com/

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