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I am an editor at the University of California Press and author of the first full-length handbook ever published on the subject of developmental editing.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Those Who Can't Write, Edit

For many of us, editing is a vocation in its own right, not a fallback career. The assertion “Those who can’t write, edit” is as false as “Those who can’t do, teach.” Like teachers, we editors have a special calling to bring out the best in others, to facilitate their growth and productivity. We master a complex set of skills over many years, adhere to a well-defined set of ethical standards, and provide services crucial to the success of our industry.

2 comments:

  1. Well put. Anyone who says "Those who can't write, edit" can't be much good at either one. The best writers always appreciate a good edit, and the best editors understand good writing. Frustrated writers don't make good editors, either.

    BT

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  2. Those who can, write; those who can't, edit - that seems to be the line. I prefer TS Eliot. Asked if editors were no more than failed writers, he replied: "Perhaps - but so are most writers." (Blake Morrison)

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