- Scott Norton
- 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.
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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.
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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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