Five Must-Have Qualities for
An Editor

chillibreeze writer — Doug Prideaux

Editors need to view a piece of literature non-judgmentally. An editor should be able to spot “interest” in an article even if it is not of interest to him. A good editor must be unbiased for the sake of best serving the house of his publication. Editors help writers to bring out their best talent. They provide constructive criticism, but do so in a creative manner. It is not good for an editor to condemn; he should instead guide writers toward a good way to express what they’re trying to say. An editor must possess the ability of maximizing reader satisfaction, ensuring that the article is coherent, purposeful, and grammatically correct.

An editor must be astute about the focal point of an article. Writers tend to lose focus, and can be all over the place. A good editor keeps the spotlight on what the article’s about. He lends feedback to the writer to make adjustments so that the reader is not confused after reading it.

A good editor encourages a kind of format for the writer that is not overly wordy. Sometimes a writer will use too many words to say a very simple thing, or will say the same thing in too many different ways. An editor should discourage unnecessary redundancy because it can result in the reader losing interest. To grab and keep the attention of a reader requires intriguing content. So editors should possess the talent to initiate enthusiasm in their writers.

An editor should have the ability to grasp something they may have never given a moment’s thought to. Articles composed of new ideas will undoubtedly come to the desk of an editor, so they should be receptive and smart people. An editor needs the ability to be open to such kinds of work, and edit them with the utmost professionalism.

The editing of an article has to be done cautiously, and sensibly. An editor cannot be clumsy. He has to be absolutely certain that whatever he is doing, he is improving the work. The purpose of an editor is not to re-write the article; the editor gives advice to the writer so that he will do this. The editor has a solid understanding of what’s a good fit for the publication, as well as what isn’t; he knows the ebb and flow. So it is with this understanding that he makes prudent suggestions to the writer. Editors should possess confidence and a sense of conviction that will influence and have some kind of impact on the writer. They should have expertise, character, creativity and the ability to utilize them effectively. Life experience is obviously a plus.

An editorial is commonly referred to as the heart and soul of a publication, written in a narrative and descriptive style. The main objectives are to inform, influence, entertain and or educate if possible. So my thinking is that an editor should probably be a learned person. An editor and a writer both need to possess a working knowledge of the public for whom they are writing; meaning how their readers live, think, and act.

An editor should monitor that a story/article has an embracing beginning to draw the reader in, and a logical conclusion that leaves the reader with a feeling of satisfaction. This does not mean that the reader will necessarily be happy or agree with what he or she has just read, but they will understand what they’ve read.

Naturally, editors need to have organizational and multi-tasking skills. They need the ability to focus on several things at once without becoming flustered. High efficiency is imperative as an editor. Editing is a very important occupation because publishers and writers are dependent on getting the work out expediently and in good condition.

 

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2012. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

 

More on Chillibreeze.com

Related links

Five Must-Have Qualities for an Editor
Editing Successfully When the Author is a Subject Expert
Five Must-Have Qualities for an Editor
Five Must Have Qualities of an Editor
Five Must-Haves for an Editor

 

 

Other popular articles on Chillibreeze

Communication in Games and Games in Communication
Kotilingeshwara, Bangara Tirupathi
Ten Hurdles Faced by the HR in India
Responsible Tourism - Practical Tips
Top 10 Best Solutions for Improving Corporate Communications

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

---

—About our writer: Doug writes for Chillibreeze.

 

 

 

>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:

1. Articles related to Content and Outsourcing
2. NRI and Expat Articles
3. Potpourri
4. Travel Writing
5. Book Reviews and Interviews

More resources for Writers on Chillibreeze.com Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include: Assessment of your writing, editing and proofreading skills Writing courses Expert Feedback on your article An opportunity to promote yourself on our website Top websites for Indian writers Tips and resources for Indian freelancers Book Publishing services And more……………….. Explore our writers’ section using the links on our left-hand side menu.