I believe that editing isn’t just a technical skill; It’s a way of thinking, listening, and honoring the relationship between writer, reader, and story. Here are my thoughts:

Interpretation vs. Interruption

Every manuscript has a voice. My job is to hear it clearly—not to speak over it. That means resisting the urge to “fix” what’s unfamiliar, and instead asking:

• What is this sentence trying to do?
• What emotion is this scene trying to evoke?
• What rhythm is this writer leaning into?

Editing isn’t about imposing my style. It’s about helping the writer’s style land with clarity and purpose.

Emotion vs. Precision

Behind every sentence is a choice. Behind every choice is a writer. And behind every writer is a tangle of doubt, hope, and effort. I believe editing should be approached with empathy—not just for the words, but for the person who wrote them.

That means:

• Flagging gently.
• Explaining clearly.
• And remembering that critique is not correction. It’s collaboration.

Editing is about knowing when to break the rules and when to fight for them.

Meaning vs. Mechanics

Yes, I care about grammar. I care about consistency, parallel structure, and the Oxford comma. But I care more about meaning. Does the sentence say what the writer meant to say? Does the story move the reader in the way it was meant to?

Sometimes the “wrong” sentence is the truest one. And sometimes, the cleanest text is the least alive.

Editing is about finding the balance between precision and rhythm.

Conversation vs. Verdict

I don’t believe in edits that arrive like verdicts. I believe in edits that ask questions, offer options, and invite dialogue. Because the best edits don’t just improve the manuscript, they deepen the writer’s understanding of their own work.

Editing is about alignment.

Final Thought

Editing is not a performance, it’s a practice. It’s not about showing what I know, it’s about helping the writer articulate what they know. And if I’ve done my job well, the final draft won’t sound like me; It’ll sound more fully and more clearly like the writer.