And you probably have an idea of what they do. But it's not easy to be aware of what you can't see . Of course, writers are behind the scenes too, so you have no way of knowing what they wrote before the editors and directors made modifications. We writers work hard to make every thought or word too valuable to eliminate. But let's be realistic.
Editors have to make sure that the writers' work fits their publications.
This means guidelines for style, for accuracy, for acceptable grammar and syntax. The best editors take time to confer with writers about what needs reworking or clarification. The best will correct or eliminate serious errors, making both the publication and the writer look good. But when it comes to pressing deadlines, the biggest issue is to make sure that the content fits the allotted space. Executive editors decide how much space to give to specific subjects like sports or the arts.