Becomes an Editor's Best Friend
By: Diona L. Reeves
Tags: Writing, Editing, Writing Tips, Editing And Proofreading, Freelancing

Saying too little

Believe it or not, some writers are not very wordy. In fact, when given a general word count, they view it as a hard stopping point, even when more explanation is needed to convey the message. Writers that scrimp on their content make it hard for editors because the limited text does not give them much to work with. These writers may not realize it, but work that is too short gives the impression that they rushed to complete the assignment or, worse, did not care enough about the work to put in the required effort.

Suggestion: Strive to find a good balance between fluff and directness. Don’t add extra words to pad your word count but do elaborate where it makes sense to do so. I always preferred having too much content to having too little because it gave me the option to adjust the text as needed. Most publications provide style guides to indicate their tone and other requirements, and companies offer guidance on their marketing and branding. Become familiar with these guidelines and review other, published work to get a better feel for what’s expected of you. (Do this early in the assignment so your writing reflects the required style. Trying to adapt your content later to make it work could result in excessive revisions and missed deadlines.)

Saying too much

The flip side to a writer who does not write a lot is a writer who is so verbose you can’t pinpoint what they’re trying to say. Yes, I always preferred having too much content to having too little, but rambling never benefits anyone. Some editors will give you feedback because they understand it’s hard to be objective when you’ve been staring at the same text for hours or even days. But you should never submit random thoughts or a laundry list of content, expecting your editor to “clean it up” for you. That’s your responsibility as the writer.

Suggestion: Keep the role of the editor in mind as you write and revise your work. It’s the editor’s job to offer suggestions for improvement and to ensure that your content matches the assignment or meets a publication’s needs. It is never the editor’s job to redo your work for you.

Writing with too much emotion

I am all for writers being true to themselves and writing with passion. After all, most people write because they enjoy it and/or because they have something to say. But you have to know when it’s appropriate to share your emotions — in an opinion piece, perhaps, or on your personal blog—and when you need to reign them in. Avoid stream of consciousness in your professional writing and make your text as tight as possible, especially for business documents and online use.

Suggestion: Step away from your work before submitting it. Some people recommend 24 hours, but this may not be possible if you have a tight deadline. Any amount of time that lets you separate from the work and come back to it with a fresh perspective is beneficial. Clearing your mind, even if only for a short while, helps you to see what’s wrong and is a better approach than bulldozing your way through an assignment. I also recommend reading your text out loud, particularly if you are stuck on a certain phrase or section. How does it sound? Do the paragraphs flow? Or is your writing choppy, too wordy or confusing? I find that I usually don’t get far into this step before I start making revisions.

Expecting more money

If you are a top-notch writer and have published pieces to back up your abilities — or if you’ve been working with an editor for a long time — you should certainly pursue your market value. You may also choose to avoid projects that do not meet your desired pay rate. The worst thing you can do is demand more money once the project is underway, especially if you are working with an editor for the first time. Even if you secure the extra pay, that editor will likely remember your demands and think twice before hiring you again. (The only thing worse than demanding more pay is a writer that does not back it up with high-quality work!)

Suggestion: Be confident in your abilities but not entitled. Many editors have limited budgets, so it’s to your benefit to be adaptable when you can. If a project is straightforward and could lead to more work, consider accepting less pay so you can build a relationship with the editor. (See Knowing When to Walk Away for suggestions on how to gauge whether an assignment is worth pursuing.)

Getting back to your editor when it’s convenient

Not answering an editor’s e-mails or phone calls, not providing status updates… These are the writers that editors deem unreliable and will likely avoid giving future assignments. Missing a deadline also falls into this category. Remember, many publications operate on strict schedules, so editors are counting on you to deliver as promised (and, often, have a signed contract that they expect you to honor).

Suggestion: Know the required timeframe and operate within these parameters. If you need an extension, reach out to your editor as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day before the deadline — or, even worse, the day of — to notify your editor of a problem. Set an internal deadline a day or two before the actual date. This gives you extra time in the event you need it, and it will impress your editor if you turn in your assignment early. As long as the quality of work is there, beating your deadline conveys a sense of responsibility, and what editor wouldn’t appreciate that?

Submitting work before it’s ready

It’s a given that editors do not favor writers whose work is messy and riddled with typos or grammatical errors. Likewise, writers who ignore a project’s instructions limit their opportunities for future work. Yes, you reach a point with any creative work in which you must deem it good enough to move on. However, if you are still correcting large portions of text, if your conclusions do not make sense or sections of your writing seem misplaced… Well, these are all signs that you need to spend more time on the assignment before submitting it.

Suggestion: Read and re-read your work. Don’t just look for the obvious typos. Also keep an eye out for grammatical errors, missing logic and an overall sense of flow. Although some editors are particular about how final your work should be when submitted, it always benefits you to produce professional and high-quality writing. (Consider using free sites such as Yoast and Grammarly to assess common writing pitfalls and Hemingway Editor to gauge reading level before submitting any content.)

Putting the responsibility on the editor

From sloppy writing to work that has nothing to do with the assignment’s objectives, writers who submit this type of work should not expect to receive more assignments. Why? Because this approach leaves editors scrambling for other options if your content does not meet their needs. They have to chase you down for rewrites, hire someone else to fix it (further dipping into their budget) or take on the work themselves to ensure it is on-time and within budget. None of these options bodes well for a freelancer trying to secure more work.

Suggestion: If you are unsure what your editor wants or what the assignment requires, ask. Do not wait until the deadline to reach out or submit something without that clarity. Most of all, if asked to revise the work based on your own misunderstanding of the assignment, do it with professionalism and without making any demands. Sloppy work accompanied by the request for more pay to fix it all but ensures that the editor will not hire you again.

Moving on when the work is complete

You have every right to move on after you finish the work you were obligated to do. But think about how valuable you will be to an editor if you remain engaged after-the-fact! This not only shows your dedication, it’s an extra touch that means a lot, kind of like sending a thank-you note after you receive a gift.

Suggestion: Reach out about a week after delivery to see if the editor and/or project manager needs anything else from you. It’s a respectful way to keep in touch and it will keep your name at the forefront, should other opportunities arise.