Shop talk time: 

I’m building an open-source wiki for professional editorial teams in web3 publishing contexts — a “pattern language” for text-based media. 

This includes open-sourcing parts of my process as a senior-level editor.

What questions do you have about editors and editing?

Word-Slinger-in-Chief /slowcore-hq | Senior Editor | GenX eldergoth | dark ambient music nerd | contemplative animist /blxstonesnctuary

I’ve written a lot but never worked with an editor. How would you describe the writer/editor relationship?

a jiraffe on the internet • nf.td/morereese

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. It seems like a good match is like a writing team where the total is greater than the sum of its parts.

In general, is this writer/editor relationship typically of the same nature despite the nature of the written content (eg novel vs news, ad copy vs investigative journalism)?

Great question. A few signs of a good match: 

- clarity on both sides that the editor's main job is to make sure the work conveys what the writer intends, while meeting publisher specs
- constructive communication
- behavior that builds trust
- responsible business practices
- shared love of the craft of writing