Queries and Commentary

The primary role of an editor is to be an intermediary between multiple groups as was covered in module two. As such, there will be times that the editor will have to reach out to an author to clarify something so that the editor can provide more relevant feedback and in-depth commentary that could improve the piece submitted for editing. The goal of the editor is to help the author make the piece better for the intended audience within the scope of the requested edit. Author queries and editorial comments can help strengthen the author-editor relationship which could influence the author to adopt recommendations.

Uncommanding

The language that an editor uses has a direct effect on the relationship between the author and the editor. Frankly, no one really likes being told what to do, especially once we reach the age of majority and are finally considered adults. I question the adulthood of those between the age of eighteen and twenty-five sometimes, but the fact remains that we don’t like being told what to do. As an editor it is wise to pay attention to the forcefulness of the language that your use. Instead of commanding the author to change something, making it a suggestion for the author to consider will likely have a larger impact on whether pr not they adopt your changes and incorporate them into the piece of writing.

Career Outlook

Though I may not take on an editing role just yet, the skills that this course is covering are highly beneficial to the run-of-the-mill technical writer too. Having the knowledge of what goes into editing will help me to be a better technical writer because I can be mindful of what an editor would look for as I write.

The thing that surprised me the most is just how difficult it is to edit something and then provide quality feedback to the author. There is definitely a lot more thought and care that goes into the craft of editing so that the author can reach the intended audience more effectively. The biggest hiccup I still have to get over is the muscle memory that tells me that editing is about punctuation and grammar and mechanics and not about the content or the organization or even the word choice, tone, and style. I think that once I fully grasp the art of editing, the process will be much easier albeit still time consuming. I really enjoy this course because I am actually learning something new. Yes, it is a challenge and I do struggle a little bit with the work but (1) this is graduate level coursework; it’s supposed to be challenging and provide a slight struggle and (2) if it weren’t challenging, I would get bored and not learn anything.

Looking Forward

Looking forward as I matriculate through the M.A. program in technical communication, there are some things that I need to work on. The biggest thing is not taking on too much at one time. By using time management effectively and planning out the work in stages as some of the assignments were intended to be, this one included, the workload is much more manageable. My bottom line is that I need to manage my workload instead of letting my workload manage me. Time management and planning are skills that employers look for in a candidate and given the level of detail that goes into technical communication, it makes sense for time management to be a crucial skill in the workforce.