Editing

It's interesting. Suddenly I've been asked to edit several things but the all of them were from people I knew where trying to be/are already authors. Today I got an email out of the blue from a friend who in all the years I've known her had never really mentioned a desire to be a writer.

What could I say but yes of course I'll look at it. Then there's the thought that always occurs when you're editing anything for a friend: can they really take it? Can i even honestly give it to them if they need it.

Some times the answer to this is yes I can. Other times I feel helpless when it comes to editing. I have no idea why I've been in writers groups for twenty years. You'd think critiquing would come naturally to me.

There is a learning curve of course which each new writer handing me something to be critiqued. No matter what they say you never really know how thick their skin is. You know how thick it should be but that means little.

The only thing I know I can do is to avoid cutting down their egos on purpose. Even if something isn't very good, I try to couch it in soft tones. I do not always succeed but Ive been on the end of scathing criticism. I find it does nothing but cause people to want to give up. Occasionally something might come across stronger than intended but there's a difference between that and being outrightly mean. I have no time for mean.