"The Relationship between Editors and Authors: A Lit Review"

About the Author

Kelly Shackelford was home educated. She graduated with highest honors from Cedarville University, Cedarville Ohio, in 2010 with a degree in Technical Writing and Editing. While tutoring in the campus writing center, she became interested in the relationship between editors and authors and how they resolve power struggles. She now works for the Air Force and hopes to improve communication between the government and contractors.

Contents

Introduction

Literature Review

Editorial Techniques

Editorial Techniques (continued)

The Responsibility of Editors

Scenarios

 The Benefits of Editors Taking Responsibility

Conclusion

Works Cited

Conclusion

In this article, I have discussed two of the issues underlying conflict between editors and authors and five strategies editors have devised for developing and maintaining harmony in their relationship with authors. I have argued that conflict arises from differing ideas on the role of editors and the different levels of power editors and authors hold over the writing. I also have described the five strategies editors use in dealing with authors, which involve developing relationships with authors, collaborating with authors, developing a supportive environment for authors, maintaining authorial control of the writing, and establishing credibility by using authoritative sources to defend their mark-ups.

Overall, I found that editors are responsible for developing and maintaining good relationships with authors. Because writing is such a personal process, editors have tacit power over authors and their egos. This influence makes editors a potential threat, and they should make an effort to change this view and share power with authors for the benefit of the writing, as well as for the benefit of authors and themselves. While conflict between editors and authors will never be fully eliminated, it can be mitigated and turned into collaboration that will benefit everyone involved.

While it is possible that other techniques exist which editors can use to improve their relationship with authors, I suggest that all editors should use the five specific and established ideas research has provided:

Develop a working relationship with authors

Collaborate with authors

Develop a supportive environment for authors

Maintain authorial control of the writing

Establish credibility by citing authoritative sources

Editors who use these techniques will ease conflict with authors and perhaps even have the chance to change the stereotype of editor/author disagreements. The goal of the editing process is to produce effective writing, and editors have the best chance of attaining this goal if they take responsibility for the editor/author relationship and use these five techniques to establish good relationships with authors.