Week 15 - Working with Writers

From this chapter I learned about the importance of coaching. Coaching can assure that an editor will spend less time editing in the future. This occurs because coaching instructs a writer to trust in their ability to write, listening to the writer, and asking the writer questions. This helps the writer feel more confident and trust your advice. Coaching also helps the writer to learn important principles of writing that will save the editor time in the future.

               

I always feel bad giving a writer their paper back with hundreds of red marks all over it. I had one friend respond, “Oh, that’s depressing!” I did not want to repeat that same mistake with this editing opportunity. So, when I talked to my roommate this time I was sure to discuss with her all of the parts of her paper that were really good. We discussed the strengths of her paper and it was beneficial. After looking at the positive parts of her paper the edits didn’t seem as burdensome.

Overall, I think that learning to work with writers and to coach are extremely important. It really determines if an editor will be successful in their career as an editor. 

The editing mistake I found this week was on a sign posted at T.O. Smith Elementary for the YMCA after school program. The sign invited the parents to call a certain number when they arrived to pick up their child. However instead of reading, "Please call the number below to let us know when you have arrived." It read, "Please call the number below to let us now when you have arrived."