This is an absolute. Work that has not been edited is definitely not done. Even the writers are shocked when we get through the editing process. I make sure that we enhance the writer's unique voice..... in the process, and most writers are terrified that we will alter it in some way. No way. Great read. Thanks,
Thank you so much! I completely agree - editing isn’t about changing a writer’s voice but refining it so it shines even more. It’s amazing how the process can reveal depths we didn’t see in the first draft. What’s one of the most surprising transformations you’ve witnessed in editing?
There are several transformations, but one that we just finished at the first of the year was about a 70-year-old guy who suffered from a debilitating eating disorder for over 40 years which narrowed his life down to barely surviving. While we went deeper into his story and he was able to show vulnerability, his story not only became more real, but his realization that this disease that dictated his "smallness" of life for over 40 years, was not really him. We are now just finishing the design on his website, showing the 'real' guy. He has redefined "living life large", leaving this morning for a little over two weeks traveling through Asia, one of his many trips, just exploring all the things he has felt he missed out on and catching it all in his photography. What a transformation. I love my work.
Oh, wow, Susan, this is such a lovely story. Thank you for sharing it with me. I can completely understand why you love your work. It's so great that you were able to help him go deeper into his story, enabling him to show vulnerability. It sounds like he not only wrote a more real story, but also the editing process helped him transform as a person too. Yay to you.
He’s on a swing thru Asia at the moment and it won’t be live until he comes home. I’m happy to send you the link as soon as we get it up. It will be right around the first. When you see his site you will see how he has defined living large. Now his book has been picked by a book club. Yay.
This is an absolute. Work that has not been edited is definitely not done. Even the writers are shocked when we get through the editing process. I make sure that we enhance the writer's unique voice..... in the process, and most writers are terrified that we will alter it in some way. No way. Great read. Thanks,
Thank you so much! I completely agree - editing isn’t about changing a writer’s voice but refining it so it shines even more. It’s amazing how the process can reveal depths we didn’t see in the first draft. What’s one of the most surprising transformations you’ve witnessed in editing?
There are several transformations, but one that we just finished at the first of the year was about a 70-year-old guy who suffered from a debilitating eating disorder for over 40 years which narrowed his life down to barely surviving. While we went deeper into his story and he was able to show vulnerability, his story not only became more real, but his realization that this disease that dictated his "smallness" of life for over 40 years, was not really him. We are now just finishing the design on his website, showing the 'real' guy. He has redefined "living life large", leaving this morning for a little over two weeks traveling through Asia, one of his many trips, just exploring all the things he has felt he missed out on and catching it all in his photography. What a transformation. I love my work.
Oh, wow, Susan, this is such a lovely story. Thank you for sharing it with me. I can completely understand why you love your work. It's so great that you were able to help him go deeper into his story, enabling him to show vulnerability. It sounds like he not only wrote a more real story, but also the editing process helped him transform as a person too. Yay to you.
And yay to him for being willing to take that step and being willing to explore. It warms my heart.
Yay!
Wow, would love to get his website if that’s possible?
He’s on a swing thru Asia at the moment and it won’t be live until he comes home. I’m happy to send you the link as soon as we get it up. It will be right around the first. When you see his site you will see how he has defined living large. Now his book has been picked by a book club. Yay.
So wonderful! Thank you, Susan, for your reply.