Thoughts from Elizabeth Austin.
“A good editor gives feedback that feels less like judgment and more like a conversation—less ‘here’s what’s wrong’ and more ‘here’s where we can dig deeper.’
There is something incredibly satisfying, almost magical, in those small, right-aligned edits that a good editor suggests. A word change here, a rephrase there, and suddenly the piece feels tighter, braver. One editor suggested I cut an entire paragraph detailing a painful memory I thought was essential to the piece. ‘The story feels stronger without this part,’ she said, and once I’d made the cut, I realized the rest of the piece came into sharper focus, allowing the heart of the essay to shine through.”
About a difficult piece she wrote:
“Going into these pieces alone would have felt impossible. I needed someone at the mouth of that cave, someone who could shine a light and pull me back if things got too dark. A good editor does exactly that. I couldn’t have written my most important pieces without knowing that support was there, without that trust.”
Elizabeth Austin’s writing has appeared in HuffPost, Today.com, Thrillist, The Sun, Reactor Mag, and others. She holds an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her two children and their many pets.
Note from Marlene:
How to find a good editor? Email your ideas to me: mcullen – at – sonic.net
Just Write!
