Expert Gardeners – Expert Editors

Elaine Marie Cooper

It was early summer and the New England Asters were lush with leaves. But a knowledgeable gardener gave instructions concerning the long, gangly stems.

“They need to be trimmed way back to about six inches or so.”

Six inches??

“Yes, don’t worry, it will grow back and it will look even better.”

I still doubted but I trusted the gardener’s experience. So I began to clip, even though I cringed. I felt like I was ruining the plant by removing all those pretty leaves.

How will it ever be beautiful again?

And yet within weeks the stems filled out, growing upward and outward. By the time fall was near, the blooms were everywhere. The plant was more beautiful than when it started.

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Often we writers fear the trimming process. We think by editing what seems to be the perfect story, book, or article, we are losing the beauty that we see. It might even seem like we are ruining what we thought was important.

But editors—the expert gardeners—see the big picture. They know what will turn our writing into something wonderful—a thing of flowering beauty. Editors are trained to read a manuscript with readers in mind. We are often too close to our own work to realize that by making a few changes, we can help the reader better understand our story. And we definitely want our readers to be happy.

Sometimes suggested edits can be discussed between writer and editor. Often there is a reason to leave well enough alone. But overall, I agree with most edits suggested by the experts when I am going through the trimming process.

It can feel uncomfortable at the time. But the finished work will usually show the proof of the editor’s expertise.

It can be a thing of beauty, just like the asters in fall.