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I’m an Editor — I Found a Killer Writing Mistake
It’s the perfect example of how to make me laugh
I am an editor for a publication on Medium. People of all writing abilities submit their stories. Some submissions make me wince. It is my job to inform the writer that there is more work to do, yet I often spend more time working on an article than the writer.
Other articles are distinguished by their sprightly prose and the author’s ability to convey ideas with clarity and flair. These are a delight to read and publish. They use the best words in the correct order, and their writing flows like a belly-warming Speyside malt. Each word is as unnoticeable as a particle of drizzle on its own, but together, they leave you as sodden and salty as if you had jumped into the sea.
I learn from both.
The newbies help me identify what doesn’t work, and the superb writers enlighten me with their wonderful words.
Although writers can be worlds apart in experience or talent, something connects them all. Whether novices or those with years of experience, we all make mistakes. Talent, seasoning, and steady effort will reduce those mistakes, but we are human, ergo we are fallible.
When I edit, if I see an error we can learn from, I take note. Eventually, it surfaces as…
