What Editors See that Writers Often Miss by Viv Benton

When writers spend months or even years on their own work, it is easy to lose objectivity. Whilst you are busy crafting the perfect sentence, an editor is looking at the scene, the structure, and the reader's experience. Editors are trained to spot manuscript malfunctions that are invisible to the writer. Writers often summarize emotions or plot points to move the story along. Editors spot these told sections like lines: she was terrified. What editors might see: A missed opportunity to let the reader feel the emotion through action, dialogue, and sensory details. Writers may write pages of dialogue to explain the plot. Editors look for dialogue that drives the story, builds tension, and reveals character. The editors frequently catch where characters tell each other things they already know just for the reader’s benefit. Editors see this as artificial and inefficient. 

When writing in a flow state, it is common to rely on a specific set of favored words or phrases. Writers would become blind to these repetitions. What editors might see: Words that appear too often in close proximity, which disrupt the rhythm of the prose. It is easy to shift from past tense to present tense, or from tone to an informal one, when focusing on the plot. What editors see: A disjointed narrative that makes the story feel “amateurish”. They look for consistency in voice, character behavior, and tense throughout. 

Ultimately, editors focus on the big three things that writers often miss: clarity, consistency, and correctness. Each one means clarity, so the scene is easy to understand. Consistency: Does the story align with itself? Correctness, grammar, and mechanics are polished. To make your editor's job easier, try to leave a substantial gap between finishing your draft and beginning your own revisions to gain a fresher, more critical perspective.