Discover the techniques and tools for building a successful editor-writer relationship.

Becoming an effective editor involves not only working proficiently with words but also learning to forge successful working relationships with the people responsible for those words. Yet this critical element of the profession is often treated as an afterthought. In this book, long-time editors Christine Steele and Lourdes Venard offer strategies for approaching the editor-writer relationship in a spirit of collaboration and trust.

The Collaborative Editor moves beyond the red pen to explore editing as a creative partnership. It teaches editors how to communicate clearly and confidently, how to listen deeply to the writer, and how to thoughtfully ask questions. By prioritizing empathy and communication, editors can build trust with writers and strip away the adversarial tension that can, at times, characterize the feedback process. With advice based on their own years of experience and drawing from interviews with a wide range of editorial professionals, Steele and Venard begin by establishing what an ideal editor-writer relationship looks like in different settings, whether freelance developmental editing for a publishing house, copyediting in a corporate setting, or other scenarios in journalism, academic publishing, and other fields. They also discuss the elements of effective feedback and how to honor cultural and contextual sensitivity in a writer’s work. Several chapters concern querying, including specific examples and suggestions. The final part of the book covers tools to help editors communicate better with writers—including generative AI—and mental health and well-being practices that support both writers and editors. 

Whether you are a beginning editor or a seasoned professional, this book will help you transform your workflow from a transactional service into a true collaboration.