Every first-rate editor I have ever heard of reads, edits…
“Every first-rate editor I have ever heard of reads, edits and rewrites every word that goes into his publication… Good editors are not 'permissive'; they do not let their colleagues do 'their thing'; they make sure that everybody does the 'paper's thing.' A good, let alone a great editor is an obsessive autocrat with a whim of iron, who rewrites and rewrites, cuts and slashes, until every piece is exactly the way he thinks it should have been done.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
An editor must rigorously control every word, shaping content to a strict vision, often acting like an authoritarian to ensure quality.
In simple terms: Editors obsessively control text for quality.
Key Takeaway
Be meticulous, enforce standards.
Themes
editing
control
quality
authority
perfectionism
Mood
determined
critical
Type
advice
instructional
When to use this quote
- publishing
- academic journals
- online media
- marketing copy
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
editorial standards
creative control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance control with creative freedom?
- When is strict editing counterproductive?
A Different Perspective
Excessive control can stifle creativity and diversity of voice.