--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A very good editor is almost a…" description: "\"A very good editor is almost a collaborator.\" — Ken Follett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg" --- # A very good editor is almost a collaborator. ![“A very good editor is almost a collaborator.” quote by Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg) > “A very good editor is almost a collaborator.” [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## 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 who works closely with a writer becomes a creative partner, shaping the work together. **In simple terms:** Editors can be creative partners. Key Takeaway Treat editors as collaborators. Themes writing collaboration editing Mood appreciative professional Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - journalism - content creation Key Concepts creative partnership author‑editor dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster true partnership with an editor? - What boundaries should be set? A Different Perspective An editor may still have limited decision power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collaborator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaborator/) [Editor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editor/) [Editor Collaborator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editor-collaborator-5698948/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Editor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-editor-777335/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The main thing is that you have a good editor - one that believes in you and who will give you the feedback that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-darden/the-main-thing-is-that-you-have-a-good-editor-one-that-believes-in/) [Christopher Darden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-darden/) > [An editor who is a mentor, advisor, and psychiatrist. Don't kid yourself-a good editor will make your book better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/an-editor-who-is-a-mentor-advisor-and-psychiatrist-don-t-kid-yourself/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [I've rewritten a lot of the scripts I've done. 'Little Shop Of Horrors' was a complete rewrite, but I didn't touch the dialogue. Essentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/i-ve-rewritten-a-lot-of-the-scripts-i-ve-done-little-shop-of-horrors/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [“A good editor is like tinsel to a Christmas Tree...they add the perfect amount of sparkle without being gaudy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbi-romans/a-good-editor-is-like-tinsel-to-a-christmas-tree-they-add-the-perfect/) [Bobbi Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobbi-romans/) > [To be a good editor or a good writer, I think you really need to be a great reader first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/to-be-a-good-editor-or-a-good-writer-i-think-you-really-need-to-be-a/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [“A good editor doesn't rewrite words, she rewires synapses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/a-good-editor-doesn-t-rewrite-words-she-rewires-synapses/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [I tend to overwrite; I need a good editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolf-blitzer/i-tend-to-overwrite-i-need-a-good-editor/) [Wolf Blitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolf-blitzer/) > [A good editor is one of the sharpest tools a writer can have in her toolbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-good-editor-is-one-of-the-sharpest-tools-a-writer-can-have-in-her/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“A good editor can make a respectable writer remarkable, just like a good parent helps a child become amazing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-alcala/a-good-editor-can-make-a-respectable-writer-remarkable-just-like-a/) [Justin Alcala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-alcala/) > [Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/truth-is-every-writer-has-to-be-a-good-editor-and-you-have-to-edit/) [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) > [A good editor understands what you're talking and writing about and doesn't meddle too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-good-editor-understands-what-you-re-talking-and-writing-about-and/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [The smartest thing a filmmaker can do is to become a good editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-smartest-thing-a-filmmaker-can-do-is-to-become-a-good-editor/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“All of us who write need a good editor. - Sharon Langevin Crawford”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-langevin-crawford/all-of-us-who-write-need-a-good-editor-sharon-langevin-crawford/) [Sharon Langevin Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-langevin-crawford/) > [“It's very difficult to train a good editor," the author said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/it-s-very-difficult-to-train-a-good-editor-the-author-said/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [With a good editor you find yourself shaping as you talk and they will ask a couple of questions that open new things. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rosenbaum/with-a-good-editor-you-find-yourself-shaping-as-you-talk-and-they/) [Ron Rosenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rosenbaum/) ## More by Ken Follett > [“A child will always be what he is, she thought, and not what you want him to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-child-will-always-be-what-he-is-she-thought-and-not-what-you-want/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“The extra line or two around her eyes only made them more fascinating; the touch of silver in her hair enhanced the blackness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/the-extra-line-or-two-around-her-eyes-only-made-them-more-fascinating/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“You're the one who doesn't understand," Lev said. "In America, I have my own car. There's more food than you can eat, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/you-re-the-one-who-doesn-t-understand-lev-said-in-america-i-have-my/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“They did not suspect her for a moment. It did not occur to them that a woman could be dangerous. How foolish they were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/they-did-not-suspect-her-for-a-moment-it-did-not-occur-to-them-that-a/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Remember our story. You’re going to visit a cousin who has just started to farm in North Carolina. You’re taking gifts.” “Even though we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/remember-our-story-you-re-going-to-visit-a-cousin-who-has-just/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“What don’t I know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/what-don-t-i-know/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“And here's my advice to you. If you get the chance of the mad kind of love, grab it with both hands, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/and-here-s-my-advice-to-you-if-you-get-the-chance-of-the-mad-kind-of/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Two blades clashed, ringing like a bell. Like all small boys, Philip thought his father was invincible; and this was the moment when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/two-blades-clashed-ringing-like-a-bell-like-all-small-boys-philip/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“It had been a morning of vivid images: the man-made streams, the rats in the butchers’ shops, the stacks of new-minted silver pennies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/it-had-been-a-morning-of-vivid-images-the-man-made-streams-the-rats/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“tickets and lifts begged on carts, but Grigori was mesmerized by her face as she talked. Once again Lev listened with rapt attention, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/tickets-and-lifts-begged-on-carts-but-grigori-was-mesmerized-by-her/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“A man who has no fear can do anything he wants, Feliks thought. He had learned that lesson eleven years ago, in a railway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-man-who-has-no-fear-can-do-anything-he-wants-feliks-thought-he-had/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Alison was relieved: she would have hated to see Mary lose her dignity as well as her life. “Follow me,” said the sheriff. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/alison-was-relieved-she-would-have-hated-to-see-mary-lose-her-dignity/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Jack was too absorbed in his work to hear the bell. He was mesmerized by the challenge of making soft, round shapes of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/jack-was-too-absorbed-in-his-work-to-hear-the-bell-he-was-mesmerized/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“might spook Harald and cause him to flee. She had to visit in person. This would be even more risky. Morlunde was a town,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/might-spook-harald-and-cause-him-to-flee-she-had-to-visit-in-person/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“I bambini vennero presto per assistere all'impiccagione.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-bambini-vennero-presto-per-assistere-all-impiccagione/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) [Explore all 291 Ken Follett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## More Collaborator quotes > [I've always believed in writing without a collaborator, because where two people are writing the same book, each believes he gets all the worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-ve-always-believed-in-writing-without-a-collaborator-because-where/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I'm a great collaborator. I really am. I will steal anyone's idea if it is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondra-locke/i-m-a-great-collaborator-i-really-am-i-will-steal-anyone-s-idea-if-it/) [Sondra Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sondra-locke/) > [I've always been a collaborator. For me, it's, 'What's the issue I'm trying to solve? Who are the people we need to bring around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-cortez-masto/i-ve-always-been-a-collaborator-for-me-it-s-what-s-the-issue-i-m/) [Catherine Cortez-Masto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-cortez-masto/) > [I'll always work with my collaborator in the room so I have a reaction on a note-by-note basis. I know in my gut when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-menken/i-ll-always-work-with-my-collaborator-in-the-room-so-i-have-a/) [Alan Menken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-menken/) > [Throughout my scientific career, my wife has been my most constant collaborator. Her experimental skill made major contributions to the work; she has eased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornforth/throughout-my-scientific-career-my-wife-has-been-my-most-constant/) [John Cornforth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornforth/) > [In a collaborator, I always look for someone who's going to push me a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelfreeze/in-a-collaborator-i-always-look-for-someone-who-s-going-to-push-me-a/) [Brian Stelfreeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelfreeze/) > [You've got to understand when a collaborator isn't satisfied anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/you-ve-got-to-understand-when-a-collaborator-isn-t-satisfied-anymore/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [James DeMonaco is one of my favorite directors I’ve ever worked with. I think he shoots really well and all that, but the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/james-demonaco-is-one-of-my-favorite-directors-i-ve-ever-worked-with/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [“A collaborator sees, sows, and grows seeds of opportunity and then sustains his good fortune by ensuring that others always benefit from his success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-llopis/a-collaborator-sees-sows-and-grows-seeds-of-opportunity-and-then/) [Glenn Llopis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-llopis/) > [My favorite collaborator is Dane Laffrey, who designed the set for 'Once on This Island,' but we've worked together since high school, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/my-favorite-collaborator-is-dane-laffrey-who-designed-the-set-for/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [The artist on my collaborator wish list is Beyonce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/the-artist-on-my-collaborator-wish-list-is-beyonce/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [The only way to conduct an effective collaboration is to debate the things upon which you disagree. If one doesn't manage to bring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/the-only-way-to-conduct-an-effective-collaboration-is-to-debate-the/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [There is no one 'best set-up', there are many - you can get to mate in endless ways. And - don't forget! - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/there-is-no-one-best-set-up-there-are-many-you-can-get-to-mate-in/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [I am a collaborator with everyone who agrees that I need to be in control. I happily collaborate with my loyalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-am-a-collaborator-with-everyone-who-agrees-that-i-need-to-be-in/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [The best bit about having a collaborator is plot. Plot is quite hard to get right. It is a testing intellectual exercise that feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/the-best-bit-about-having-a-collaborator-is-plot-plot-is-quite-hard/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) [Browse all 54 Collaborator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaborator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A very good editor is almost a collaborator.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Follett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collaborator/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Collaborator" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collaborator/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/ken-follett-941_collaborator_a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collabora_3158362.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A very good editor is almost a collaborator.” — Ken Follett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ken Follett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A very good editor is almost...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collaborator/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-very-good-editor-is-almost-a-collaborator/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```