--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have great editors, and I always have…" description: "\"I have great editors, and I always have. Somehow, great editors ask the right questions or pose things to you that get you to write better. It's a danc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a73/patricia-maclachlan-14887_always_i-have-great-editors-and-i-always-have-s_1204614.jpg" --- # I have great editors, and I always have. Somehow, great… ![“I have great editors, and I always have. Somehow, great editors ask the right questions or pose things to you that get you to write better. It's a dance between you, your characters, and your editor.” quote by Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a73/patricia-maclachlan-14887_always_i-have-great-editors-and-i-always-have-s_1204614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a73/patricia-maclachlan-14887_always_i-have-great-editors-and-i-always-have-s_1204614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a73/patricia-maclachlan-14887_always_i-have-great-editors-and-i-always-have-s_1204614.jpg) > “I have great editors, and I always have. Somehow, great editors ask the right questions or pose things to you that get you to write better. It's a dance between you, your characters, and your editor.” [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Editors act as collaborative partners, prompting deeper inquiry and enhancing narrative through a dynamic interplay. **In simple terms:** Editors help writers improve through dialogue. Key Takeaway Embrace editorial feedback. Themes writing collaboration editing Mood inspirational supportive Type creative educational When to use this quote - novel drafting - manuscript revisions - workshop sessions Key Concepts dialogue creative partnership Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance your vision with feedback? - What questions spark your best writing? A Different Perspective Overreliance on editor may dilute author voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Editor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editor/) [Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors/) [Editors Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors-ask-3626865/) [Editors Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors-great-3626866/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-editors-849292/) [Pose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pose/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-questions/) [Somehow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somehow/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I pay editors. I never ask friends or colleagues to work for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberto-gonzalez/i-pay-editors-i-never-ask-friends-or-colleagues-to-work-for-free/) [Rigoberto Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberto-gonzalez/) > [I cried most days working on the first draft. The last scenes were the hardest. I had a feeling where I wanted to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cameron/i-cried-most-days-working-on-the-first-draft-the-last-scenes-were-the/) [Claire Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cameron/) > [“When an editor reads, he is not just reading but breaking sentences into fragments, worrying if the first half should be replaced with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lukeman/when-an-editor-reads-he-is-not-just-reading-but-breaking-sentences/) [Noah Lukeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lukeman/) > [And if you want to know why great editors scare the pants off of writers everywhere, read 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' by Lynne Truss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-benton-frank/and-if-you-want-to-know-why-great-editors-scare-the-pants-off-of/) [Dorothea Benton Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-benton-frank/) > [Great editors do not discover nor produce great authors; great authors create and produce great publishers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-farrar/great-editors-do-not-discover-nor-produce-great-authors-great-authors/) [John Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-farrar/) > [That's also part of having great editors -- they can sort of be honest with you and say, "I see where you're headed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-laurie/that-s-also-part-of-having-great-editors-they-can-sort-of-be-honest/) [Victoria Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-laurie/) > [William Packard surely must be one of the great editors of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/william-packard-surely-must-be-one-of-the-great-editors-of-our-time/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [It is of course daunting to make ones public debut in a new format, particularly with a well loved character, and in a medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-ethan-david/it-is-of-course-daunting-to-make-ones-public-debut-in-a-new-format/) [Arvind Ethan David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-ethan-david/) > [Honestly, I've never had anybody with 'Teen Mom' ever be anything but great to me. Except the editors - they suck. Everybody from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-meyer/honestly-i-ve-never-had-anybody-with-teen-mom-ever-be-anything-but/) [Dakota Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-meyer/) > [I'm working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, she's a smarter and better editor than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-m-working-on-a-bunch-of-things-with-my-daughter-emily-in-some-ways/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [The history of science knows scores of instances where an investigator was in the possession of all the important facts for a new theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mayr/the-history-of-science-knows-scores-of-instances-where-an/) [Ernst Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mayr/) > [“Run from those with all the answers and gravitate toward those with the right questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/father-earnest-flusche/run-from-those-with-all-the-answers-and-gravitate-toward-those-with/) [Father Earnest Flusche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/father-earnest-flusche/) > [The wrong question to ask of a myth is whether it is true or false. The right question is whether it is living or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-wrong-question-to-ask-of-a-myth-is-whether-it-is-true-or-false/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [The most successful scientists in the history of the world are those who posed the right questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-most-successful-scientists-in-the-history-of-the-world-are-those/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The right question is usually more important than the right answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-right-question-is-usually-more-important-than-the-right-answer/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Patricia MacLachlan > [Each time I write a new piece, whether a novel, a picture book, a speech or anything, really, it has so much to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/each-time-i-write-a-new-piece-whether-a-novel-a-picture-book-a-speech/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I love to talk to children about making mistakes. Its important that I tell them about how I dont get it right the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-love-to-talk-to-children-about-making-mistakes-its-important-that-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My greatest fear is being somewhere without a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-greatest-fear-is-being-somewhere-without-a-book/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I have great respect for children. And I have great respect for their ability as writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-have-great-respect-for-children-and-i-have-great-respect-for-their/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [You should know that there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/you-should-know-that-there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Sadness is Steam rising Tears falling A breath you take in But can't let out As hard as you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/sadness-is-steam-rising-tears-falling-a-breath-you-take-in-but-can-t/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I think it's important to remember where I began. I know that when I talk to other writers, say, writers from the South or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-where-i-began-i-know-that-when-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Where else," I will say, "does an old turtle crossing the path Make all the difference in the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/where-else-i-will-say-does-an-old-turtle-crossing-the-path-make-all/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Byrd: It is important because we are giving her something to take away with her when she goes. Lalo: What will she take with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/byrd-it-is-important-because-we-are-giving-her-something-to-take-away/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I never work from an outline, and often I don't know how the story will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-never-work-from-an-outline-and-often-i-don-t-know-how-the-story/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I'm working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, she's a smarter and better editor than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-m-working-on-a-bunch-of-things-with-my-daughter-emily-in-some-ways/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“There are always things to miss," said Maggie. "No matter where you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-always-things-to-miss-said-maggie-no-matter-where-you-are/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My inspiration for writing is all the wonderful books that I read as a child and that I still read. I think that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-inspiration-for-writing-is-all-the-wonderful-books-that-i-read-as/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“...there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no-answers-no-matter-how/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [Life is made up of circles ... Life is not a straight line ... And sometimes we circle back to a past time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/life-is-made-up-of-circles-life-is-not-a-straight-line-and-sometimes/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) [Explore all 45 Patricia MacLachlan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have great editors, and I always have. 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