Editorial manners

These are the rules for working with writers and editors in a way that demonstrates good manners. If you follow these rules, everything will be efficient and run smoothly. If you do not, professional writers and editors will curse you and your descendants. (Yes, I’m writing this today because I’m annoyed at some people.)
- At any one time, a chapter or manuscript is in the control of either the writer, or is out for reviews. Writers complete a draft and send it out for review. They don’t keep revising it while it is out for review.
- The project manager (often the writer) tells everyone when to review the manuscript, what to look for (for example, structural issues, technical errors, politically sensitive text, or terminology issues), and what the deadline is to get it back. Reviewers who miss the deadline miss their chance to weigh in.
- Ideally, if there are multiple reviewers, everyone can see each other’s edits (this is easy to do in Google Docs and possible in Microsoft Word 365). If that is impossible for some reason, everyone should still be working from an identical document.
- Reviewers make their reviews electronically, using tools like Google Docs Suggesting Mode and Word’s Track Changes. They do not make their edits with handwritten markup on printouts or via audio notes. Reviewers can make general comments about the whole manuscript in email, but should repeat those in a comment at the top of the document.
- Do not make changes by just editing. The writer may not notice changes that you slip in without noting them with markup tools. Or those changes may get into the final manuscript even though no one reviewed them. Both are bad outcomes.
- Don’t create raw AI output and send it out for review. Don’t delegate AI to review text that’s your responsibility. AI is a useful tool, but delegating writing and editing work to machines creates drivel.
The writer’s job is to address and rationalize all of the changes, including in cases where they contradict each other. This demands skill. It’s hard enough when people follow these rules. It’s virtually impossible when they don’t.
Why bad manners are bad
Writers and editors should spend their time on writing and ideas, not managing chaos. Managing chaos is unnecessary if everyone has good manners.
But there are two even more important reasons to follow these rules:
First, respect. It shows that you respect others in a collaborative process and the integrity of the manuscript. That shared respect is how great books and essays get into print.
Second, trust. Once you violate these rules, you can no longer be trusted. Without trust, any collaborative effort collapses.
If you want to work with me, you’ll have to commit to these rules. The same will apply to every other writing professional worth working with.
So get some manners, people. It’s not that hard, and it’s the nice thing to do.
Thanks for these clarifications to smooth team writing. All are imperatives. Someone must have really irked The Man!
I. Love. This.