It’s unbelievable the things people say to me when they find out I'm an editor.

“Oh, really,” and she walks away before she can be caught making a grammatical error in her next sentence. Or, “Here’s a copy of my newsletter for you to read, as long as you promise not to EDIT it,” he writes.  

It all makes me feel lonely, depersonalized, and unappreciated.

Folks, I’m really not that bad. And I like people. I think of them as flesh and blood, not just a bundle of words and thoughts that must be placed into some kind of order.

I don’t care how well you speak, or how badly you write. I’ll listen intently to what you have to say and read your writing with great interest, because I want to get to know you. And I’ll gladly provide suggestions, but only when I’m invited to do so—and preferably for money.

So, please think of this, the next time you meet an editor. Don’t be afraid. Look into her eyes, smile, and shake her hand. Say something like, “Oh, excellent! Do you like Bob Dylan?”

Fran Fahey, Fran's Fine Editing