Why the Best Editors Are Coaches
I’ll never forget the smell of a wrestling mat. Maybe it’s because of the time I spent rolling them up after practice or the hours I logged relaxing with friends during tournaments. Most likely, though, it’s because I spent many hours with my face smushed into one while my opponent tried to spin me on my head like a top.
At times like this, having a coach in my corner who I could trust and rely on was of utmost importance.
Wrestling isn’t the only time when I’ve found myself (at least metaphorically) with my nose in a jam. With anything you’re working on, there will always be tough times to endure and obstacles to overcome. In the case of writing, this occurs on an almost daily basis. Whether you’re struggling to come up with a catchy hook or to get your foot in the door of a new publication, it can be frightening to go it alone.
When I was a wrestler, having someone in my corner to guide and support me made a major difference. I was more confident in my abilities. I knew that someone had my back if I found myself in trouble. And most of all, I wanted to work harder and perform better, both for myself and for the coach who believed in me.
So when I became a coach myself and, later, an editor at my university’s newspaper, I brought those experiences with me. They informed how I worked with my team. No matter if I was helping someone with their throws or teaching them to write stronger ledes, my most useful tool was thoughtful, constructive encouragement and support.
Sure, as an editor, there were times when I wanted to reject articles or just fix them myself. And I did, especially when it seemed like the alternative would involve lengthy email chains and hours of painstaking editing. But when I resisted that urge and worked closely with a writer to improve their article, the results were worth it.
Today, with jobs in traditional media shrinking, experienced and amateur writers alike have to compete for work. This can make it tempting as an editor to sit back on your heels and wait for the best writers to come to you. After all, why spend time coaxing a good story out of someone when a better one might arrive in your inbox tomorrow? Although this might seem like a good idea in the short-term, it can’t compare with the long-term benefits of developing someone’s skills, both for the writer and for your publication.
When You Coach Someone, They Perform Better
As long as you’re providing someone with useful advice, there’s one major benefit to supporting a writer: they will improve. Perfect practice makes perfect, after all. Even better, especially if you’re working with someone who is less experienced, you can help them get rid of any nasty habits that a more senior writer might have ingrained in their work.
Don’t expect results to happen overnight. Provide small batches of feedback with each new article you receive—three or four areas where someone might improve—and emphasize those points until they’ve improved on them. If the writer cares about their work and implements your feedback, you should see a dramatic improvement in their writing as well as greater adherence to your publication’s specific standards and requirements. If they don’t, at least you can say you’ve done your best.
When You Coach Someone, They Come Back
As writers, we’ve all felt the sting of criticism when an editor returns an article drenched in red ink or Google suggestions. But it’s even worse when someone doesn’t reply at all.
By taking the time to thoroughly edit a piece and make thoughtful, constructive comments, you show someone that you care about their writing enough to work through it with them. After all, the editor is a writer’s most important collaborator and their greatest ally. You’re a team.
As long as what you’re saying is useful and well-phrased, a writer who implements your feedback will see their work improve. In effect, they’re getting free training just from submitting a piece to you—a value no one can scoff at. Because improvement is what all good writers aspire to, they’ll likely be eager to work with you again in the future.
When You Coach Someone, They Refer Others to You
It’s not enough to wait for good writers to come knocking on your door, especially if you gain a reputation for turning down pitches. By only working with those you deem worthy, you might miss out on talent you never knew existed.
Instead, focus on providing writers with enjoyable and valuable experiences. If a pitch has potential, suggest ways they can take their story to the next level. Once you have a rough draft in hand, spend 10 minutes leaving careful comments throughout the piece. If you do end up having to turn something down, explain exactly why you’re doing so and what might make a similar pitch stronger in the future. Chances are that if a writer feels like you want them to succeed, they’ll come back to you with other ideas and even point other writers in your direction.
When You Coach Someone, You Add Value Beyond a Paycheck
I’ve never heard of any writer pursuing this career for the paycheck. We write because we want to inspire, educate and engage with readers around the world. To be able to do so, we need to get good at our craft just like in any other profession.
As an editor, it’s your duty to encourage a writer to work to the best of their ability. This may mean a bit of tough love at first, but ultimately your support will lead your writer to feel more confident in their own talents. When you provide someone with valuable guidance, the impact of your advice doesn’t end once you’ve published an article or sent it through to a client. That writer will take your encouragement and feedback and apply it to future assignments.
When you’re a coach, for writers and wrestlers alike, it’s unlikely that an all-star is always going to walk through your door (or pop up in your inbox). What you should really be looking out for is the type of person who will be there to practice hard, play hard. . . and roll up the mats at the end of every practice.
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