Words to Edit By
Perfectionism sees mistakes and other shortcomings as failure to achieve an ideal. A healthy editorial mind perceives imperfection as something to minimize but accepts that no writing is flawless in every respect. Editorial imperfection is as opportunity to improve the manuscript further (when we can remove certain constraints).
A Realist Take
Being extremely detail-oriented is an asset for writers and editors. But don’t conflate thoroughness and attention to detail with the problem of perfectionism.
Oversights happen with the best editors under certain conditions—and simply because we’re all human. Eyes get tired. The brain sees what it wants to see A possibility for improvement escapes us or must be shelved because time and budget are limited. We must prioritize.
It’s good and necessary to have professional and aesthetic ideals and to get a manuscript as close to those ideals as constraints allow. But good writing and editing require acceptance of the gap between our best-for-now and the perfection we desire as room to grow. Perhaps we can develop our knowledge and skills further. Maybe more rest, time, or budget will allow us to get closer to the ideal.
In the meantime, overlooked errors and foregone opportunities for improvement are not personal, moral failings. They’re not likely professional failings, either. Take comfort that an edited manuscript is absolutely, necessarily final.
Godspeed, y’all, and happy (re)writing!