Joan Detz’s Post

Writers, don't get into a negative headspace about the redlines and comments. After you, your editor is your work's best friend!

Lots of edits do NOT mean you failed as a writer. If you’ve ever received a ton of edits on your work, you’ve probably had a moment where you think, “Oh my god! How could I have missed ALL of these mistakes?” It’s OK. There are 2 really good reasons for all those changes on a piece you thought was flawless: 1. I’m LOOKING for errors. Very specific ones. Editors are trained in what to look for, where, and how. We go through a document methodically in pursuit of inconsistencies, errors, and problems that almost nobody thinks about when they’re doing the writing. 2. As your editor, I don’t just catch “mistakes.” Editing isn’t just typos. I use an outsider’s viewpoint and my professional judgment to point out where improvements could be made. And then I align everything to make it all consistent. I’ve had my own work edited, too. I know that it can be a humbling experience sometimes. But your editor isn’t judging you—they’re just doing a job that not everyone knows how to do.

Editing is a collaborative process. I admit to my peers that just because I'm a good editor, it doesn't automatically make me the strongest writer. I edit as a teammate and as someone who knows they're not the expert in a lot of the content I work with. My job isn't to strike through every run-on sentence with a red pen and make you feel bad about your writing—it's to find and remove the pesky errors so that your great work shines even brighter. 🌟

I always tell students: there’s only been one time in my career where an editor said my first draft was good to go as is. Don’t feel bad about edits — it’s part of the job!

The more I care about a book, the more fine-tuning I do. I will read a manuscript over and over to help the author reach just the right tone, just the right word choice. I know it's difficult for new authors to see a lot of edits. So I take care to communicate that they can push back, ask for clarification, or decline my edits. I've sat face-to-face with authors and gone over every single edit. Most authors appreciate the time and care an editor invests.

This is such a helpful take for those of us who write for a living. Highly recommend this short and lovely read.

As an editor, I feel seen. And I hope this helps writers feel better about their writing. Thanks for a beautiful summation, Jenny O'Reilly.

Some writers think editing while they write is efficient. It feels responsible. Careful. Even professional. It’s not. When you edit mid-draft, you switch roles—from creator to critic—every few seconds. That kills momentum. Instead of moving forward, you keep circling the same sentence, polishing something that might not even survive the final draft. Writing and editing require different mindsets. One is about flow. The other is about judgment. Mixing them slows both. Fast writers don’t write perfectly. They write quickly—and fix it later. The real time-saver isn’t getting it right the first time. It’s getting it written. Because once you have something on the page, you can improve it. But you can’t edit a blank screen. So, the next time you feel the urge to tweak a sentence mid-draft, don’t. Keep going. Your future self — your editing self — will handle it better anyway. ✍️ How do you stop yourself from editing too soon?

He didn’t want to cut 5,000 words. Not because they were all essential but because cutting feels like losing something. I mean, almost everyone feels that way.😤😤 However, here’s what he discovered the hard way:Most of those words weren’t adding value, they were hiding it. Most times, we tend to equate length with depth. More words = more insight, right? But in reality, the opposite is often true. The strongest writing is rarely the longest. It’s the clearest. Every extra sentence creates friction. Every unnecessary phrase dilutes the point. Every bit of fluff forces your reader to work harder than they should. And people don’t reward effort, they reward clarity. Great writers understand that editing isn’t about shrinking your work. It’s about revealing it. Notice when you cut the repetition, the filler, the “just in case” explanations. What’s left? A message that actually lands. Soft!🥰 So next time you hesitate to delete a paragraph, ask yourself: Is this helping the reader… or just comforting the writer?Be honest. Ready to trim the excess? Send a direct message, let's collaborate to make your writing engaging, effective, impeccable. I am Victory Omilani, the World-Class Editor.

Attention writers, If you keep editing your copy and finding glaring faults almost everytime you revisit, you re not getting worse but more aware. It’s a phase. But it can turn into a trap if you don’t handle it right. Here’s what's happening: 1. Your taste has outpaced your output You can now see what good writing looks like. That’s why your own drafts suddenly feel off. Earlier, the same mistakes were there, but tgey passed. 2. You’re editing while writing That’s like pressing the brake and accelerator at the same time. Writing needs momentum. Editing needs distance. Mixing them makes everything feel off. 3. You’re chasing “perfect clarity” too early especially since you care about sharp, no-fluff writing. The bar is high—so every sentence feels like it needs to land hard immediately. That makes you re-edit on autopilot. 4. You’ve trained yourself to look for faults As a copy writer, you’re constantly analyzing what works and what doesn’t. That critical lens doesn’t switch off when you write—it zooms in. What to do (practical, not fluffy) Separate roles: Draft = messy, fast, no judgment Edit = ruthless, structured, objective Don’t mix them. Use a 2-pass rule: Pass 1: Get it out (don’t re-read) Pass 2: Cut, sharpen, structure Add time gap of about 60 mins Distance makes flaws clearer and less emotional. Set a “good enough” bar If the idea is clear and one line hits hard, ship it. Not every script or copy needs to be your best. Quick test If you feel: “This is garbage” → you’re editing too early “This could be sharper” → good, now you’re in editing mode The only risk is getting stuck polishing instead of publishing. If you want, share a piece you keep editing and I’ll show you exactly where to stop.