I often wonder when editing began, or how or why... too broad a question, I realize.

Were the classic writers "genius" enough to not need the help of an editor?

I mean, were they that skilled in grammar & vocabulary, etc. in addition to their obvious artistic ability?

I read in the introduction to Hawthorne's The Marble Faun that later editions of the novel were taken from original museum-manuscripts and only minor changes made to make some "words" more contemporary--

i.e.-- he often wrote Love instead of love, Nature instead of nature, etc.-- also, minor spelling 'corrections' from favour to favor, or vice-versa. (and even then they left many expressions like this un-touched).

In Stephen King's enjoyable little book On Writing, he says something like writing may be genius but editing is divine... he states he submits quite a mess to his editors, and if they didn't 'fix' it he'd be long gone.

Any information or thoughts?

Most people who write tend to spend a great deal of time editing, then re-editing, then editing some more. Editors for published work generally make sure it's up to snuff and meets the ideals and requirements of their organization or publishing house. Often their role is to accept or reject a work, or accept the work with some suggested or required modification. I haven't met many writers who don't spend a great deal of time self editing their work. Journalists are often pressed for time, given the nature of their work, and I suppose they don't have the luxury of editing and re-editing several drafts.

An acquaintance told me in a conversation not too long ago, '...no one ever said, when I grow up I want to be an editor.'

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Forgiving is Love, Love is For Giving.

Quote - I think Hawthorne intentionally wrote Love and Nature in such case. It's a shame and out of favour if an editor came along years later and in their obtuse and narrow focus decided to change it.

Any other way to say I like this besides posting a reply?

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Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts. Bernard M. Baruch 1870-1965

I rarely write anything that I do not edit. I can hardly imagine anyone writing so perfectly they need not edit. As another poster said, what is written can always be improved. I even had to edit this one for a twitchy finger mistake of hitting two keys at the same time...*L*

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A great many people will think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. ~ William James ~

In Stephen King's enjoyable little book On Writing, he says something like writing may be genius but editing is divine... he states he submits quite a mess to his editors, and if they didn't 'fix' it he'd be long gone. quoted from Ruby.


I think Stephen King could get his grocery list published at this point. I mean,he really doesn't have to work all that hard at editting any more.