The Greatest Editor of All

By Andrea Merrell

As an editor, it’s my job to make the writer look good. To catch all those pesky little typos. To help correct POV issues, problems with dialogue, keeping the tenses consistent, hooking the reader, catching redundant words and phrases, and a dozen other elements to polish the client’s prose.

I have a responsibility to each client to be his or her right hand in the development of a project, making sure the facts are accurate, Scriptures are quoted and formatted correctly, and the story flows in chronological order. The goal is to keep the reader engaged and turning pages.

But my most important job is to instruct and encourage. I love what I do and take my job seriously.

Someone once asked if I ever had my own work edited. After I laughed—and choked—my answer was "absolutely!" I told them even the most experienced editor needs an editor.

As writers, we all get so caught up in our stories that we don’t see obvious errors. We know in our head what is supposed to be on the page, so our eyes skip over important mistakes—especially when we’ve read our own work a dozen times or more.

Whether you’re a detailed plotter with graphs, charts, and storyboards or a panster (seat-of-the-pants writer) who lets the words flow organically, all writers have a habitual routine we follow to some degree. When things don’t go as planned, we can easily get sidetracked, even stuck. I find this happening, not only in my writing and editing, but in every area of my life when I fail to consult the One who called me to do what I do.

One morning during my devotional time with the Lord, I was mentally preparing my to-do list for the day. But as I read from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, my mind quickly shifted into neutral as I focused on these words:

Come to Me with your plans held in abeyance. Trust Me enough to let me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purpose in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to my Master Plan. ~Jesus

Wow! My to-do list needed editing. I realized I was making and trusting my own way instead of seeking and trusting His. I chuckled. “Sorry, Lord. I guess I need an editor.”

I could almost see Him smile. Yes, you certainly do was the response.

The challenge for each of us, especially as writers, is to trust the Lord and search out His way in everything we do. When we fall back into our habitual routines, we risk missing what He has prepared for us. A man’s heart plans his way, but the  Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV).

Whether we’re working on a deadline, doing research, or searching for ideas, God has the answers we need—always. When we have too much on our plate and the tasks are screaming at us to complete them, He will help us prioritize and get them done. When we’re stuck or feel as if we haven’t done a good job, all we need to do is turn it over to the Lord. He is the greatest editor of all.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Stuart Miles, and thepathtraveler.)

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Learn to trust the Lord with your writing, and allow Him to guide you in every step. He is the greatest editor of all. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)