RUNING HEAD: EDITORIAL VALUES STATEMENT

Editorial Values Statement: A Redefined Editor

Gabriela Lee Hardgrove

University of Central Florida

EDITORIAL VALUES STATEMENT

Editorial Values Statement

My Editorial Experience

Its about relationships. In my experience, editing is about finding what the writer needs,

making changes as needed, and providing insights as to how the two of you can work together to

bring the work itself up to its fullest potential. While I have not yet received compensation for

the causal help Ive provided in the past, I enjoy helping others with things like response

prompts, short essays, resumes, cover letters, and business emails along with other formal types

of correspondence. For instance, I once helped a friend get approved for a transfer at his job. In

exploring different avenues, I have learned about the power of stylistic choices, and how it is

important to preserve these choices while maintaining integrity of the work. My goal is to

become more intuitive with style cues so that I can make enhancements tactically as an effective

editor.

What an Editor Is

In sum: To be an editor is to have an imaginary PhD in sociology. As discussed by Saller

(2009), the editor will likely end up setting the tone of relationships. Consequently, I think its

important to understand what exactly the writer is hoping to accomplish in seeking editorial

service, where those boundaries lie, and what I can do to accomplish these goals proactively.

I have realized that editing is far from fixing errors algorithmically, but rather and if

needed, I should adapt the text to its unique rhetorical situation. Saller (2009) writes that People

who edit copy must wear more than one hat (p. 1). In other words, a successful editor should

make decisions according to the demands of unique occasions which can be defined collectively

as the big old RS.

EDITORIAL VALUES STATEMENT

Key Editorial Traits

Invaluably, as an editor I should possess appropriate judgment. Its important that my

choices be influenced by the writers preferences and also critically, appropriateness in terms of

the audience. But furthermore, Saller has convinced me that I should strive to be transparent, and

that trust is essentially the propeller of a successful editorial relationship. This came as an eye-

opener at first since I never imagined that a work relationship could be so honest and open

but I think Im OK with it. Its possible that I should celebrate this idea since I generally enjoy

building great connections. In corresponding order, I would have to say that my key editorial

traits include but are not limited to: Good judgement, transparency, honesty, and being engaged.

My Editorial Interests

Perhaps based on my experience in helping my friends write their cover letters, I feel

somewhat drawn toward editing formal texts intended for recruiters. I feel this is something that

many second-language speakers struggle with particularly since contemporary slang likely

makes it harder for them to distinguish the levels of formality. Oftentimes however, many

recruiters will judge an individual by his or her level of articulacy. One of my goals is to filter

out these limitations.

Somewhat on the contrary, another area of interest I have hidden in my fifth pocket is

that of editing for comedy. I am pulled towards working with brilliant minds to create

entertaining literature while exploring diverse satiric genres, such as fake and preposterous

relationship advice presented in a serious manner, equally disconcerting how-tos, and other such

caricatures.

My Editorial Values
EDITORIAL VALUES STATEMENT

I value the freedom to make changes and expose my own insights as an editor.

Furthermore, I value the concept of working as a team towards a common goal. For me, one of

the most rewarding elements of this role is observing the development of something intended for

a real audience while preserving my writers unique ways of expressing themselves. My overall

goal is to attract like-minded individuals who enjoy brainstorming to put out something great

and to also do no harm, put politely.

EDITORIAL VALUES STATEMENT

References

Saller, C. (2009). The subversive copy editor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.