We’ve Got Spirit, How ‘Bout… Well, crap.

When I was little, I thought that cheerleaders were the people who didn’t make the team. Now, I've become one of them.

One of my writers called me last week for some encouragement about the direction of his novel. When you work almost single-mindedly on one project for more than six months, you can begin to question your creative vision.

So instead of being a coach or trainer, I put on my editorial short skirt and shook those pom poms. And let me tell you, I really hate pom poms.

Sometimes, your writers don’t need your grammatical two cents. They don’t need plot revision or character development suggestions.

They just need to be reassured that theirs is a project worth your time.

Maybe this is a little easier to accomplish for me since lots of my editing is done pro-bono. Typically, people don’t do things they don’t like for free if they have the option not to. So that alone helps my case for credibility.

Still, as an editor, it would be unfair to say I never doubt the end result of a work. Let’s be honest – even with solid writers, that first draft can be rough!

The trick is getting two people to mutually believe in a work enough to push each other through those moments of doubt. Part of that is really hoping you don’t have synchronized moments of doubt.

For the editor, a lot of giving encouragement happens on the page, but having actual spoken conversations with your writer is important as well. Use your words!

Hopefully your writer is open enough to initiate the discussion when one needs to be had. But not everyone is so ready to admit her problems out loud.

If you’re starting to see repeat problems in a manuscript – for example, lazy verbs – bring it up with your writer. It doesn’t have to be phrased as a criticism (“Really, buddy, could you work in one more helping verb?!”), but focus on where they’ve done it right and express your desire for more of that.

Often, a writer’s sense of overall doubt emerges from a specific problem in the text – a fact they may or not be aware of. If they express general frustration, get them to pinpoint what’s bothering them by working backwards to find the spark of the issue.

If they know what the problem is, brainstorm like a beast on how to solve it. Simply talking through an issue can be encouraging because it’s like writer’s therapy. The goal is to help them find the best resolution for themselves and their work.

Plus, creative collaboration is a really rewarding part of being involved in the writing process! (Being a cheerleader makes me use more exclamation points than normal).

Cheerleaders don’t shout cheers about what their team does wrong or where they’re weak. They completely focus on current confidence and future potential.

That isn’t always what editors should be doing; in fact, it’s probably not going to help your writer grow over time. It’s important to bring out the coach’s whistle and exercise some tough love. But sometimes, cheerleading is what’s needed most.

Besides, if they leave the field, where does that really leave you? On the sidelines holding those stupid pom poms wearing itchy bloomers.

I “Give a F*ck About the Oxford Comma”

Nothing sparks a good grammar debates like comma choices. Vanity Fair's Michael Hogan interviewed Columbia-educated band Vampire Weekend about their controversial (at least in punctuation circles) song Oxford Comma, which has the jarring opening line: “Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?” To which I say, "I do!"

While the song’s overall meaning has sparked lively, though authority devoid, debate, perhaps the most discussed line is that first one. Most sources come to the conclusion that the meaning is sometimes we get wrapped up in the details and miss the big picture. Point taken.

So why do I care? Why do I want to cry a little tear every time I have to delete an Oxford comma in my newspaper copy because it isn’t part of AP style? There are basically two sides of the debate: the use and the use-nots.

Oxford comma opponents argue that it’s stupid to care about the Oxford comma because as long as you get the gist of what’s being said, correct punctuation doesn’t matter. Other, more academically inclined non-Oxford comma users stress that reliance on the mark signifies a poorly constructed sentence. It also fails to give the reader much credit in the realm of logical, deductive reasoning.

The other side of the word nerd debate argues that the Oxford comma is important to provide clarity of meaning in the written word. Using it regularly provides consistency and specificity.

I think both lines of thought are right and here’s why: punctuation exists to facilitate a clearer understanding of the written word.

Punctuation makes up a major section of the writer’s toolbox to convey ideas. But it’s still simply a tool, not the end product.

If punctuation gets in the way of meaning, then by all means modify. But it lives to serve: its purpose is one of helpfulness, not hindrance.

One common example I found in the Oxford Comma debate was this dedicatory sentence: "I would like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God.”

Steadfast believers in the Oxford Comma argued that the lack of a second comma makes this sentence imply that the writer’s parents are Ayn Rand and God.

Non-Oxford Comma users point out that the notion is so ridiculous that readers will inevitably understand that it’s a three-person list.

That’s probably true, but that’s a laugh and a thought later – time wasted trying to figure out the writer’s meaning instead of doing something with that meaning (and losing come credibility in the mean time).

So I give a fuck about the Oxford Comma because I give a fuck about clarity and meaning. To me, using it most of the time seems the simplest, most foolproof way to avoid ambiguity. And that's clearly valuable.

The Moulin Rouge Guide to Editing

As my college roommate knows better than anyone, Moulin Rouge is my go-to movie for stressful times. I’ve watched it so often that I’ve actually had to replaced my original copy because it stopped working. So, what meaningful editorial lessons have I drawn from watching this absinth-driven extravaganza of pop culture time and time again?

"I don’t even know if I am a true Bohemian revolutionary."

Sometimes we get caught up in defining an ideal instead of just living it. What Christian’s companions point out to him is that he does have the heart of a revolutionary writer even if his experiences are limited.

While I don’t believe the myth we tell children about having enough heart being all it takes to succeed at something, heart does matter. Sometimes it matters enough to push us towards actually taking that first step, like starting a rough draft of a novel.

"A kiss on the hand can be quite continental (but diamonds are a girl's best friend)."

By no means are my editorial efforts getting me rich at the moment. If they were, I wouldn’t be in journalism and pro bono editing.

But allow me to make two points to writers here – compliment your editor, when appropriate and sincere (and you’re poor). And when you can, pay her! That could be in cheap wine or a round of bowling that you secretly use for a character brainstorm session, whatever.

Point is, if you have a good editor, recognize him in whatever way you can since you’ll want to keep him around.

"If I’m to invest, I’ll need to know the story."

The Duke puts the creative pressure on Christian and his crew to generate a story on the spot. While musicals have a sense of creative synchronization real life can never offer (damn!), there’s still a valid point here.

Not every writer thrives under pressure, but sometimes a writer needs a push. Editors can serve as that pressure for them to simply shut up and write already!

"You’re free to leave me but just don’t deceive me."

An editor is only worth her salt if she’s honest. Pages full of nothing but glowing commentary simply don’t do much to make writing stronger.

If you want your edits to be valuable, they need to be honest. Period.

If a writer can’t appreciate accurate truthfulness, both good and bad, the relationship probably isn’t going anywhere for either of you. Maybe you can stay friends?

"The show must go on."

People love to idealize the writing world. Oh how artsy! Oh how creative! Oh you’re starving for your craft! Whatever. Fact is, it’s not always easy to keep pushing forward in the face of your editorial enemies.

Even worse – editors rarely get the glittery acclaim that successful writers do. Editors must keep in mind not only potential readers but also occasionally obstinate writers.

But hey, at least you won’t have to try to trick the man you love into thinking you used him then die of tuberculosis in front of all your friends.

In many ways, I’m perfectly content to keep 19^th century Paris restricted to the imagination of Baz Luhrmann. Still, I hope these musical tidbits will encourage you to be a better editor and/or writer and not just left watching Moulin Rouge… like I am right now.