edit. to edit. to be an editor...

Main Entry: ed·it
Pronunciation: 'e-d&t
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: back-formation from editor
1 a : to prepare (as literary material) for publication or public presentation b : to assemble (as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging c : to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose
2 : to direct the publication of
3 : DELETE -- usually used with out
- ed·it·able /'e-d&-t&-b&l/ adjective

Being in mega-edit-mode does bizarro things to a person's sense of the world, of time, of reality, their social skills, and their head. Every written word sparks a list of possible synonyms; every sentence a string of potential punches; every dream one of word processing short-cuts and a blur of folders and filenames and emails and author names; every break a mode of strategizing organizational frameworks, tables of contents, thesis statements, and index-able keywords.

I now know that there are truly phenomena called "edithead" and "editeyes" that are truly very unsexy.

Editing is, in a word, HARD. In more words: tedious, time-consuming, shoulder-tightening, posture-breaking, sleep-depriving, frown-line-deepening, and brain-numbing. In even more words: fascinating, inspiring, creative, and FUN.

Main Entry: ed·i·tor
Pronunciation: 'e-d&-t&r
Function: noun
1 : someone who edits especially as an occupation
2 : a device used in editing motion-picture film or magnetic tape
3 : a computer program that permits the user to create or modify data (as text or graphics) especially on a display screen
- ed·i·tor·ship /-"ship/ noun

I will never, ever, pick up an anthology, reader, journal or compilation of any kind without thinking kind, heartfelt, generous and warm thoughts for the names on the cover and in the acknowledgements.

And I will never assume that good writing, solid storytelling or brilliant analyses are the work of the writer/weaver/criticist alone, ever again.