Working with a client or editor who’s really tearing up your first drafts? It might be the best learning experience you’ve ever had. Here’s what you need to know about handling intense edits with grace and framing it as an educational opportunity.

High expectations can push you to do great work

An intense editing process with a lot of back and forth can feel challenging and, at times, frustrating. Good editors push you to make 'pretty good' into great, entertaining, engaging writing that will stand the test of time.

“Some of the toughest editors I’ve worked with have helped me produce some of the pieces I’m proud of, even ten years later.”

When you find an editor who is not satisfied with 'good enough' and believes in a collaborative, ongoing editing process, know that 99% of the time, you have a lot you can learn from this experience. They may nudge you in the right direction, helping you to add more context, examples, and details that can elevate the quality of your piece.

Getting a lot of feedback can be intimidating for a novice writer, especially if you're not expecting it. You may even feel like you've done a bad job. The truth, however, is that only a tiny group of editors push you to do truly excellent work, and it's illuminating to have that kind of experience.

Be clear about the editorial process

Editors on top of their jobs know that one round of revisions won't work and are upfront about it in their initial communication. For instance, in the case of Copy Hackers, the editorial process seems like a lot; it can be intimidating. Once you’re done, you'll be proud of your piece, and people might even poach you from seeing your byline there.

“When I work with a great editor, it improves the piece I'm working on and also me as a writer.”

The importance of clarity in the editorial process is equally important from your end as well. Suppose your editorial process states you can accommodate between one to two rounds of revisions. In that case, it can be hard to reconcile with an intensive, collaborative editing process that a client might expect.

If a company is upfront in communicating it will require 3-4 revisions, that's a good sign—you can price your offering accordingly. Here's an example of a clearly outlined 3-step editing process to ensure you know what you’re getting into:

Stage 1: Content and context: Is the piece thorough? Is it telling a story? Is it aligned with objectives? Are concepts clearly explained to the reader?

Stage 2: Style and formatting: Does it follow standard formatting styles, grammar, and punctuation?

Stage 3: Final edits: Is it optimized for search? Are there aspects that will make the post rank well and complement the client’s pay-per-click efforts?

Bigger companies have strict editorial standards

Enterprise companies typically have strict brand standards. They may have more rounds of edits because they need more eyes on it before it can get published—including legal teams to rule out any potentially misleading claims to avoid getting into trouble.

Sometimes, the legal changes happen internally, so as a freelance writer, you may only see the final piece with slight differences from your submission. It's how big companies assess risk and cover their bases.

“The bigger and more established the company, the more likely you are to have more rounds of edits.”

Established brands also emphasize taste and style. Some edits requested by your editor may not improve the writing but bring the piece more in line with the brand voice.

Know when to draw the line

Bad editors pick on easy fixes like grammar or punctuation. You'll often find that the edits they request are vague, and their feedback lacks clarity and specificity. Other times, you run into trouble when five editors comment on an article, each with differing feedback and no real consensus. That's a signal that it's time to push back. Send a feedback document pointing to what good and bad feedback looks like, clarifying how to be more specific with their suggestions and comments.

It's also a good idea to highlight that the edits they're requesting go beyond the scope of work/editorial process and put forward your hourly rate for further edits. It's a great way to give the client a reality check that it's in both of your best interests to get the piece out as soon as possible. You don't want perfect to be the enemy of the good.

The value of working with editors with high expectations

Unlike nitpicky clients who give vague feedback and cannot answer questions coherently, feedback from good editors is specific and not prescriptive. They don't tell you how to do your job, but they ask the right questions, make recommendations, and point to examples, offering a clear path to the next level of quality.

At the same time, keep in mind that working with an editor with sky-high expectations requires a significant time investment. So, ask yourself, 'Is working with this editor in this capacity worth it for me? Is it worth it now, with my current workload?'. It comes down to a cost-benefit analysis and factoring in whether it makes sense for you at the stage of your writing career.

Working With Editors Who Have High Expectations