Reading Reflection #5
When considering a career as an editor, the power dynamic at hand is extremely important to keep in mind. Editors are often the people who are holding the keys to the literary kingdom, and what that means for the editor and author relationship is that the author is often at the mercy of what they think and find worthy. While the editor may not be the final deciding factor in terms of what is published, they are the first place a work lands and play an important role in what that work becomes and evolves into.
An editor not only potentially has the power to bless or trash someone’s masterpiece, they also have the ability and authority to change the work itself in order to bring a work up to the industry standard. The power dynamic at play here is important to keep in mind because an abuse or overexertion of the power of editing itself can lead to the author’s work losing its original intentions, ideas, or personal touches. I think about the work of Hubert Selby Jr., whose writing style is unconventional. While there are many striking facets of his work, one of the things that stands out the most from the books of his that I have read is the almost manic, run-on way that his paragraphs are structured. There will occasionally be paragraphs that go on for a page or two, and the way that he writes evokes certain emotion and feeling that I think is a product, at least in part, to this stream of consciousness style. If an editor would have edited that away to fit the conventional styles of the day or the publishing house, would the impact of his work be the same? Would it still affect people in the same way, and would they still be so moved by and drawn into his work? To keep the power balanced in this department, I think that it is the editors job to preserve as much of the author’s expression as possible while making the work palatable and digestible for readers.
I have thought a lot about the power dynamic at play here in terms of taking on authors and work, and the potential for gatekeeping that occurs in a position like this. This is something that I actually struggle with on a pretty regular basis in the job that I currently have, as I work primarily with new hires and frequently have to make decisions about individuals’ continuation with the company based on performance metrics. While I recognize the authority that I have been given with this position, I often find myself asking “who am I to make this decision?”. It can feel uncomfortable to control the outcome of a situation for someone else, especially when it is a decision that either costs or keeps them a job. While the industry that I am experiencing this in is completely different, I think the personal dilemma is rather similar, and something that I work to reconcile with when it comes up. I’m an extremely empathetic and tender hearted person, and before I make these decisions, I tend to think about how I would be feeling if I were on the flip side of things. While I understand, both in my current position and in my hopeful future as an editor, that not everyone or every story is meant to be, it still hurts my heart to think that I am the deciding factor on the direction that this person’s life or path could take. This is something that I’m sure I will continue to wrestle with, but I don’t necessarily think that is a negative thing, despite the fact that it definitely feels negative sometimes. Having this empathy, understanding, and compassion for the person on the other side of the relationship is important to make sure that the power is balanced. I do think I will have to watch out for being too soft hearted, and letting authors take advantage of the situation, but I would rather this be what I struggle with, rather than the alternative.
