By Barbara Kois
Guest columnist

The first time an editor marked up an article I had written, I felt the air leaking (gushing) out of my emotional balloon. I had labored thoughtfully over every word, every comma, every simile – and she was picking it apart!

I gritted my teeth and went through each suggested change and answered her questions. I was prepared to disagree and defend the way I had written it, but as I examined her comments and made the suggested changes, I realized she had made my story tighter, clearer, and . . . yes, better.

She also helped me see the story from the reader’s point of view. I saw that I was so close to the topic I had forgotten to think about how a reader might perceive and understand the story.

Lots to learn
Even after this helpful learning experience, I still felt a twinge of dread each time I received an editor’s comments on my writing. But trying to be a big girl, a positive person, and a professional, I tried to welcome this helpful feedback.

When I wrote my first book, the editor’s insightful and challenging questions caused me to restructure the book altogether. Once it was finished, I remembered my original version and literally cringed.

A few weeks ago I wrote an article for the Chicago Tribune and the editor sent it back with about a dozen questions that required calling several people and re-interviewing the subject. But the worst was that I had to incorporate all sorts of additional information and still cut the piece from 750 to 450 words! That was a challenge. But when it was finished, I saw that all of the essentials were there and it was a concise yet informative article.

Two heads better than one
Today I can honestly say that I welcome editing. It’s a privilege to have someone with expertise in the field and a fresh set of eyes read my material and use his or her knowledge to improve it.

Now that I’m an editor too, I try to use what I’ve learned to make others’ books better. I completely understand when an author isn’t thrilled to hear from me, but I hope as we work together he or she will know that the editor is really a friend who shares the author’s desire that the book becomes a best-seller!

Barbara Kois is a writer, editor, and speaker for women’s groups and writers’ conferences. She has written or co-written five books: Help Wanted for Busy Moms, Cat Lover’s Almanac, Life According to Jesus, Starved for Affection, and The Power of One Thing.

She has published more than 500 articles in the Chicago Tribune, as well as articles in Today’s Christian Woman, Moody magazine, Guideposts’ Angels on Earth, Psychology for Living, and Whispers from Heaven.

She is a regular contributor to technology and other corporate Web sites and serves as a corporate communications consultant.

She is the mother of three children – all in college at the same time!