I discussed editors a bit in my last column when I told you they put their trousers on just like the rest of us.

What I forgot to mention is the need for writers to kiss their, uh, "trousers." That is, if the writer really want to be a writer. As opposed to someone who writes.

No, I don't mean you have to take guff from some snot-nosed wanna be who is going to show you how much you don't know. But you will have to learn to work with real editors and understand they all want different things. The writers they'll work with the most are the ones who can deliver what they want.

Having been both a writer and an editor for several years, I've been on both sides of the fence on this topic. I feel qualified to spout off a bit, so here I go.

First I'll give my advice to writers from the editor's viewpoint.

1) You may feel I want my "trousers" kissed, but really all I want is for you to be someone I can depend on to adhere to editorial guidelines and fulfill deadlines.

2) Please have more than a cursory knowledge of grammar and don't waste my time by not using spell check and your common sense to review your work before giving it to me.

3) Do not take personal any changes, additions or deletions I might make to your copy. Do not go out of your mind if I suggest a rewrite. Trust that I get nothing out of changing your copy in a way that makes you appear stupid. That would make me look stupid for hiring you. My goal is to help make you look like a solid talent, which will make me appear brilliant and enable me to earn a few kudos from the publisher.

4) Just because you wrote for so-and-so and they did it a certain way does not mean that's how I want it. A successful writer remains flexible to different editorial procedures and delivers what is requested, no more, no less.

And here is my advice to editors from the writer's perspective:

1) If I have submitted an article for your consideration, please be courteous and acknowledge my letter or email, even if the correspondence is just to reject my submission.

2) Try to be clear, from the beginning, about your desired slant on a topic. Don't wait until I've written 10 pages and then say, "Well, what I'd really like to see is..."

3) Pay me. I don't care if it's just a few bucks, it's the principle of the thing. Paying me validates my writing ability and makes me want to do a better job for you. Don't pay me in gift certificates. Don't pay me with free copies of your publication. Pay me in cash.

And don't insult me by going on and on about the "exposure" I'll be getting, in lieu of financial compensation. You wouldn't dare ask the babysitter to work for fast food coupons and the plumber would laugh his "trousers" off if you told him you couldn't pay him, but would be happy to give him "good word of mouth."

4) If you like my writing, show it by giving me additional (paid with cash) assignments.

A lot of writers would like you to believe all editors are a pain in the "trousers" and there are plenty of editors out there highly insensitive to writers. What we all need to remember is it takes both writers and editors to produce a publication or a Web site that will get advertisers to pay attention and readers to keep coming back for more.

About the author: Patricia Collier is a freelance writer and editor living in Jacksonville, Florida. An experienced content provider and editor for both print and online publications, Collier offers samples of her work at http://www.femscribe.com. She may be reached at patricia@femscribe.com.

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