September is “Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month,” and here at Bookstr, we can’t let it go unnoticed. After all, editors and writers make the world of literature go round. They undeniably deserve a month dedicated to honoring them and celebrating their hard work. Let’s learn more about Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month and discover what it means to be an editor and writer!
History
The origins of this dedicated month can be traced back numerous decades. September was established as Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month in 1984. We can thank Lone Star Publishing of San Antonio, Texas, for this month’s creation.
What is an Editor?
An editor is someone who revises material for publication. They review what has been written and improve it. Editors fix mistakes and determine what will maintain a reader’s attention. An editor has revised publications in books, newspapers, magazines, and websites. They are constantly keeping up with deadlines and have an endless amount of tasks. It is an editor’s goal to help a story succeed. What on Earth would we do without them and their diligent efforts?
Iconic Editors
Introducing some iconic editors who helped maintain the success of the literary world!
William Maxwell Evarts Perkins
Best known as Maxwell Perkins – was an American book editor. Perkins assisted multiple writers in gaining popularity during the early stages of their careers. He edited F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel and got it published! He also worked on various pieces by F. Scott Fitzgerald, including The Great Gatsby. Perkins edited and pushed for the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s first novel as well. He worked with Thomas Wolfe and famously cut 90,000 words out of Look Homeward, Angel. In addition, Perkins assisted in the production of literature with Erskine Caldwell, Edmund Wilson, John P. Marquand, Alan Paton, and James Jones.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Best known as Jackie Kennedy – was a former First Lady, but she became an editor after her time in the White House. Following her husband’s assassination, she was distraught. However, Jackie Kennedy decided to pursue editing to maximize her time. She had a connection to Tommy Guinzburg, who was the president of a publication company named Viking Press. She reached out to Guinzburg, and he was happy to introduce her to the world of editing. She spent 19 years at Viking Press and worked until her passing. Jackie Kennedy even edited while receiving treatment in the advanced stages of cancer. She was an extremely dedicated editor who worked over 100 pieces of fiction and non-fiction.
Gordon Lish
Gordon Lish is a literary editor, but he is also an American writer. He is well-known due to his robust personality and self-displayed talent. However, he is truly talented. Lish made major cuts and revisions to What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver. Apparently, he reduced Carver’s original version by more than half. Although it seems like an overkill, Lish’s edits allowed this piece to become one of the American short fiction classics. Carver was able to develop a minimalistic writing style due to Lish’s harsh editing skills. He has also worked with Don DeLillo, Barry Hannah, and Joy Williams.
Editor’s Quotes
Here are some quotes that give you a glimpse of what it means to be an editor.
“Editing is simply the application of the common sense of any good reader. That’s why, to be an editor, you have to be a reader. It’s the number one qualification.”
– Robert Gottlieb
“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.”
– Patricia Fuller
“When you’re editing, you want to be the perfect appreciator, not another writer.”
– Joseph Kanon
“Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.”
– Samuel Johnson
“Editing is a meditative process. I enjoy it the most. I am not dealing with 200 people.”
– Rajkumar Hirani
What is a Writer?
A writer is someone who writes something. Although the definition seems pretty broad, anyone can be a writer. However, we are going to narrow the definition for Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. A writer is someone who writes something intending to be read. They write frequently and usually have a certain style. They can write in a variety of formats, such as letters, books, poems, articles, newspapers, recipes, memoirs, essays, and the list goes on! Writers create the world of literature.
Iconic Writers
Although there are an endless amount of iconic writers, here are some of the most influential in the literary world.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who wrote poetry, short stories, and critiques. He wrote in a dark, ominous, and mysterious style. His work set the tone for the genres of horror and mystery. Some of Poe’s famous works include The Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, Annabel Lee, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Tell-Tale Heart.
Theodor Seuss Geisel
Best known as Dr. Suess – was an American writer and illustrator. He wrote children’s books that featured rhymes, silly themes, and play on words. Dr. Suess wrote more than 60 books and sold over 60 million before his death. Some of his famous works include The Cat In The Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Oh The Places You’ll Go!, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and Oh the Thinks You Can Think.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an American writer and civil rights activist. She wrote fourteen collections of poetry, seven autobiographies, seven children’s books, three books of essays, and two cookbooks. She also created various plays, TV shows, and movies. Some of Angelou’s famous works include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, Still I Rise, Caged Bird, and Life Doesn’t Frighten Me.
Writer’s Quotes
Here are some quotes that truly portray what it means to be a writer.
“Writing is an act of discovering what you think and what you believe.”
– Dan Pink
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
– Benjamin Franklin
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” – Robert Frost
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”
– Anne Frank
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
– Anton Chekhov
Although we should always be nice to editors and writers, this month allows us to take a step back and make sure we truly appreciate them. There are way too many times when their hard work goes unnoticed. Therefore, be extra kind to an editor or writer!
Learn more about legendary poets here.
Find these books and more books by American authors here.
