To put broad strokes on the canvas of writing and editing merely for over-simplification, there are two overarching types of writers and editors: the brats and the angels. How they behave is distinctly different due to their different roles. The good news is, once a writer or an editor recognizes he or she behaves in one of these ways, it’s easy to change—though one way is obviously (at least to us) a better way to go about things.

How the brat writer works

A brat writer is defensive about his writing and is full of delusions of grandeur. Everything he churns out is perfect the way it is, regardless if there’s obvious mistakes. It’s a beautiful butterfly, and you’ll damage it if you even look at it askance.

OK, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but there are writers out there who don’t take kindly to corrections, however justified, and they certainly don’t want their work altered for flow, tone, or any other reason. They are prickly and, frankly, irritating to work with because any good editor wants to help, not hinder. And hindering is what these writers do—their own writing and the entire editorial process.

They also don’t learn from their editor’s edits. They especially don’t absorb changes for style or grammar, and they continue to make the same, easily avoidable mistakes over and over again.

Granted, some of us aren’t self-editors; we just aren’t. And that’s OK. But there is a distinct difference between a writer who tries and a writer who blows off changes consistently. (Usually, those writers eventually get ditched by good editors.)

How the angel writer works

An angel writer is, simply, the opposite of the above. He knows his writing benefits from his editor, and he hangs on her suggestions and corrections. He appreciates and thinks before responding, and even if he rejects a change, it’s because he truly believes in what he’s writing rather than how grand the writing itself (read: his own ego) is.

This type of writer cares deeply about his work, and the efforts he and his editor go through are like parents raising a child—they want not only what’s right but what’s best.

These writers can run the gamut from awesome self-editors to people who just simply love throwing words on pages and making a mess, but they all have a common theme: They strive to create, and they know that good creations take hard work.

How the brat editor works

The brat editor is very similar to the brat writer in attitude, but she behaves in a way that is cold, calculating, and devoid of any humanity. She is there simply to correct, not adjust for tone or anything else. She tosses in punctuation and correct word forms, such as their or there, and moves on with nary a word otherwise. These editors are ruthlessly efficient and see no point in anything resembling friendship with their writers.

This kind of editing doesn’t allow for improvement of a piece; it simply leaves the piece very nearly as the writer left it. This can be a huge problem when the writer is also a brat. This is how you end up with works that are bland, poorly descriptive, overly descriptive, deceitful, plain old lame, or any other number of issues (we won’t name the works, but we all know what they are).

How the angel editor works

The angel editor comes in three subtypes: copy editor, line editor, and developmental editor. In a newsroom setting, the first two are more widely found, simply because of time management and of the work being performed—but that isn’t to say they can’t also be the third type when given the opportunity.

When it comes to deeper writing with more tone and personality than a news article, be it nonfiction or fiction, you want the third kind of editor. This editor will work hard, tirelessly, and effectively. She will help you refine your ideas and may even be a kind of co-author for you, depending on the state your work is in.

Let’s get creating.

Get an angel writer and an angel editor together, and watch how the world turns. Everything they create is stronger because of their teamwork, and nothing will stop their pieces from shining. It’s a match made in heaven, and for good reason. (C’mon: You know we didn’t pick the term angels by accident!)

If you’re a writer who wants to grow, change his writing, and learn new skills (maybe even editing itself), get yourself an angel editor—and hang onto her. You and your writing will benefit immensely in the long run.

Note: Thanks to fellow editor Jason Whited for fleshing these ideas out.

Anne King, copy editor