From Writer to Editor: Crucial Knowledge for Effective Editing

At the Pacific Coast Conference 2026, a collegial atmosphere was present during the session on editorial principles and practices held by Chris Small, MA, ELS(D), and Leslie Kowitz, MA, ELS, of BeOne Medicines. Each audience member introduced themselves before the talk began, with the small-group setting lending itself well to interactions throughout the presentation. 

Small and Kowitz began by acknowledging that many medical writers are also expected to be editors, especially if they are freelancers working within budgetary restrictions. Whereas editors are usually separated from the authoring process, writers often sit at the same table as subject-matter experts and those working in regulatory approvals, project management, and quality control. Therefore, writers are the best placed of these people to take on an editorial function if a traditional editor is unavailable. 

The speakers aimed to familiarize writers with editorial principles and practices for using their editing skills effectively. The session covered

• what editors do 

• how they ensure document quality 

• best practices for supporting authors 

• ongoing challenges in the editorial world

What Editors Do

Small and Kowitz emphasized that editors are advocates or “translators” for the reader. By improving clarity and comprehension, editors are strategic interventionists and removers of cognitive friction. Editors do this using three levels of editing: 

• strategic

• structural

• technical 

Strategic editing (i.e., developmental editing) focuses on content, organization, effectiveness, and tone. Structural editing (i.e., line or substantive editing) focuses on coherence, transitions, paragraph structure, and clarity. Technical editing (i.e., copyediting and proofreading) focuses on grammar, mechanics, spelling, diction, and formatting. 

These processes often occur after the planning, writing, and reviewing of a document have already taken place. As a result, strategic and structural editing are often overlooked. However, the speakers argued that involving an editor earlier in the document timeline can be beneficial for improving document quality and avoiding multiple revisions; organization buy-in is necessary to implement this change.

Ensuring Document Quality

Document quality is interpreted differently by job role. Noneditors may consider document quality in terms of scientific soundness and accurate data, regulatory compliance, and timeliness of submission and approval. In contrast, editors usually define quality as “clear, consistent, error-free writing.” 

To emphasize the importance of document quality, the speakers presented data from a 2021 AMWA survey. Audience members were surprised to learn that 77% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that a poorly written document delays the approval process. The speakers concluded that errors affect trust and confidence in a product. 

Many of the issues identified in the survey that related to document quality can be addressed by editors, including

• excessive length and repetition

• lack of clarity

• poor organization and language use

• incorrect links

• poorly designed tables and figures

Best Practices for Supporting Authors

The focus of the session transitioned to how best to support authors. Kowitz injected humor into the session by proudly introducing her “ediTor-key” turkey image (think Thanksgiving-inspired art!). Each of the turkey’s feathers represented points to discuss with authors prior to editing, such as type of deliverable, audience, timeline, stage, budget, author experience, and new versus reused content. 

Next, the speakers introduced the concept of editing frameworks, which are used to align the expectations of authors and editors, plan timelines, organize tasks into levels (e.g., heavy to light editing), and create efficient editing checklists. Example frameworks were presented to help the audience understand the varied ways these frameworks can be implemented. 

Editing priorities were then discussed at a more granular level. Key points included 

• confirmation of the style guide and key terms

• the method and frequency of communication

• options for scope flexibility

• strategic use of track changes

• comments

• conversations to use the author’s and editor’s time productively

Challenges in the Editorial World

The final part of the session touched on industry trends that affect editing. Notable mentions were artificial intelligence, business competition, budget, collaborative authoring and review, global hiring, and a “good enough” mindset. Small and Kowitz concluded by saying that “editors must constantly balance competing and changing priorities” to serve readers, authors, and publishers.

The session wrapped up with a few eager questions from the audience in the time remaining, with lively discussion among audience members. Special thanks to the speakers, Chris Small and Leslie Kowitz, for their efforts in putting together this presentation and for sharing it with the conference attendees.

About the author: Michelle McRae, PhD, ELS, is a part-time senior medical editor at Merck and a freelance scientific and medical editor, fact-checker, and AMA style specialist. Her clients include medical communications companies, medical societies, journals, and academics. Michelle is a certified Editor in the Life Sciences and is the Volunteer Coordinator for the American Medical Writers Association Northern California Chapter.