Early in my editing career—on my very first assignment, in fact—I learned one of the most important lessons I’ve carried with me ever since: An editor’s job is not to make the writing sound like them. It’s to make the writing sound like the best version of the author.

I was newly hired as the managing editor of a magazine, and the first article I edited came from a longtime contributor—someone deeply familiar to the magazine’s readers. I gave it a thorough edit and sent it off for approval, confident (even a tad arrogant?) in the polish I had added.

Her reply arrived swiftly. Even in an email without tone or inflection, I could tell she was upset. She said the article no longer sounded like her, and she wouldn’t approve it. Oof.

Lesson Learned

I re-read my edits, and it hit me. She was absolutely right. The article didn’t sound like her anymore. It sounded like me.

That moment was so incredibly formative. It taught me that great editing isn’t about imposing your own voice. It’s about elevating someone else’s. It’s about clarity, flow, and consistency, but just as importantly, it’s about tone, rhythm, and personality.

The Goal

When I edit now, my goal is this: I want the author to read the final version and think, This sounds like me, and I’m such a good writer!

That might mean holding back on rewrites that feel too stylistic, even if they sound smoother to my ear. It might mean preserving a sentence structure that’s unconventional but authentic to how the author communicates. It always means reading not just for correctness, but also for voice.

There are times, of course, when stronger editorial shaping is necessary and when clarity must win out. Even then, the best editors find a way to revise without erasing. We’re stewards of the author’s intent and voice, not rewriters.

So, to every editor—especially those just starting out—let me offer a corny metaphor: Be a tuning fork, not a soloist. Your job is to help the author find resonance, not to take over the melody. Reflect the author’s voice with care, and you’ll gain trust, create stronger work, and grow into the kind of editor every writer wants on their side.