Just as a story is a confluence of ideas, any creative endeavor of a literary nature involves collaboration. In the case of a comic book or graphic novel, there is a collaboration between the writer and the artist, ensuring that the writer’s vision is accurately brought to life visually. Beyond that is the collaboration between the artist and colorist, in addition to the writer, further cementing their vision on the page for their eventual readers. In the scope of a larger, interconnected universe of stories, there (at least ought to be) is, on some level, the collaboration between the many writers and artists involved in its creation so that there is continuity across the stories being told. However, there is an essential collaboration that is often overlooked, which is precisely how it should be. That is the collaboration between writers and editors.

The Role of Editors in Writer and Editor Collaboration

A vital baseline to establish is what an editor is and what an editor isn’t. To many, this may seem menial or rudimentary; however, the reason why it’s necessary to delineate the two is that there has been an overabundance of editors in entertainment who fancy themselves to be writers when that is not the case, nor is it their job. An editor can be more than someone who merely makes a few simple punctuation or spelling corrections here and there, but their presence should otherwise go unnoticed. Again, the editor is not, in fact, the writer.

A good editor is one whose goal is to ensure that the writer’s story is presented in the most polished form possible. They should understand the writer’s vision as well as that of the overarching world of stories being told to ensure continuity remains intact. This can result in a back-and-forth with the writers for clarity if something seems out of place, but ultimately, the editor’s job is to make sure the story being told is a properly polished final product before it goes to print. As stated above, there are many editors who will make sweeping changes to dialogue, among other things. This can result in changes in tone, which may not align with the writer’s intent or the character’s character. It can also cause issues in the realm of localization, which is another nuanced conversation altogether.

Comic Book Editing Process: Ensuring High-Quality Storytelling

The relationship between writer and editor should be symbiotic, with the editor committed to seeing the writer’s story actualized and presented in the highest fidelity possible. This is multifaceted in its purpose: you want the writer to be proud of the work they put their heart and soul into the creation of, you want your audience to be satisfied with the work they purchased and took the time to consume, and you want to have cyclical respect flowing between all involved.

The Editing Process

What does the editing process look like? In truth, it can vary quite widely depending on the scale and scope of the project as well as the type of project itself, but–for simplicity’s sake–we’ll stick with comic books here. There are multiple facets at play, but let’s break it down to the two primary components: the script and the art.

Script Editing:

Developmental Edit: Looking at the plot, characters, and world-building to ensure an immersive reading experience.

Spelling and Punctuation: These are the easiest corrections to look for and make.

Dialogue: Ensuring lines read naturally and are appropriate for the character.

Continuity: Ensuring the script aligns with the overarching continuity of the universe.

Art Editing: We will discuss this in a future collaboration with our fantastic Lead Art Editor, Caanan White!

The Symbiotic Relationship in Publishing

The relationship between the writer and the editor is crucial. You want mutual respect between writer and editor, with everyone working towards the goal of constant overall elevation in mind.