“Editing should be, especially in the case of old writers, a counselling rather than a collaborating task. The tendency of the writer-editor to collaborate is natural, but he should say to himself, ‘How can I help this writer to say it better in his own style?’ and avoid ‘How can I show him how I would write it, if it were my piece?'” ~ James Thurber
Writing and Editing, 59
“A good editor is someone who cares a little less about the author’s needs than the reader’s.” ~
Unfortunately, authors too often allow their ego to take the front seat. The matter is not even about what a writer “needs”. The want takes over. The editor then faces the risk of being viewed as an adversary.