Written by Kari Bartkus

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You started a new editing project at the beginning of the week, and though editing tends to bring you great joy, you find yourself tired, emotional, or on edge with those around you. What’s going on?

It could be the topic of the manuscript.

It’s one thing to edit fiction that makes you laugh, or to work on a book that draws you closer to the Lord. But what if you have a manuscript that deals with heavier topics like grief, depression, abuse, or illness? These issues tend to impact you far more than you realize, especially if you have personal experience with the topic at hand.

So how can you edit well while still taking care of yourself? Here are three tips to get you started.

Be Prayerfully Aware

You will likely know before you start a job if a certain manuscript is going to be harder for you to edit—not because of the technical skills needed but because of the material it covers. As you work on this project, you need to be prayerfully aware of how it might be affecting you.

• Are you able to stay focused on the job at hand? Or are you being drawn into your own memories and experiences?
• Is what you’re reading causing you to have any bodily reaction, like tense shoulders, rapid heartbeat, or shortness of breath?
• Does it stir up fear or anxiety within you?

The detail with which the author writes will make a big difference in how it impacts you. It’s definitely easier (note, I said easier, not easy!) to edit an abuse scene that is broad and general than to edit one with a detailed play-by-play description.

If you’re having a difficult time, be sure to practice one of the tips below.

And please know, it’s okay if you need to recommend another editor for a specific job. There are likely some topics that are tolerable for you and others that are just too much. That’s okay. Know your limits and be upfront about it. Most authors understand and respect this.

Take Breaks

When you work on these heavier manuscripts, be sure to schedule more breaks than you usually do. This allows your mind to step away from the material and get the refreshment it needs to continue.

You can also take an impromptu break if a certain scene catches you off guard. Maybe it appeared unexpectedly or your response to it was stronger than you anticipated.

What can you do during a break? Just about anything!

• Work on an administrative task.
• Take a walk.
• Do the dishes.
• Make some coffee.
• Rotate laundry.
• Listen to peaceful music.
• Eat lunch.
• Talk with a friend.

It doesn’t matter so much what you do; it’s more about changing your focus. Moving your body certainly helps, as motion changes emotion. So if you’ve been sitting, get up and move to a different room. If you’ve been standing, relax into a comfortable chair. Even a five-minute break does wonders!

Journal

When you work on these heavier manuscripts, consider keeping a journal that allows you the space you need to process how it impacts you. There are several things you can write about.

• Describe a passage you worked on and how it affected you.
• Explore memories that came up as you edited and ask God to speak into them.
• Record your physical response to editing (those tense shoulders or short breaths we mentioned above) and how you worked through them.
• Pray for the grace to continue editing, or the wisdom to know if you might need to recommend someone else.

If you work on these heavier manuscripts frequently, you’ll start to recognize patterns and better understand what you can and cannot do as an editor.

Help Others Share Their Stories

It is a blessing to help authors share their testimonies and encourage others who are facing similar issues. But that doesn’t always mean it’s going to be easy. By staying prayerfully aware, taking breaks, and journaling, you can help care for yourself as you serve your clients well.

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