A good editor can make all the difference between a quality piece of writing and a stellar piece of writing. An editor is a jeweler: she needs the raw material with high potential that she can cut, buff, and shine into brilliance. The Mötley Fool taught me a critical editing lesson that I am afraid I have long missed and plan to remedy.
Every editor I’ve ever had has told me about the importance of a strong lead to grab a reader’s attention. The Mötley Fool taught me the importance of a strong close but for a different reason than I ever considered. A strong close is a reward to a reader for sticking with a piece. I’ve spent so much time shining up my leads that I fear I’ve neglected the humble and critical close, and I plan to fix that.
A solid piece of writing leaves the door open for consideration and discussion. It takes a reader off the page and into the world with the ideas and opinions that the writer is compelled to share through his or her words. The opening is what draws a reader in, though the ending is largely what remains when it’s all over. It doesn’t need to be pretty or neat, but it does need to be powerful. It does need to be satisfying while also stirring intrigue. It has to make readers glad that they stuck around and cause them to seek out more from the author. Ending well ensures that there will be new beginnings down the line. Many thanks to the Fools for this lesson. I am better for it.
Christa Avampato 