If You Give a Copy Editor a Writing Utensil (in the style of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie)

I’ve always loved reading and writing.  As the daughter of a bibliophile, who has also been a journalist as well as a copy editor, I have inherited a love of editing and grammar to go with it.  

Below is a video of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in case you aren't familiar with or would like a refresher of that oh-so-popular children's book:

Now without further ado, 

If You Give a Copy Editor a Writing Utensil

If you give a copy editor something to read, she’s going to want a writing utensil.  And if you give her a writing utensil, then she’s going to start making marks.  

If she starts making marks on the piece, she’ll feel a vested interest in correcting any grammatical errors.  Once the grammatical errors are corrected, she’ll be inspired to help you refine and streamline the writing.  

Once she’s helped you refine and streamline the writing, she’ll want to see a revised draft.  If she takes the time to give such editorial feedback on a revised draft, she’s going to want to discuss it with you.  

If she discusses it with you, then you will give her some additional information that may change things.  If you give her additional information that may change things, she’ll ask questions.  If she asks questions, you will likely talk about some aspect of the topic covered in greater depth or with more emotion.  

If you talk about the subject in greater depth or with more emotion, she may want you to incorporate what you have expressed into the piece.  If you go back and incorporate more explanation and greater emotion into the piece, she’ll want to proofread and copy edit the latest draft.  

In other words, if you give her the latest draft, she’ll probably want a writing utensil to go with it.