Flipping through a recent issue of Time magazine I came across a fun essay by Michael Kinsley who wrote about the interesting relationship between writers and editors.

Himself a former editor and now a writer, he writes about his experiences when editors complain about "egotistical" and "paranoid" writers and how editors view themselves as "selfless" and "labor in anonymity." He reasons that before anyone slams writers, better to try and "write a piece in their shoes." So right, Kinsley.

For those of us who wear both hats --of the writer and editor-- it's a delicate balance that sometimes can get tricky. For example, next time you write an article or press release, try editing it the way you would someone else's work. Pretty hard, huh?

Unless the writer has a research staff and a fact-check staff and an editorial staff and, well you get the picture, it's not such a simple task. And even then, writing from scratch isn't a walk in the park either. Catching your own grammar or style mistakes isn't as easy as it sounds. (And, oh do those typos rain on your parade after you spend hours on a 350-word article.)

Kinsley wraps up with the following:

On the Internet, they don't have editors. Or they don't have many. Writers rule, and a thought can go straight from your head onto the Net. That used to sound hellish. Now it sounds like heaven. 

Good point. We love the Internet. The Web 2.0 and all the collaborative interactivity that it brings.

Still, it's wise to have your material edited. After all, when your roof springs a leak or your car dies on the highway, are you quick to climb on the roof or get under the hood? Most of us would probably consult the yellow pages or call AAA for a tow.

Writers can always count on a friendly (and affordable) editor, even online.

Enjoy Kinsley's column.