Thread: Editors’ opinions needed, about others’ thought-provoking writings

It’s one thing for an Editor to go through others’ writings, correcting errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

(For ease of understanding the following question, let’s assume the writing now under the microscope is “creative non-fiction.”)

But what should an Editor do when a premise or principle behind part of an individual’s writing is flawed? How does the Editor have the writer think differently and change their writing accordingly?

I’ve already been given one well-thought-out, offline, answer to my question. Now I’m interested to hear what you guys say; there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Please don’t ask for examples of what I mean. You understood the words “spelling, punctuation and grammar.” What’s so hard about understanding the words “flawed premise?” If you can’t answer the question, don't post. Thank you.

Tell them what you think is flawed and why. Then, as with any other part of the critique, leave it up to them to leave it or change it.

This is something I've been doing in my line of work for quite a few years now. As editors, we don't necessarily want the writer to think differently. If there's a flaw in the plotline, the goal is to get the writer to understand it from an outsider's perspective: "this is how someone else may understand/not understand this..."
There are always people to help, always people to offer a fresh pair of eyes. With creative non-fiction, you obviously need to have some facts straight (like historical fiction, for example), right? But if something seems a little off on the creative side, stepping back and looking at the issue the way someone else may (or even literally having someone look at it).