Editors are critical readers that love words. They are the people who prepare the writing of others for publication. Editors are seen as gatekeepers between the writer and audience, and they have to take a dual-sided point-of-view in order to keep both parties happy. Authors know their stories inside and out and have had a strong relationship with their manuscript for years. Audiences, on the other hand, have no emotional attachment to books that they have not read yet and are quick to judge any novel that they pick up to read.

The editor needs to edit a manuscript from both points-of-view. Changes that are to be made must feel like the author's authentic voice to keep him or her happy with the new and improved manuscript. The manuscript may also need changes that will keep the audience pulled in and interested for the length of the novel. One of an editor’s many challenges is to find a balance between the two.