What can editors do to help writers do great stories? I asked writers:
1. Pay me enough that I feel rewarded for my best efforts.
2. Give me enough time to do the needed reading, reporting, and thinking.
3. Be helpful but give me the freedom to write the story the way I see it.
4. Be reachable if trouble arises.
5. Protect me from others–fact-checkers, sub-editors, accountants, etc.–who make unreasonable demands.
6. Keep me in the loop if big changes are being made to the story.
7. Be willing to back me up if there’s controversy when the story comes out.
8. If the story is good, suggest that I do another one.
—Jack Limpert
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