The key to becoming a good writer is finding a good editor. A good editor is a wordsmith who works well not only with stories and ideas, but also with reporters in a patient, cooperative manner. Editors—like everyone—usually play favorites, and reporters who have proven reliable will be assigned the most interesting stories and projects. To endear yourself to editors:

1.     Thumb through the newspaper every day. Have a general awareness of the day’s topics—in all sections of the paper, not only on your beat.

2.     Learn AP style. Editors notice which reporters are diligent in filing clean copy. Study your newspaper’s style manual.

3.     Reread your stories when they appear in the newspaper. Make a note of changes editors have made—and remember them when writing your next story. If you have questions about why something might have been changed, ask.

4.     File your stories on time—or earlier. Unless you are an award-winning columnist, editors will not tolerate reporters who repeatedly miss deadlines.

5.     Offer to learn to work on the copy desk for a limited time. It will improve your writing and help you understand the nightly challenges faced by the copy desk. Building relationships with the editors who read your stories will pay off later.

6.     Communicate with the people working on your story. This includes photographers who are shooting art and graphics editors who might be designing a complementary package.

7.     Support your writing with solid reporting. Do not let Internet research replace traditional reporting skills. Call sources, go to the courthouse, use the library. Confirm information you research on the Internet with a telephone call.

8.     Accept every assignment with enthusiasm (feign enthusiasm, if necessary).

9.     Use fewer words. Filing a crisp 12-inch story will earn more kudos than turning in a 16-inch story that needs to be trimmed.

10.   Don’t be afraid to question an editor’s decision. Editors sometimes make mistakes too. Constructive dialogue between editors and reporters will improve your story—and prevent errors.

Lauren Cabell started her neighborhood’s first handwritten newspaper when she was 9 years old. She earned her master’s degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California and has held various editing positions at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. She now works for the International Herald Tribune in Paris.