Why Write with an Editor (Human or Otherwise)?

What does it mean to invite another mind—human or machine—into your writing process? Editors don’t just polish prose; they help authors shape ideas for specific purposes and audiences.

In this discussion, Heidi Nobles, Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric and Director of Writing Across the Curriculum at UVA, explores how editorial collaboration reshapes authorship, ownership, and revision in an age of intelligent tools. Together, we’ll consider what human editors actually do—from developmental to structural to copy—and how those practices do or don’t translate when working productively with AI “editors.”

Expect an open, curiosity-driven conversation about trust, training, and transparency. How might we teach a virtual editor? Who owns the work that emerges? And what practical habits can help writers use these tools ethically and effectively? Whether you’re a writer, researcher, or simply AI-curious, join us to rethink what editing means when the editor isn’t always human.

Hosted by the Scholars' Lab Research and Development team, these weekly, informal gatherings combine the freshest coffee with presentations focusing on the technical aspects of ongoing projects, demonstrations by invited guests, or new tools we're experimenting with lately that might help you develop your own projects or practice.