Editing a story you don't agree with

[AlphaLyon]

Question for my fellow editors:
How do you deal with editing a story that contains content you find either objectionable or aren't into?

So what had happened was:
I agreed to edit/localize a story for someone here since English is not their first language. Story is fine, interesting concept with a coming-of-age sexcapades narrative. Half way through, there's a scene where one of the side characters has sex with his own sister.
Incest creeps me out and I find it very disturbing.
This is the only aspect to the story like this that I have issues with.

So what would you do?
a) reject the story back to the person completely?
b) return the story back with the changes you've made so far?
c) re-edit the story so the translation of the story does not include incest?
d) re-write or minimize the incest aspect? (as in "oh, he calls her his sister, but they've just know each other since childhood")
d) complete the edit job as-is since you agreed and committed to helping them?
e) something else?

 

[ElectricBlue]

a. or b. Editing is a free service and you set your own rules regarding content you want to deal with. The author should have told you what was in the story.

b. is the good faith option with a polite note. The writer might not be aware of the subtleties of content, if English is their second language.

 

[Todger65]

Return unedited, but you could save yourself problems in the future by telling the author what subject content you won’t touch and get their agreement before accepting the story. That has worked for me over the years and only one out of hundreds had a passing reference to one of my no go subjects. As it was not descriptive, I let it go.

 

[KeithD]

Return unedited, but you could save yourself problems in the future by telling the author what subject content you won’t touch and get their agreement before accepting the story. That has worked for me over the years and only one out of hundreds had a passing reference to one of my no go subjects. As it was not descriptive, I let it go.

This. I've done edits professionally that I strongly disagreed with (e.g., a paranormal publisher and the Heritage Foundation), but that was for pay. When I did it, I concentrated on presenting their arguments clearly as they wanted to make them and trying not to include my own biases. I don't see that you need to compel yourself to do that for a free edit, but as Todger says, you should try to make clear what you won't edit up front. It looks like what was there in your example was just a sideline blindsiding instance.

 

[AlphaLyon]

In Summation....

I appreciate all of the comments.

As the section was at the end of the first part of the story, and I had already done the work up to that point (I edited as I read the story: mistake #1), what I ended up doing was sending him the revision up to that point and told him that I wouldn't be able to continue with the second part of his story.

I felt that part of it was my fault for making a rookie mistake of not asking for details upfront (mistake #2, and what a way to learn on my first story edit!) and also the language barrier didn't help. He seemed understanding and apologized, so I think we both learned lessons on how to communicate better for next time.

Again, I appreciate all of the advice and hope that this thread can serve as a lesson to all future editors to:
1. Ask for the themes of the story up front.
2. Read the story in full before committing to being an editor on it.
3. Don't feel pressured to say "no" after discovering something that alters the "contract".