galassi's yin theory of publishing - from The Art of Literary Publishing

Galassi and the Author - The Double Agent: The Role of the Literary Editor in Commercial Publishing, p. 79, The Art of Literary Publishing.

YIN

a. An equation of factors that combined equal critical empathy for the book and the Author.

For this you need to know:

• 
  How it feels to the writer (the book)
  How it is experienced by the reader
  Essentially you’re looking at the intent of the Author and how this is parlayed to the reader. As the Editor, it’s your job to make sure the message comes through the way the Author intended.

b. To achieve what he calls Critical Empathy (which are all of these things combined) you need to have a dispassionate distance. In short, you need to be able to work both at a remove as well as be able to put yourself entirely in the project.

• This Critical Empathy – just think of the work empathy – is an empathy and understanding of Author, Book, Intent, What the reader would expect given what the Author is trying for and it is your job to get the manuscript there.