Line editing may be similar to crunching numbers, but dealing with re-writes, tone, pacing, flow, plot issues, and polishing characterization, to name a few, require just as much creativity as writing the rough draft. I contend it requires more since this is where the rough stone is cut to show its facets, and polished to allow all of those facets to shine. I find this aspect of editing to be much more cerebral And creative than laying down a rough draft because this is where we have to come up with the best possible solutions for all of the story issues. And this is where we take the story to the next level of quality.