Contacting the writer is a good idea because

Subs can clear up any queries. Especially important if the subject of the entry is alien to them. Also, if the writer doesn't get back to you, you can say 'well I did ask you'.

It gives the writer an opportunity to read the final edit before the Sub sends it back inhouse.

It's polite, as the entry is the writer's 'baby'.

Potentially, Subs can unintentionally add incorrect facts, which could be addressed if the author is contacted before the entry goes up on the front page.

If you assume that the writer knows their subject better than you, then 99 times on 100, the writer will assume that you know sub-editing better than they do. That way, the facts are right, the style is right, everyone's happy.

If you don't consult the author before you send the entry back to the inhouse Editors, the inhouse Editors may have to make the changes inhouse, adding unnecessarily to their workload (!)

Also, from the writer's point of view

It makes them feel as if they have had a say in their completed entry.

For one writer, not being contacted ended up spoiling the pride they usually felt when an entry is put in the Edited Guide.

Another said 'I would appreciate it if the subed did drop by, because you never know when they are actually working on it. Even if you do wait until it is perfect before submitting it to PR, your brain still subconsciously
continues to work on it and quite often I have thought of a better phraseology or a further point to be added here or there.'

However, there are potential problems with contacting a writer because

Subs often either receive no reply or one very much later, and it holds things up, which is difficult when there's a deadline on entries to be sent back within a month.

Some entries need so much work that, it would take forever to edit if a dialogue was entered into.

There seems to be a common perception that if an entry makes it through PR and is recommended by a Scout, it is perfect as is, and shouldn't need any changes. And so potential flame wars can be severe.

Maybe the writer could be told in the post which says
the entry has been moved out of peer review to go to
the coming up page. There they can see the final
article, and who is the sub.

The options for contacting/not contacting writers are

• Contact the writer via their homepage.
• Contact the writer via the Peer Review thread (pro: anyone who has contributed to the thread can see the Sub's comments, con: though when an entry is accepted many unsubscribe to this thread).
• Subscribe to the entries that you've subbed and if anything comes up in the forum, you can inform the inhouse editors about any changes that are necessary.
• Don't contact the writer.