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Do you correct the grammar in your friends’ texts? Have you memorized the AP Style book? Do you have a strong opinion about the Oxford comma?
Face the facts – you’re an editor at heart. But while you can point out the mistakes in textbooks all day, becoming a professional editor can be quite a feat. So what first? Before you dive into the industry, Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC) suggests evaluating your interests and abilities.
“Most people become professional editors because they’re intrigued by language,” EAC says via their website. “They enjoy finding just the right word to convey a point, making sense of a complicated piece of information and working with text until it flows smoothly. They have a passion for detail and accuracy. They find themselves drawn to editing because they can’t ignore the mistakes they see in publications. They notice illogical arguments, inaccurate statistics and poorly constructed sentences.”
READ MORE: What It Takes to Be an Editor in the Publishing World
Do you fit the description? Take these first steps on your road to becoming an editor. Read on, syntax queen.
Sure, every editor must love words, but you can’t make it as an editor in the business on letters alone. A potential editor must have a game plan if she hopes to make a dent in the market.
“A career in editing goes beyond a love of language,” EAC says. “Successful editors turn that interest and skill into a way to earn a living and have an impact on the world around them.” Only move forward if you’re serious about the industry and ready to get your hands dirty in digital ink.
Editing isn’t just print publishing. There are many industries – ranging from marketing to education – in dire need of editors. Within those diverse markets there are exhaustive potential roles available.
According to The Huffington Post, there are developmental editors, line or substantive editors, copy editors and proofreaders for the book industry alone. Explore possibilities through internships and part-time gigs to see what type of editing you prefer before committing to a full-time role.
Freelancing grants you independence and flexibility with hours, projects or clients. Published author and professional editor Michael Larocca recommends the service Upwork (formerly Elance) for anyone dipping their toes into the industry.
READ MORE: 6 Internet Jobs That Actually Pay
“The reason why Elance [Upwork] is a good place to start is that today there are a lot of people looking for ghostwriters to write that shallow, terrible content that you see on content-farm websites,” Larocca said via Sell Out Your Soul. “The pay is horrible and the work isn’t very rewarding. But I think that Elance [Upwork] still has the highest percentage of good editing work and writing services.”
While self-employed work offers flexibility, in-house jobs provide more stability. The website Copyediting offers up four perks of working in the office, including medical coverage and predictable work hours. These benefits may outweigh the freedom of freelancing depending on your personality, location and circumstances. Aside from that steady paycheck each week, you’ll walk into an environment full of creative individuals who inspire and motivate you.
You want to be an editor, so don’t reinvent the wheel. Look to books for a helpful hand before tackling that to-do list. Check out some useful reading from the library or on your Kindle to get some expert advice. If you’re scrapping for cash before landing that first editor job, we highly recommend EAC’s “So You Want to Be an Editor” – get your free PDF copy here. These texts will offer up some invaluable insight – as well as serve as prime examples of quality editing to emulate.
READ MORE: Self-Publishing: Is It the Right Way to Go?
