How can I become a book editor?

Question

I want to have a career in book editing. What steps can I take such as college majors and internships to make my dream come true?

Answer 1

Read widely, Live life fully. Major in English. Get a masters degree in English. Don't disdain learning marketing and public relations skills. While undergrad, volunteer to edit other student's papers, help with any club newsletters, assist any writers you can find with office, computer work. Fall in love with literature. And appreciate non-fiction, too. Start a blog reviewing books. As much as you can at any stage, be involved passionately with books and with the making of books. Try to stay professional, gracious, positive --- and firmly yet gently discerning. And do try very hard to become an intern at a publishing house, either small press or large press (both have great value to offer). Even if all you do is photocopy there, keep your ears and eyes open and opportunity will never slide past you. May your dreams come true.

Answer 2

As an experienced editor, I can tell you for a fact that it is a difficult profession to break into. I have degrees in English and History, with a strong background in grammar and spelling. Those are key elements if you want to build a reputation as an editor.

Once you become a freelance editor, you'll find plenty of people who want you to "take a look" at their books, but don't want to pay for your time. If you want to work for free or you're looking to build your reputation or client base by editing books just to get your name on a cover, that's okay. I wouldn't make a habit of it, though.

Fortunately, there are sites now that advertise or broker editing work, proofreading assignments and other types of freelance writing gigs. The Craigslist is one of the better ones. Do a web search for that and then email some of the registered freelancers on the site to see if/when they get paid for their work. Some websites WILL rip you off, so be careful.

Also, if you really intend to become an editor, you must above all else be an expert speller and grammarian. There is no wiggle room for errors. There is no excuse for English not being your first language, either. In short, there are NO excuses for typos or misused words like "it's" and "its" or "affect" and "effect". You cannot rely on spell checkers or even Word functions that check your grammar. They will NOT catch those kinds of errors.

Okay, lecture over. Good luck finding work. It's tough, but it sure beats digging ditches.

Jon F. Baxley (Author, Editor, Ghostwriter and Proofreader)
THE SCYTHIAN STONE
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY
THE REGENTS OF RHUM (coming, fall '07)

(For a FREE copy of The Scythian Stone or a full color, four chapter illustrated demo of The Blackgloom Bounty, email me at [e-mail]).

*****

Answer 3

Ok, seriously: ENGLISH MAJOR at a really good college with a reputation for producing really strong English majors. You want to take the short route, OK, I have a really really terrific book completed , prepared, been rejected a few dozen times both in the USA and Europe (the last one said it was "too hot" right now, whatever that means). You edit it and rep for it with the publishing companies. You sell it. It becomes a big hit (obviously) and (naturally) gets made into next summer's block busting hit. You get paid big time twice and have a track record as a winner in the literary world...so, what do you think (BTW I really do have a terrific book written and rejected, just like I said)...
...If you are in the Great Lakes area, Gannon University is really awesome, so is St. Bonaventure, Syracuse is over rated, but has New York City connections....

Answer 4

When you find your career path let me know I am writing a book. I could use an editor. Good luck!

Answer 5

Just write a nice book everybody would like to published.

Answer 6

You've got to become a failed writer first. All editors are wanna be's.