How can I become an editor?

Question

I have a full time job unrelated to the field and I have no college background. I don't plan on spending thousands of dollars on a college education and I would like to work from home. Do all employers require a college degree?

Answer 1

As an experienced editor, I can tell you for a fact that it is a difficult profession to break into--especially without a related degree. 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.

The work at home aspect is very nice, though. Just don't let people take advantage of you. You'll find plenty of writers 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 up to you. 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)

*****

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Working from home is difficult unless you are a freelance copy editor. You may be able to start with a couple of courses under your belt, but it will take considerable experience before you are competent.

Copy editing is not the same as being an editor of books, which is a full time job that requires a ton of hours at the office and another ton of hours working at home in the evenings and on weekends. IMHO, it is probably the worst paying job in the world when considering all the hours you have to put in. Editors have to deal with the manuscript, with temperamental authors who are emotional because their work is being taken apart, marketers who want to dictate what should or should not be published, designers, publicists and other editors who feel their books are more important than yours. All the while watching the bottom line. These people do not get nearly enough credit.

Oh, yes, book editors are, of course, among the most well-read, informed people I know. They have to be. So usually the jobs requires a college education.

You cannot start to edit newspapers or magazines unless you have a lot of reporting under your belt.

I know nothing about editing plays or screenplays.

I'm sorry to be discouraging, but it really is not that easy.

Answer 4

The chances of getting an editing job without a degree in either English or Journalism is virtually nil.

Breaking into the industry typically involves an unpaid internship while in college, then grabbing the first editorial assistant job you can get your hands on and working your way up, jumping from publisher to publisher if necessary.

Copy editors can sometimes get freelance work from home, but most editors work in an office, which typically means living in major cities like NY, LA, Chicago, etc. And don't fall for the old "publishers need readers to work from home" scam.

If this is your dream, if you live to edit, then bite the bullet and go back to school, or you're going to have to find another dream.

Answer 5

For anything above a typewriter or proofreader-in fact, for most jobs that net more than minimum wage, unless you want to start your own business, you need a college degree. Ask some employers about their specific requirements.

Answer 6

Yeah, for that kind of job you would be highly lucky and a rare one to get in without a degree. And personally that would also be unfair to all those that worked hard to get it...