5 Things I Found Out On My Way to Become an Editor

Everyone is an editor in some form. A student will edit his essay, a writer edits an article they’ve written, an author edits pages in the book, and they are all editors. A professional editor gets paid for doing the editing. It doesn’t matter what type of writing the editor is working on; the aim is always to improve on what was written. The editor and writer are accountable for making sure the text is interesting, clear, and accurate. These forms of writing can be a news release, report, speech, article, book manuscript, blog, website or any other type of written text.

Anyone who writes something and posts it on the Internet is a publisher. So it’s even more important that they also become good editors or hire someone to edit their work for them. Here are 5 things I found out on my way to becoming an editor.

1. I Had to Have an Interest in Language

Language is fascinating to editors as they delight in making the text flow effortlessly. We enjoy taking a piece of information, that’s very complicated, and turning it into something the reader can understand. And it’s rewarding to convey the point with the perfect word. There’s a passion inside them for accuracy and detail. Mistakes in any written publication are abhorred by editors, and that includes sentences that are incorrectly structured, arguments that are illogical, and statistics that are inaccurate.

2. I Had to Think For My Living

I had to learn to listen to what I was reading and learning new things that would improve my editing. I needed to learn to create categories, see patterns, and organize thoughts and ideas. And I also had to learn to question any proofs, conjectures, and theories. I knew I was skillful in structure, spelling, and grammar but there were other things I needed to have the ability to do properly.
I now have to work with a deadline, keep my eye on the financial accounts, use a variety of references, and work with others who are part of the process of publication. I learned to come up with the best content, structure, and format for each audience that the writer is aiming at and the purpose of the message.

3. How I Work and Where I Do It

I am a freelance writer now, and I can work where I want and when I want. However, before becoming a freelancer, I learned a lot by working with other editors and publishers, writers, designers, photographers, and web developers. Technology has played a major part in the evolution of editing. Instead of using a red pen, I edit using my computer, a keyboard, and a mouse. I always try to keep up with the changes and if there’s software out there that can help me, I give it a try.
There are many starting points to begin an editing career. Some are writers who slowly move into editing and some study writing, journalism, or communications and move directly into editing. Then others are working in an entirely different field and are somehow drawn in the area of editing. When I went into editing, I chose to work full time because I wanted the steady income and the stability. A few years later, I decided I wanted to be in control over my life, so I became a freelance editor. Freelancing can be great for parents with children at home, retirees, night owls, and people who want to work as they feel like it.
I generate my income from several different employers because I am considered an independent contractor. Sometimes I find myself working for one employer for a longer period of time. Freelancers usually have times when they’re busy and slow times. I try to schedule my work, so it’s spread out evenly over the year. When a job is winding down, chances are, I’ve already accepted another one to replace it. As some companies may be downsizing and technology continues to advance, freelance editors are now, and will continue to be in high demand.

4. There are Drawbacks & Rewards

Over a period, there can be a certain amount of anxiety, and if you can’t handle it, you should not become an editor. As a freelance editor, I enjoy my freedom to choose the projects I want to work on; I can set my own hours, and work from my home. And all of this takes discipline, but the challenges are worth it. There are pressures including meeting very tight deadlines and total accuracy. Every once in a while, an editor may need some outside help to meet a deadline, and I highly recommend TopWritingReviews.

5. Things I’m Still Working On

I have developed a curious nature, and I think it’s because, in my editing work, I’m always criticizing or questioning. I seem to thrive on ambition, perseverance, resilience, drive, and sometimes perfection. These may not all be good traits for everyday life, but they’re great for a freelance editor. I continue to seek new life experiences by getting out in the world and cultivating new friendships.

Being a freelance editor isn’t as easy as it may sound, but the benefits I get are enormous. The rewards of creating a very successful on my own are way beyond anything I could ever have imagined. It’s true what they say; there’s absolutely nothing in this world more rewarding and fulfilling than to be without a boss!

My life as a freelance editor is fulfilling and rewarding. It doesn’t take an education, but it does take a love of language. By taking a piece of writing and turning into something special for the writer, I find I’m very content with the help I’m providing.