The line editor will also make sure that word choice contributes to the overall tone of the book. Line editing sometimes overlaps the areas of developmental editing and copy editing, and in some publishing fields the line editor and copy editor positions are combined into one.
However, this type of editing goes beyond just checking for proper grammar. A line editor's main focus is to be deeply in tune with the author's voice and to make it come to life. Paragraph and sentence structure is the main focus of line editing, ensuring ideas are expressed with both strength and clarity.
Instead of 'fixing' the author's voice, a good line editor will make the voice stronger and sharper. Copy Editor The copy editor is one of the last people to go over a manuscript before it is ready for print. He or she will examine the document for inconsistencies in theme, style, and factual information.
Permission is checked for copyright material, ensuring there will be no legal conflict. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are also scanned again. The main purpose of the copy editor is to make sure the text that is used is clear, will maintain the interest of the reader, and maintain in-house style rules. Production Editor In the home stretch, the edited manuscript goes to the production editor who oversees the transition between manuscript and published book.
This is the last person to review the material before print. This type of editor manages the typesetting, artwork, and budgeting, and ensures quality is met in all other areas of editing. Production editing is a multi-faceted role that requires a mix of editorial and project-management skills. Being a production editor is all about quality control, and differs from other editors in the scale of the changes being made micro vs.
A production editor deals with small-scale, non-substantive changes, while other editors look at larger-scale, substantive changes. Production editors are also trained in other quality control checks that include: proofreading, copyediting, extensive formatting checks, and more. Editor In Chief All the operations of managing a newspaper or a magazine are the responsibility of the editor in chief also known as the executive editor or editor at large.
The editor in chief is responsible for the look of the product, the type of content produced, the number of articles that need to be written, and for ensuring that each issue is released on time. He or she also oversees all department editors as well as the hiring and firing , and has the final say on what gets published.
The editor in chief is responsible for creating an editorial board, which is basically an outline of what needs to be included in the newspaper or magazine issue. Every issue has its own board. When all articles and images have been submitted for an issue, the editor in chief will review everything for accuracy and will make any necessary changes to the layouts and to the design. Engagement Editor An engagement editor has the job of identifying stories that are going to resonate with the newspaper's or magazine's audience.
Engagement editors also discover the best strategies and tactics in which to deliver those stories. They work with the editorial team to recommend an angle or an idea, or identify trending stories that are primed to take off with a specific audience.
This is often done by using social media and analytics tools. Ultimately, engagement editors need to ensure that the stories they are presenting are staying true to what the company's brand is, and what the audience is able to resonate with. Managing Editor The managing editor is responsible for enforcing the policies that have been set out by the editor in chief, and supervises the day-to-day operations of the publication.
Both the managing editor and the editor in chief are actively involved in choosing the topics of interest they think their readers will find compelling to read, and to make sure all sides of a topic are reported on. Often, these topics of interest will be presented to them by the engagement editor and the editorial team.
Once a decision has been made on what the topics will be, the managing editor will take over and assign articles to the writers, answer questions, suggest ideas, keep things on schedule, and eventually approve articles and stories for final copy. At times, the managing editor will take on the writing of one or more of the stories, and may even be responsible for a specific section of the newspaper or magazine.
Copy Editor The copy editor or sub editor for a newspaper or magazine checks the facts, spelling, grammar, structure, and punctuation of articles, stories, and captions. He or she may write headlines or introductory paragraphs, arrange the layouts and sidebars, review photos, make sure captions match the photos, and suggest word changes to prevent any legal issues. Copy editors are also responsible for making sure that articles and stories match the in-house style guides.
Editors have distinct personalities. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if editor is one of your top career matches. An editor's hours are generally determined by the production schedule and by the type of editorial position they have. Advances in electronic communications have changed the work environment for writers and editors alike.
Editors are able to do a lot of their editing from their homes, but most salaried editors work in-house, dealing with production deadlines and the pressures of trying to produce accurate work. Writers may or may not have a say over corrections that are made to make the work meet house style. At mid-sized and larger presses, editors generally do not do publicity.
But an editor will suggest revisions for the writer to make. There is some speculation among publishing industry insiders about the roles of editors in the future. Self-publishing has made editors seem unnecessary to some writers, since a self-published book can often be printed without prior editorial critique.
For now, if you want to get your stories, poems, and essays published with literary magazines, you will need to send your writing to an editor. And if you want to get your book published with a top publishing house, you will need to find a literary agent who can skillfully suggest writer-editor pairings and help a writer get a foot in the door.
Interesting article. I always thought the editor and proofreader duties were the same. Thanks for clearing that up.
Your article was helpful in gaining a better understanding of who does what in publishing today. Thanks for sharing your nuggets of wisdom. Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment. I am looking forward to working with the team on getting my new novel out into the world. Day s. Hour s. Minute s. Second s. Read everything you can on writing and editing fiction. Before you start looking for employment in the field, do some editing.
See if you like it. There are great groups everywhere. There are many online groups you can join—just Google your genre and see what you can find. But also look for a group that meets near you. Check with your local library or just Google writing groups and your town name.
Hi, Recently I have discovered as well as remembered things about myself that have encouraged me to look for descriptions about jobs in editing. I believe I would like to experiment with the editor field before graduating to find out whether it truly is what I am looking for. But I am afraid of making a decision without knowing someone that has been where I want to go. Thank you. Annabella, do you have specific questions I can answer for you? What topics would you like to know about?
Everyone should find a career that fulfills and challenges them. Thanks again for replying. In the past few days I have been reading about the editing profession and I believe it fits me. And now I need to ask, how do I become an editor? What could I do in regards to my school work? And if I am not hired on the first few tries because I lack experience, what could I do to gain experience?
Give yourself an exposure to unusual fields and to a variety of fields. Pick up an extra literature class. Or, if your school offers them, try a writing class or two or three. And read everything you can about what goes into creating quality writing. Many are available through libraries. You can give yourself a great education by working your way through all the craft books. And do some editing. Look at articles online and edit them. Pull out a book and start editing.
Get a book of short stories and edit them. Maybe a member of a writing group would let you practice with a discarded manuscript—you can always ask. Well, thanks a lot once again. I am a senior in high school and would like to become an Acquisitions editor for fiction I know I need a minimum of a bachelors degree I also know ill need to work my way up but what will that be exactly? Will I need to be a good writer even though ill be reading manuscripts? As an acquisitions editor you may well need to be able to make suggestions to your authors.
Definitely learn some of the ins and outs of writing and fiction. You might want to check out this article on What an Editor Should Study , at least as a starting point. I live in a gated which publishes a monthly newspaper of happenings in our community along with ads for businesses wishing to do business here. For a number of years our newspaper had a page for reporting religious articles in which there was mentioning God, prayer and scripture verses.
The religious page also publishes times for meetings of different faiths within the community. Is it the responsibility of the editor to allow or disallow such reporting. I live in a gated community which publishes a monthly newspaper of happenings in our community along with ads for businesses wishing to do business here.
Hi Beth, Thank you so much for such an informative blog. If you have a moment, would you mind answering one of my questions? Thank you so much for your time. This past January I was thrown into a long-term substitution position very suddenly for a teacher that was forced to leave due to criminal charges. So my question is, do you think my background in education would help me get into some sort of career in editing? I was also hoping that you could tell me if I would require additional formal education to pursue a career in this field.
Would you happen to have any tips that could help me decide? Should I try to shadow an editor to see the kind of work they do? Laura, I certainly hope you find the career that fits. Start your own studies. Read all the books on writing and self-editing. Join a writers group. And start editing. Pull out a few published books and edit them. Look for plot weaknesses and problems with characters. Look for an overbalance of elements. Try to identify problems. Then open some more books and edit those.
But you will develop a sense for creating multiple options that are all suitable for the same story. Make no promises for the edits. And then ask to edit more. And read, read, read. Any and everything. Editing takes practice. And practicing with already published books is a great way to learn.
Practicing with short stories would also be helpful since you can easily see how a change in one page affects other story elements. Also, determine if you want to edit or proofread; the two are not the same. See which one appeals more. As for shadowing an editor?
It depends on the kind of editor, I suppose. Let us know how your journey into editing progresses. And best of success to you. Thank you for all the details. So what are the qualifications needed to be an editor? I am used to teaching English and translating documents in English to my mother tongue language and vice versa, but have never been an editor myself. If you work for a publisher, you may actually work on manuscripts, editing them, or you may read manuscripts to decide if any should be pursued by your company.
Or you may find yourself in meetings much of the day, trying to determine which stories your company should pursue and how they should be pursued. You may be deal more with the business of the company than with the writers and their projects. Seldom does any editor only sit with a manuscript all day, giving it her full attention.
But as a writer does much more than solely write, so an editor does much more than solely edit a manuscript. Much of any one of my days may be spent passing e-mails with my clients, answering questions or helping them work out an issue.
I also often point out the reasons behind editing suggestions—explaining the fiction or writing issues that are involved and why one edit option may be better for a scene than another would be. If you want to work with writers and their manuscripts directly, you may want to pursue a freelance career. Thank you for quelling my fears of submitting my book. I am a health and wellness coach and would like to reach a much larger audience.
I love reading and writing, and whenever I read I always tend to go over passages more than once and learn from the grammar. Is there a position in editing where the editor only finds grammatical errors, more so in books? Reditor, you may be thinking of a proofreader or a copy editor rather than a content editor. Yet even people in these positions would do more than check only grammar. Thanks for the enlightenment on editors.
My question then is, can the writer of an organizational newsletter be her editor as well? In an organization with a communications unit, where one writes, takes pictures and designs a corporate newsletter without adverts but only hands the ready material to the printer, what is that person called?
This person might well be called managing editor or just plain editor. For periodicals, they, instead of an editor or with the editor, may be the ones to choose content or decide on themes for different issues. They currently have 18 journalists on their board.
The L. Times currently has 10 members on their board. What a great site. Your enthusiasm is contagious. My question is, would it be tacky to offer to do the job for free after having bid on it? On the other, I wonder if it would hurt my credibility. Any thoughts you might have would be very much appreciated. My first thought is to just leave it as is.
You made your decision, and she probably already made hers. Going after her may make you seem desperate. Instead of following after her, just accept that you might have made a mistake. But why would you do it for free? Your time and skills are worth payment.
But if you need to jump in and actually do some editing, get involved with a writing or critique group. At the same time, offer special edit prices for group members or for seniors. Be consistent in how you offer discounts.
This way you at least get some editing in. Do you have a web presence? If so, give away a free edit of the first 30 or 50 pages for one lucky visitor to your blog or website. Promote this wherever you have connections and get people to come to your website.
Visit other blogs and leave comments. And draw people to you. Connect with writing resource centers at local colleges or high schools—that kind of help you can give away for free. You may make connections that lead to paying jobs. Teach a workshop or present a program at your library or for other writing groups in your area. Make yourself available and get your name out there. I was going to say that she might come back to you, asking questions, and if so, that would be the time to tell her you wanted to do something special for her in terms of price.
But every time I think of suggesting this, it seems wrong. And what do you say? Neither option seems like a good idea. I have to admit that while helping someone out is a good impulse, the ways this could possibly play out, and not to your favor, have me suggesting that you just leave the whole thing as is. If she comes back, then you have a client.
I recognize that I have to do things differently and your feedback helps a lot in that respect. The idea occurred to me when I read your suggestion to someone else here who was just starting out, which I likened to my trying to freshen up a career that has been inactive for a couple of years. In fact, think volunteer editing—for which there is ample opportunity—might be another way.
Thanks so much for your wonderful and timely feedback and for pointing me in the right direction. Definitely get a web presence going. If you plan to edit for writers outside of your small town, you need to make yourself known. Give writers a way to find you.
I hope you find great success and satisfaction as you get back into editing. Hi Beth, Thank you so much for the world of information on your pages.
You have an amazing knowledge of what needs to be done…and how. I self published my first true crime book about my life as a female bailbondsman…not the pap you see on tv. The real stuff. In its third printing, but not much money so far. My fault…too busy pursuing my 30 year occupation, profession, love affair with the craziness of it all…being a private investigator. Slowing down now and have first draft of a page true crime story invoking many of my real life adventures.
Also heavily involved in a sequel to Bail Bonds Babylon and having a lotof fun with it. Met a great editor from LA and we are working out details of her total edit of the second book.
What an inspiration you are to new writers, would-be editors and all of us out there dallying with the written word. Thank you again Laura. I hope you have a marvelous long-term relationship with your editor. Hi, Thanks for such a comprehensive article. I am new into the field of copyediting. Before entering this profession, I have been an English language teacher.
Also, I have done some freelance writing and editing. How can I enhance my copyediting skills to excel in my profession? Could you also suggest some authentic yet affordable courses in copyediting. Looking forward to your response. Thank you! Thanks for this article. Got to know about new things that can make my posts better.. I am new to blogging and this information will really help me.. Very useful article it is. I just found your blog and it has interested me in many ways. This was very informative and I found it to be quite helpful compared to other websites.
I just have a quick question: I would love to edit books! But are there different types of editors for a book, like a primary editor and a proof reader, etc..? I am still in high school and I think I would enjoy this occupation but I am trying to decide which type I would enjoy the most. Thanks for the information. It is very helpful. Your article are very useful for editing services. I have just written a first novel. A mystery thriller of pages linking Tudor times to today.
I employed an editor who was recommended to me and having taken my script I heard nothing from her until she returned it with entire chapters struck out or transposed along with whole paragraphs while replacing many words with almost identical one of her own choice and effectively superimposing a boring tone in which her own views on life came very apparent.
The changes were so great it was almost impossible to compare to my own book. I have subsequently made only a few changes and published on Google as my experience tells me that my editor had a pre-formed view of how a book should be written and was not prepared to go along with any change from the norm, especially if it is controversial as my book The Royal Secret is.
Getting a sense of the kinds of suggestions and comments an editor will make is helpful for a writer. The next time you engage an editor, ask for a sample edit. And if the editors you approach are like me, you also might receive suggestions for rewriting before the editor takes on the work. Some manuscripts are simply not ready for an edit, and a reputable editor will inform the writer of that fact. I wish you success with your writing career. And I hope you find an editor and other resources to help you advance that career.
Most are simply trying to put out a good product, one they recognize through experience and knowledge of the marketplace. Publishers like controversial books—they bring attention, readers, and money. But a controversial book still must be well written and must do all those things that great books do in order to keep readers turning pages.
A good book must entertain and touch reader emotions. It must make readers care about characters and what happens to them. It must keep the reader wondering and curious. And it must do all of these things clearly, in ways easily understood by the multitude of readers. The truth is that writers need that extra eye to help them see the weaknesses—and the strengths—of their own stories.
And whether a writer hires an editor or takes advantage of a great critique partner, every writer could use an outside eye to read and then report back on the strengths and weaknesses of a story. Hi, I have always thought I wanted to be a teacher, even going so far as to attend a high school for teaching, but now I have realized I want to work in editing.
I always wanted to be involved in English, but I always thought it was going to be by teaching it. I am now in my senior year in high school, and I have realized that I want to be an editor. I have always loved grammar and proof reading. I analyze books all the time and am an avid reader.
I live in Las Vegas, and I want to work for a publishing firm for non-fiction books. How should I go about this?
What should I major in and what classes should I take? Should I move somewhere with more publishing companies, like New York? Do I need to intern?
Also, what are some colleges you would recommend, and how did u get into the editing field? Is it hard to find a job in the field after getting a degree? Sorry to bombard you with questions; any help answering any of them would be greatly appreciated. KKNikki, I wish you success as you start out. Editing is wonderfully enjoyable. Sometimes tedious, sometimes challenging, sometimes flat-out delightful, but always something different and engaging.
Your article really helps me to clarify many things. I started to search universities outside my country. I really want to know if studying abroad will be a good idea. What do you think? Is it a good idea?
Maria, studying anywhere and anything is useful for a great many purposes. Travel when you can and enjoy it. Trizah, it sounds as if you have a talent for writing and or editing. Why not see what you can do with your talent, maybe take some classes and add some new skills to those you already have.
I am a professionally trained proofreader and an experienced copy-editor. I have a real passion for the written word. I keep my prices low, because of my firm belief that no book should go to the publisher unedited. I hope your passion for editing makes you very successful and that you continue to edit for many years. I read your article and felt editing could be something for me. Somehow I became class editor, which was the first of my editing experience and people would queue to have their compositions edited by me.
I have a severe lack of self-confidence due to a childhood incident and mental abuse by my mother and bullying. I came across your blog because a friend told me my critical dissection of her story was better than the workshop she attended. I feel like words can tell a lot about a person, and the characters and their mental state. Your post on Nanowrimo and Jack of all trades got me thinking.
My interest in writing faded due to flames and cyber bullying for the second time, but I thought back to all those unfinished works.
I write fanfiction, so 50 words is not much to me, but I always seem to lose interest in my own work. I have more interest in the writing of others than my own, and I seem to have the skill of reading people which facilitated my interest in psychology from my years of social exclusion, so it just seemed editing could be a job for me.
I always wanted to be a psychologist, but when I learnt it would take 10 years to be one, it just seemed like too much time.
But I wanted to be a psychologist because I spent most of my life helping people, and it seemed like the perfect job. I wanted to have something worthwhile for not being able to enjoy my teenage years helping people after I was being bullied like everyone else and my childhood. You mentioned editing is helping the writer. I prefer to be in the background and help someone else shine than shine myself, so perhaps editing could be for me. Because when I read the part about being a fiction editor, it was what I did for that editing request, without knowing until now.
I have finished writing a book in Microsoft Office it has 95 pages and 5, words. I also have applied for copyright and purchased ISBN. Is 95 pages considered a small book? This is my first book and I wrote it because I have a story to tell.
It is not an autobiography, it is a love story of an older retired couple. There are so many stories about the young, but, older love exists looking at the millennium living today, they have stories too.
I have done several proof reading and made many correction, but, I still need to have it edited. Do you feel that finding an editor at this point is the next step before publishing? Then go back and read it. Also consider joining a writing or a critique group so other writers can give you an idea of what areas may need some work. After this, it may be time to contact an editor.
Fifty-three thousand words is low for a novel but could work for other types of books. Is it a true story? If so, the low word count might not be a problem. Hi, I like your weblog. I just found it. I think it can help me. Actually my mother tongue is not English,I hope I can write in right way to you. I must be factual that I have realy learnt many things that will help my proposed new carrer as a freelance editor, but would like to be intimated about the basic challenges am likely to face as a freelance editor.
First of all I would like to say wonderful blog! I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing. I have had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
Appreciate it! As you mentioned, a copy editor mostly checks to make sure that everything in the article makes sense, and that everything is punctuated correctly.
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