What readers are saying
So You Want to Be an Editor is a blueprint for editorial character, filling the gap between “I want to be an editor” and “How do I become one?” Tia addresses the questions whose answers direct a new editor’s initial efforts and determine what kind of editor they will eventually become. Highly recommended.
This short book is the perfect read for novice editors, offering inspiration and practical advice.
Many books have been written about the practice of copyediting, the intricacies of language and style, and starting a freelance editing business. This isn’t another reference guide and won’t teach someone how to copyedit; instead, Tia Ross, a 35-year veteran editor, mentor, and coach, published this slim volume for individuals considering a career in editing or proofreading, and for novice editors.
Ross asks her readers some essential questions, beginning with “Why do you want to be an editor?” She asks the reader to consider the type of editor they will be and explores “what’s required to make a career of editing or proofreading.” The section “What Type of Editor?” examines “Characteristics of an Effective Editor” (which continues with “Editor Types You Don’t Want to Be”) and encourages aspiring editors to consider their personality in terms of their goals and how they expect to interact with their client, the author. Though the book doesn’t go extensively into concepts such as the levels of editing or the complexities and tasks of what an editor does, a large part of the book explores the costs of being a ‘faux editor.’ This cautionary section addresses many of the issues with individuals presenting themselves as editors when they don’t have the skills, which affects themselves, the authors, and the industry.
There are short sections on finding education and training and the differences between mentorship and coaching, encouraging a burgeoning editor to get into the industry with the right instruction, mentorship, and guidance. Ross ends the book with a great editor-readiness check, providing a reminder that being an editor is about a lot more than spotting a few spelling errors. This short book is the perfect, approachable read for novice editors, offering honest inspiration and practical advice.
“The excellence of an editor is evident when readers never notice the editing,” – Tia Ross