How to Become an Editor?

If you possess meticulous attention to detail and love nothing more than scouring through texts with a fine-toothed comb to make them the best they can be, you might have thought about becoming an editor. But the editing world is a broad one, and with so many options available (and so many variations of editing roles), it can be a little overwhelming.

Capstone Editing is Australia’s premier academic editing service company, with years of experience in delivering the highest quality service to our clients. Having been in this game a long while now, we think we’re well placed to offer some advice on how best to break into the editing world.

So, if you want to become an editor but aren’t totally sure where to start, read on.

What Does an Editor Do, and What are the Different Types of Editing?

Let’s start by establishing what an editor does. The role of an editor is to make improvements to texts, often in direct collaboration with the author, making the texts ready for publication. This can be anything from correcting basic spelling and punctuation to more significant changes involving structure and the mechanics of the text. In the case of online English editing service, attention is given to improving the clarity of the text, as well as ensuring arguments are strong and fully supported and that content is consistent.

Editors not only need to have a keen eye for detail but also should be able to ‘zoom out’ and look at the text as a whole to ensure the overall message is being communicated.

Many editors specialise in one area. This can include book editing, involving proofreading and copyediting; technical editing, ensuring accuracy and accessibility of data; web editing, involving search engine optimisation; legal editing; news editing, involving fact-checking and proofreading; and academic editing.

Academics will often submit their thesis to a more specialised thesis editing service, which will have highly experienced editors and proofreaders on hand to ensure their thesis is the best it can possibly be and meets all suitable requirements.

What Skills Do I Need to Become an Editor?

In addition to having a love of language, a good editor needs to have excellent skills in punctuation and grammar, be organised and be able to work to tight deadlines. There are many proofreading and editing courses online available in Australia that will further strengthen your existing skills and make you a more efficient and effective editor.

Working for an editing agency can be a great way to start, as they’ll often provide relevant training and support. This will stand you in good stead should you ever wish to go it alone as a freelance editor.

Ready to Start Your Editing Journey? Contact Capstone Editing Today!

We pride ourselves on the service we deliver to all our clients. Rigorous training and support are provided to every editor and proofreader we recruit. Head over to our Careers page to find out more about what being a Capstone Editing editor involves, and get in touch if you have any questions.