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How to Become a DE
Once every few months, I’m asked to conduct an informational interview witha person considering a career as a book editor. We meet off-site at a nearby cof-feehouse, and over my hazelnut Italian soda I break the bad news gently. It isthis: the supply of qualified English majors is much greater than the demandfor them in publishing, and applicants with book experience are favored overthose without, no matter how many advanced degrees or decades of accom-plishment in another field. Thus, the only way to become a book editor is tostart at the bottom and apprentice your way up.There are two career ladders, each with the same number of rungs. The
in- house track
has the obvious advantage of a steady salary with benefits. But it can be harder to rise in-house because of low turnover in the senior positions, andthe in-house track involves much mind-numbing administrative work, evenon the upper rungs. The
freelance track
requires entrepreneurial pluck; but onceeditors have impressed a key client or two, they never lack for work. Freelancerscan move more quickly upward toward substantive editing, and most reportgreater job satisfaction because they spend all of their working hours actuallyengaged with text.Here are the rungs.
learn to proofread.
Memorize the list of standard marks found un-der “proofreading” in
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary,
and bone up ongrammar and bookmaking style by reviewing the resources listed in “FurtherReading.” Then take a proofreading test at a local publishing house. If you fail,ask to see the test so you’ll know what you did wrong. Starting locally allows you to take the test on site or deliver it by hand, and publishers are more likelyto engage the services of people whom they’ve met. If you’re in an entry-levelposition in-house, you’ll still be required to take the house test. Once you’vepassed it, you may be given some proofreading work during the day, but you’llmainly establish your proofreading chops by taking home freelance assign-ments.
learn to copyedit.
Take a copyediting course. Even if you’re an acegrammarian, you’ll learn much about editorial convention that otherwisecomes only with publishing experience. Also, listing the course on your re-sumé will distinguish you from those whose resumés clearly indicate that anediting career is a backup plan. Once you’ve passed a publisher’s test, remind your contact via email that you’re available for work—in-house editors are of-ten reluctant to try a new freelancer, even one who has passed a test with fly-ing colors. Make certain you do a flawless job on your first assignment, even if doing so means spending many more hours than the budget allows: a wowedstaffer will speak highly of you, and soon you’ll be getting more offers than you can accept.If you’re in-house, taking on copyediting assignments may be difficult
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