Editing Jobs for Newcomers

by Joe Wallace

What should a new editor expect from those early editing jobs? Whether you’re freelance or full time, chances are you’ll perform in a mixed capacity, writing some material and editing some. The days of  “pure” editing work and the duties associated with it are slipping away, but more experienced editors can still find gigs where they handle editing chores almost exclusively when it comes to periodicals and online publications. Book publishing is another animal altogether.

That said, I see a small number of job ads listed by companies looking for “editors” or other creatives who list “admin duties” as part of the job description. I strongly urge aspiring editors to avoid such jobs (or at least investigate them closely) as they’re often listed by people who don’t understand what an editor or writer does, or (more likely) they really want an office admin type who can double as a writer when the boss has a whim. Don’t let the job poster take advantage of the fact that you really want an editing job.