“Dear Editor: What’s the difference between an editor and an editor/writer? I see editor job ads that require writing, and get some that don’t list anything but managing and editing.”

Answering this question is tricky; there’s no standard job description for an editor beyond “someone who edits.” In my career, I’ve been an editor and a manager, I’ve done pure editing–as in, nothing else BUT edit. But that little slice of fun didn’t last long. I was soon pulled into many other duties.

In a bad economy, everybody’s expected to do more than they used to in any job, editors included. Chances are you’ll be called on to write, manage, even act in some kind of payroll capacity when it comes to making sure your writers get their due for the hard work.

That said, beware any job description that claims to make you an editor but takes you outside the pale of typical editor writer duties. There are some truly clueless people out there advertising job openings for editors and writers. They really want someone to edit their newsletter, but they also want that person to answer the phone. Um, NO. These people really want something ELSE, but they advertise for an editor or editor/writer because they don’t really understand the business.

On the other hand, don’t mistake some duties as being outside your responsibilities– things like attending trade shows or doing some kinds of promotional work for the company are often typical for certain types of editors. You might have to schmooze a bit at a convention on the company’s behalf or get involved in recruiting new talent. Be ready for these in case you are called upon to do so–chances are you’ll get wind of this sort of thing during an interview if the hiring manager is on the ball.

Short answer? Yes, as an editor you may also become a manager, a part-time PR person, part of your own writing staff and even payroll fixer-upper when the situation requires. It’s all in the game.

Any book that encourages writers to think more like editors is a good bet–this one gets strong reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Thinking Like Your Editor could make the difference for a new writer trying to land that first book proposal. This one’s not for magazine or blog writer/editors, it’s aimed squarely at the book writer.

So what’s this doing on EditorWriter? It’s our belief that any book explaining the editorial mindset is a valuable resource for people who want to make the leap from writer to editor or editor/writer. There’s a lot of initial self doubt that can come with your first journey towards editing someone else; it’s good to have a few references to help you understand what your colleagues in the industry are thinking when they get to work on other people’s writing.

And this book makes a good gift from a kindly editor to a new book writer…a gentle nudge in the right direction is never a bad thing.

Today’s round of editor/writer jobs are hand-picked and not copied/pasted from Craigslist. We hunt for editor jobs the same way you do–manual searches for the latest openings. If you’re looking for an editor job, you should consider this site as part of your list of resources rather than the be-all, end-all source–it’s surprising how many people use only one or two resources when hunting for editing and writing gigs. Why limit yourself?

Journalism Jobs lists an opening for an editor who can cover legal issues for America, Canada, and Central America for Thompson Reuters. You need at least seven years with a major news organization, but a degree is not a requirement if you have the right work experience.

URS needs an editor/writer who can handle PR and marketing issues, but this gig is unusual in that there’s a requirement that you have five years experience in the National Flood Insurance program. If that’s you, have a look at the other requirements and job description listed at URS and submit your resume online.

Spa Magazine has announced an editor position–this is a Senior Editor job that requires trade show attendance as well as the usual duties. Three to five years of experience are preferred.

Meredith seeks a Senior Deputy Editor for handling lifestyle, fashion and money topics. You need ten years of magazine and/or online editing experience.

by Joe Wallace

Here’s another round of hand-picked editor jobs. I don’t weed out the full time gigs from the part time or freelance editor writer jobs–I figure in this economy there are plenty of people on the fence about which way to go. As always, none of this is copy/pasted from Craigslist, scraped or otherwise auto-retrieved. I pick these out from my personal searches and post them. No software, no bots, no nothing–just me and the keyboard.

The American Association of University Women is still looking for a freelance editor/writer to work on several online and print projects. They prefer a degree, knowledge of AP style and the ability to juggle deadlines, yada yada yada. Send your cover letter, resume, clips to editor@aauw.org and be ready to complete a writing and editing test.

The Live Free Or Die Alliance needs someone to manage and edit its website or, um, die.  This is a nonprofit dot org but the ad states there’s a “competitive compensation package” available for the right editor. Not sure if that’s competitive for a non-profit or competitive rates for an editing job in general, but it could be worth checking out if you’re into the sentiment–and who isn’t, really? Live free indeed!

ScienceCareerSite.com advertises jobs in, surprise, science. There’s a temp position for a technical editor/writer listed there, but you may have to create an account to learn the full details. This opening is for Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory and while the requirements are fairly broad, you should have expertise in at least one “area of specialization” as the ad says.

Here’s a hot one if you’re all about the politics, but can manage to be non-partisan when the need arises. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics wants a non-partisan editor writer to revise the Senate ethics manual! You need a master’s in English for this one, but lawyers are also good candidates, according to the ad on LawJobs.com. Fax your resume to (202) 224-7416 or you can send everything via email to mailbox_office@ethics.senate.gov.

by Joe Wallace

Time for another round of hand-selected editor jobs. No Craigslist crap here–other sites have that editor writer angle covered so why should we bother duplicating the effort? Instead, what you get here is all HAND SELECTED editor jobs for a range of experience and expertise levels.

AOL Living needs a senior editor who can write for a female audience. This gig requires a well-connected person who has contacts in PR and with freelance writers who can make things happen. Beginners in the editing part of the editor writer equation are probably not the best candidates for this gig, but if you have a good track record you may yet get a foot in the door.

Crate and Barrel are looking for an editor to handle their catalog. This one requires a journalism degree according to the ad, but don’t let that stop you from applying if you don’t have one but DO have the right kind of experience.

CBS Interactive seeks a managing editor for BNET. You need five years experience as a story editor for a mainstream business website or newsstand publication.

More editing gigs coming soon…thanks for checking.

by Joe Wallace

I’ve been in the field since the last update, but rest assured, updates are indeed coming-including a brand new round of editor jobs. Thanks much for your patience!