With the caveat that we haven’t consumed the 9th edition of this book yet, the promise of The Art of Editing in the Age of Media Convergence is quite impressive. Over 400 pages of updated material on editing, with a look at the challenges editors face across disciplines including new media, journalism, advertising, and so much more… a comprehensive take on a variety of industries and the kinds of editing work you face in each one.

Need to anticipate the kinds of stories and editing corrections you face in online journalism, broadcast television or medical writing? The Art of Editing in the Age of Media Convergence could be the best investment you make as a new editor depending on your skill level and expertise. Want to pick an editing career path and make an informed choice? Try doing some of your research in these pages.

One new addition to this edition includes a discussion on the rise of citizen journalism and how to manage those editing challenges. Nobody could ever accuse this book of lagging behind the times. Of course, The Art of Editing is NOT cheap, but if you need the wisdom contained within, it’s an excellent investment and don’t forget that it can be used as a potential tax write-off (for professional books and materials) where appropriate. Is this required reading? We’ll get back to you on that, but signs definitely point to “yes”.

Imagine how this book could change your perspective as a freelance writer editor or a newcomer to the world of editing. Got your eye on that editor slot? Are you still taking on reduced pay editing gigs or doing work for free? Scoop up a copy of this book and give yourself a leg up.

By learning editing and writing concepts from a teacher’s point of view, you’ll have an easier time getting your head around what future clients and employers expect from your work. Anderson’s book includes a lot of great ideas, especially on mechanics like proper verb choices, paragraphs, even how to use dialogue appropriately.

It goes without saying that any student of writing has the potential to become a teacher of the craft at some point in time. Want to mentor new writers? Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson is a good tool to have on hand to prep for that mentoring.

I’ve said it before…before you can realistically start editing other people’s work for pay, you need to be able to edit yourself. New writers and editors would do well to have a good long read of Claire Kehrwald Cook’s Line By Line. How do you self-edit your own work? Everybody has their own tricks, but this book is a way to give you a head start to developing those editing practices and take some cues from others.

The tough thing about self-editing when you are in the early days of your work as an editor writer is learning what to keep, what to lose, and what to leave well enough alone. Line By Line can help give you perspective on all that. Every good writer is also an editor. Anybody can bang out text on a page, but the real writing comes with plenty of editing.

Line By Line has gotten rave reviews from writers who literally believe this book has changed their lives. That’s a pretty bold claim. Will it do the same for you?