A few days ago, my boys watched Disney’s Ratatouille. I love that movie! In fact, when we were at Disneyland this past April, I got a Remy shoulder pet. Isn’t he cute?
Chef Gusteau’s book “Anyone Can Cook” is a great inspiration to the characters, showing that sometimes good things come from unexpected places.
But can anyone edit? My answer is yes, in a way. Most of us learned how to edit papers and such in school, so we understand the basics. We tend to “edit” when we write letters or emails or even text messages, trying to see what sounds the best. A lot of writers may have taken classes that included editing if they majored in creative writing, English, publishing, etc.
I did not, in fact, major in publishing or creative writing. For me, I began in theater. I learned storytelling, character development, plot and play structure, all of which applies to novels. Then I became a transcriptionist, which was heavy on the copyediting. Even though I got my start in copyediting through transcribing, I am naturally drawn to developmental editing since it shares so many similarities to theater.
A lot of people say they can edit novels. Beta readers are great, and there’s definitely a time and place for them. And a friend or another author who likes to proofread can be helpful. But it really helps to have someone who is trained in editing work with an author since there’s so much more to editing than just basic grammar mistakes. We’ve been trained to know what to look for to enhance an author’s work.
It IS important, though, for writers to know about editing. In fact, they should self-edit their own manuscript as best they can before handing it off to an editor.
So what do you do if you want to be an editor?
- Online (or in-person) courses are a must
- Craft Books
Start by taking courses and reading craft books. There are many courses out there that will train you in all different types. I’ve taken courses from the Editorial Arts Academy for developmental editing and copyediting, and they were fantastic! I learned a lot and have been able to develop my craft even more. It’s also important for editors to continue their education. Last week, I started an intermediate developmental editing course through the Editorial Freelancers Association, and I’ve already learned some new ways to approach editing! I learn new things every day, which I why I love this job. Feel free to click on the links below to take you to their pages to learn more.
So, yes, anyone can learn to edit properly with time, training, and dedication. But really, you can do anything if just put your mind to it and work hard.
How can help you on your writing journey?