Career path query - Editing

[Dobermonster]

I'm kind of in the same situation as KaNikki (thread - Quarter-life Crisis) but didn't want to take over her thread. The issue for me is pinning down exactly what I want to do, and though several options have presented themselves, none seems quite right. Then I was doing a little more browsing today and hit upon the idea of being an editor of written prose. Does anyone here have experience in the field of editing or writing? I'm trying to find out what education I would need specifically and would also like to hear some first-hand experience.

[markmcdaniel]

The only experience that I have Is amateur editing of friends works. As to qualifications I think that a excellent command of whatever language you are working in as well as a more than working knowledge of the subject of the author. Good communication skills are also a must. The ability to clean up after the temperamental egos of the writer probably helpful as well.       

[DeterminedJuliet]

I've been paid for some editing work and I know some other people who have worked as editors. From what I've seen, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut educational path that can get you there. I just finished a graduate technical writing program and my friend who's worked as an editor has a MA in English. But the work tends to be more about experience than education, IMO. If you feel like you already have strong skills, I'd consider working on a portfolio and using that to try and "break in" to the work. If you feel like your skills could be stronger, a writing program could be helpful. I'm not as familiar with how literary editing gets done (I'm more familiar with business/technical editing), but I could ask my friend if you'd like me to!

Other than that, editing isn't always the most lucrative of careers. My friend was a full-time editor and quit to go back to school because he realized that academia would probably end up paying better in the end. It might not be the biggest motivator, but it's something to consider.

Edit:Oops, for some reason I assumed that you have some post-secondary. I don't know if you do or not, but there's a very good chance that you'll need some kind of post-secondary education to get into editing. The kind of education just tends to be a bit more flexible than other career paths.  

 

[Dobermonster]

I've been paid for some editing work and I know some other people who have worked as editors. From what I've seen, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut educational path that can get you there. I just finished a graduate technical writing program and my friend who's worked as an editor has a MA in English. But the work tends to be more about experience than education, IMO. If you feel like you already have strong skills, I'd consider working on a portfolio and using that to try and "break in" to the work. If you feel like your skills could be stronger, a writing program could be helpful. I'm not as familiar with how literary editing gets done (I'm more familiar with business/technical editing), but I could ask my friend if you'd like me to!

Other than that, editing isn't always the most lucrative of careers. My friend was a full-time editor and quit to go back to school because he realized that academia would probably end up paying better in the end. It might not be the biggest motivator, but it's something to consider.

Edit:Oops, for some reason I assumed that you have some post-secondary. I don't know if you do or not, but there's a very good chance that you'll need some kind of post-secondary education to get into editing. The kind of education just tends to be a bit more flexible than other career paths.  

 

I have some post-secondary, but it's in health care and I don't have a degree. I would like to get a degree under my belt, and one option (the most obvious) is to finish off my nursing degree. The other option is to go into something completely different and start from square one. Editing  sparked my interest because of a description I read in one article on it:
"Most people become professional editors because they're intrigued by language. They enjoy finding just the right word to convey a point, making sense of a complicated piece of information and manipulating text until it flows flawlessly. They have a passion for detail and accuracy. They find themselves drawn to editing because they can't ignore the mistakes they see in publications. They notice illogical arguments, inaccurate statistics and poorly constructed sentences."
This has been my 'thing' since 1st grade when I was helping the 2nd and 3rd graders with their spelling and compositions. If there's anything I've been good at it, it's writing and analyzing the use of language - though, admittedly, my formal writing skills have rusted over the last few years.

[Icarus]

Old guys wisdom; Do get your nursing degree. If you can specialize in some branch so much the better. I have been told that a specialty like vascular ultrasound technician is hugely remunerative. Consider the job market, what area of the country that you mght work, and not least the money. Money is not everything but it is way ahead of whatever is in second place.

You can dabble in editorial work in your spare time. That will fulfil your ambitions and still allow you to live well from your real profession. You might do well writing or editing within the medical industry and your prior training will serve you well.

[DeterminedJuliet]

I've been paid for some editing work and I know some other people who have worked as editors. From what I've seen, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut educational path that can get you there. I just finished a graduate technical writing program and my friend who's worked as an editor has a MA in English. But the work tends to be more about experience than education, IMO. If you feel like you already have strong skills, I'd consider working on a portfolio and using that to try and "break in" to the work. If you feel like your skills could be stronger, a writing program could be helpful. I'm not as familiar with how literary editing gets done (I'm more familiar with business/technical editing), but I could ask my friend if you'd like me to!

Other than that, editing isn't always the most lucrative of careers. My friend was a full-time editor and quit to go back to school because he realized that academia would probably end up paying better in the end. It might not be the biggest motivator, but it's something to consider.

Edit:Oops, for some reason I assumed that you have some post-secondary. I don't know if you do or not, but there's a very good chance that you'll need some kind of post-secondary education to get into editing. The kind of education just tends to be a bit more flexible than other career paths.  

 

I have some post-secondary, but it's in health care and I don't have a degree. I would like to get a degree under my belt, and one option (the most obvious) is to finish off my nursing degree. The other option is to go into something completely different and start from square one. Editing  sparked my interest because of a description I read in one article on it:
"Most people become professional editors because they're intrigued by language. They enjoy finding just the right word to convey a point, making sense of a complicated piece of information and manipulating text until it flows flawlessly. They have a passion for detail and accuracy. They find themselves drawn to editing because they can't ignore the mistakes they see in publications. They notice illogical arguments, inaccurate statistics and poorly constructed sentences."
This has been my 'thing' since 1st grade when I was helping the 2nd and 3rd graders with their spelling and compositions. If there's anything I've been good at it, it's writing and analyzing the use of language - though, admittedly, my formal writing skills have rusted over the last few years.

Hmmm, it does some like a corundum. My first inclination would be to say that if you're serious about getting into editing, you may want to switch and get into a program with a strong writing emphasis. Depending on how many years you completed in your undergrad, you may be able to swing into a professional writing program without having finished your degree. In my experience (take it with a grain of salt, of course), it's very difficult to swing a healthcare background into writing work without some kind of accreditation that says "I can write!" You may be an excellent writer, but the market's so competitive that employers might not be inclined to believe you without that piece of paper that says so.

This is just my humble opinion, of course. I'm not expert by any means. It's definitely one of those soul-searchy kind of decisions. You're obviously an intelligent individual, though. Just don't turn into my husband who's been in university for almost 12 years straight. That's my biggest piece of advice, haha 

[Crow]

The editors as in magazine director I have worked with in the past all come from a journalism background, only one from a creative writing background but that suited the content. They are very well paid at the right level and in the right industries but to become one of those education is irrelevant, it is more about bring able to do the job, the right kind of creative (target focused not self indulgent) a very good manager and be prepared for work to be your life, and most of all knowing the right people at the right time.

[Dobermonster]

Interesting responses...you guys have given some things to think about. I should add that part of the desire to move away from nursing is to get into a less people-oriented position. People tire me out - I would rather have a job that I could potentially do from home. I could make a nursing career work . . . there are a variety of specialties and positions that would be more suited to me than others.

[therealgimp]

I've done a little writing for profit, not much. Get something steady, is my advice. You can always take various freelance jobs or edit as a hobby. Not sure if that's what you want to hear, but that's been my experience. It's cold and lonely out there, however if you're driven to do it then have-at.