Do you feel called to become a book editor? Are you passionate about books and stories? Do you dream of playing a pivotal role in shaping the stories that captivate readers?
The career path of a book editor combines a love for reading, a sharp eye for detail, and the ability to nurture an author’s vision. But how does one break into the world of book editing? How challenging is it to land such a role?
Let’s explore the journey to becoming a book editor, focusing on three key areas: how to become an editor for books, how to join a publishing company, and the challenges involved.
How to Become an Editor for Books
Choose Your Editing Type
As a writer myself, I’ve always had an interest in copyediting, which is focused on the clarity, grammar, and style of a manuscript. I even worked as a copy editor long ago. And I often functioned as such for family and friends whenever they asked. However, along the way, I became more interested in the structure of stories and how to strengthen them; how to help authors craft them into the best version possible. This is called developmental editing.
If story structure fascinates you and developmental editing is your interest also, then here are four steps you can take to build your qualifications and gain experience:
Study Storytelling
My journey began with listening to audio books and courses on storytelling. Then I started reading books on the science of story written by well-known experts. Out of dozens, six stand at the top of my list.
Get It Write! by Kendall Haven: This book explores the science of storytelling, showing how to craft compelling, memorable stories using narrative structure and cognitive research.
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby: This book offers a comprehensive guide to storytelling, focusing on the fundamental principles of structure, character, and theme.
Story by Robert McKee: This is McKee’s seminal work on screenwriting, teaching writers how to build powerful stories through structure, character development, and meaningful conflict.
Dialogue also by Robert McKee: This book delves into the art of crafting authentic, purposeful dialogue that reveals character, advances the plot, and engages readers or viewers.
Secrets to Outlining a Novel by Kristina Stanley and Lucille Cooke: This book helps writers plan their stories step by step. It explains how to organize ideas, create strong characters, and make sure everything fits together. Perfect for starting and finishing a great story.
I learned a ton from all five of the above, including the importance of narrative structure, character arcs, pacing, and themes.
Secrets to Editing Success, also by Kristina Stanley and Lucille Cooke: This book equips editors with clear strategies and practical tools to spot weaknesses in story structure, pacing, and character development.
This is my #1 book because it covers both the important overview items and the finer points of developmental editing. In it, Stanley and Cooke offer a clear and practical system. They show, for instance, how to check for story-arc scenes, as well as for 38 other elements essential in every scene.
I cannot recommend this book more highly. It is like the Bible of developmental editing.
Receive Formal Training
There are numerous ways to acquire formal training and add to your credibility and expertise.
For instance, you can attend webinars and conferences to hear what experts have to say. You can also enroll in a more formal course of study that leads to certification. For this option, remember there are differences among these types of programs. Some carry more weight in the industry than others.
Because of this, I recommend the training offered by Fictionary.co. I can attest to its value, since I’ve been through it (more about this near the end). I completed my training and became a Fictionary Certified Story Coach early in 2024. The training provides all the tools needed for someone to become a great story structure editor, including:
- Recorded videos
- Written notes and guides
- Live sessions with a trainer and a cohort of trainees
- The Fictionary StoryTeller Premium app
- Access to Secrets to Editing Success, which I mentioned earlier
- Hands-on developmental editing of a novel included with the course
Analyze Successful Stories
To grow as a developmental editor, spend time studying stories in all forms. When you read books or watch movies, think about how the story works. Pay attention to the plot, characters, and pacing. Ask yourself: What parts make the story exciting? What parts feel slow or confusing?
Take notes on what you learn and think about how you might improve the story. Practice breaking down stories into smaller parts, like chapters or scenes, to see how they fit together. The more you do this, the better you will understand what makes a story great. To develop a keen editorial eye:
- Read widely across genres, paying attention to narrative techniques, pacing, and character development.
- Watch movies or series with a focus on how stories are constructed, noting elements like plot twists and climactic resolutions.
- Take notes on what works well in a story and what detracts from its impact. Analyze successful books and films to understand why they resonate with audiences.
Develop Your Skills
To become a skilled developmental editor, practice as much as you can. Start by helping friends or family who write by giving them feedback on their stories. Volunteer to critique manuscripts in writing groups or online communities.
Look for freelance opportunities, even unpaid ones, to gain experience and build a portfolio. Try rewriting or outlining stories to practice identifying problems with plot, character, or pacing. The more you work with stories, the better you will get at spotting what needs to be improved.
Practice helps you build confidence and develop the skills you need to succeed. Skill development comes with consistent practice:
- Volunteer to critique manuscripts for aspiring writers or writing groups.
- Offer developmental edits for friends or family who write.
- Take on freelance developmental editing projects, even if they are unpaid at first, to build a portfolio.
- Create your own projects, such as rewriting or outlining stories to identify structural improvements.
Even though becoming a developmental editor can be challenging, it is incredibly rewarding for people who love books and storytelling. As this type of editor, you get to help shape stories that can touch readers’ hearts and inspire them. You’ll work closely with talented authors, helping them improve their writing and bring their ideas to life.
Editing also allows you to dive into a world full of creativity and learning, where every story teaches you something new. It’s a job that lets you make a real difference in the stories readers will enjoy.
How to Become an Editor for a Publishing Company
Understand Stories Inside and Out
If you want to become a book editor for a publishing company, you need to understand stories inside and out. Your understanding will help you see what makes a story strong and what needs to be fixed.
Just like a builder needs to understand how houses are put together, editors need to know how stories are built. This prerequisite brings us back to the training and certification offered through Fictionary. It’s the best way I know of to prepare for the role of a book editor.
Learn What an Editor Does
Before you start, it’s also important to learn what an editor does. Editors do more than fix spelling and grammar mistakes. They look at the big picture. Does the story make sense? Are the characters believable? Does the story start and end in the right place?
Editors help authors find and fix problems so the story is clear, exciting, and enjoyable to read. They also make sure the writing sounds smooth, has a consistent style, and keeps readers turning the pages.
Cultivate Patience and Kindness
Another prerequisite is patience and kindness. Editors play a big role in helping books become the best they can be, but not as an adversary to the author. They come alongside authors and work with them to improve a story, fix mistakes, and make sure readers will love it. Patience and kindness will put an author at ease and build trust.
Never forget, an author’s work is their baby. No one entrusts their baby to someone who strikes them as impatient and downright mean. So good communication skills are a must. You’ll work closely with authors and must explain changes in a kind and helpful way.
Develop Other Essential Skills
As an editor, you’ll need to develop a few other key skills. You must be great at spotting errors, big and small. Whether it’s a character who acts strangely or a sentence with a typo, you need to catch it. Editors must also manage their time well because they often work on more than one project at a time.
Gain Experience
Experience is just as important as training. Getting started can feel challenging, but there are ways to practice. Many publishing companies offer internships where you can learn about editing and the publishing process.
You can also edit smaller projects, like self-published books, articles, or even school papers, to build your skills. Volunteering for local writing groups or magazines is another way to gain experience. Every little project you work on helps you learn and grow.
Build Connections and Apply for the Job
Lastly, building connections in the publishing world is key. Go to writing events, book fairs, and workshops to meet authors and other editors. These relationships will lead to new opportunities.
Then, when you’re ready, apply for jobs that will allow you to show your skills, experience, and love for stories. Many editors start as assistants, a role that offers mentorship and a clear path to grow.
How Hard Is It to Become an Editor?
Before closing, I want to share a few thoughts about how hard it is, or not, to become an editor. Becoming an editor isn’t easy, but it’s worth the effort if you love helping writers tell great stories.
For this reason, one of my fellow Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editors told me, “The most important thing is knowing story—forward, backward, and inside out.” I totally agree. The better you understand how stories work, the more you can help writers improve their books in ways they might not even see.
However, the path to becoming an editor is not without challenges. One of the challenges is the learning curve that’s part of training. I thought I had already gained a sufficient amount of knowledge about how stories work prior to enrolling in the Fictionary certification course.
However, once I started, I realized how much I needed to learn. The amount of information coming at me truly felt like I was drinking from the proverbial fire hose. But each lesson brought an “aha!” moment that helped me grow.
Another of my fellow Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor friends told me she had the same experience. She said: “I didn’t grasp all of the material at once. It took a while to feel as if I had a good understanding of the software because there is so much to it. Even now, I still discover nuances that I imagine will continue to emerge as I do more edits.”
She also said it helped to supplement the course with Fictionary Live! classes, and again I totally agree. Hearing ideas explained in different ways helps you understand the material even better.
Now here’s a closer look at a few other hurdles you might face and how to overcome them:
First is the popularity of the role of editor in the publishing industry. To stand out, you need to show what you can do. One of my fellow editors suggested starting out slowly: “Build your practice slowly by networking, and getting your information out there. Be generous in your time and knowledge.”
Another recommended creating a presence on Facebook and in the community where you live. Use these platforms to share any editing work you’ve done. If you know a lot about certain types of stories, like fantasy, mystery, or historical fiction, make sure to mention it. Extra skills, like using digital tools or managing projects, will also help you look even better for the job.
A second hurdle is the changes happening in the publishing world, many of which are due to the rise of artificial intelligence. Keeping up with new tools and trends isn’t easy. This is another reason to consider Fictionary training. It teaches aspiring editors how and when to use new tools, as they build strong editing skills. The combination prepares them—prepares you, that is, to learn the fundamentals and keep up with the times.
In the end, becoming an editor takes hard work and patience. But, as another of my fellow Fictionary Certified Story Coach Editors remarked, “The challenge is part of what makes it rewarding. The things I learned in my training helped me in two ways. Sure, it helped me to learn how to help others with their novels, but it also helped me with my own work. That alone was worth it all!”
If you love stories and are willing to keep learning, you can find your place in the publishing world. Every challenge is a chance to grow, and with time, you can help create books that readers will love.
It’s not something that happens overnight. But once you get there, it’s incredibly rewarding. You can help writers take their stories to the next level. If you stick with it and keep learning, you’ll not only become a better editor—you’ll also build a career you love.
You’ve got this!