Is it worth it to become an editor?

So far, becoming an editor is what I've been thinking of as a career. Mainly this is because I just love reading literature, and it's mostly the stylistic aspects of writing that really thrill me.
What other skills are usually required of an editor?
Is the job too competitive to become successful in?

I still have to go through college before I can make any decision, but I'd like to hear about some personal experiences from the TBFers. It would be great if some of you older members could help a little fledgling like myself.

It can be a good career, but imho you really need to be able to handle the lifestyle of a contract worker. There are few good writing and editing jobs that are not contracts. I found that when I was working in journalism, I did just fine with the writing and editing part but just could not handle the lifestyle of always hustling for the next gig I thought maybe I just was not experienced enough or something, but I have a good friend who is a technical writer and she got laid off right after I left the country to go back to school and become a teacher. It took her six months to find more work! So I think it really is a temperment thing. Some people can handle having a less stable career and some people can't.

My sister otoh is in this field and is doing great. She used to be a freelance computer programmer so she is used to the lifestyle of a contracter. And she lives in a smaller town so there is less competition. Most of the glitzy stuff is in LA (she is in CA but not Los Angeles) so she was able to get in with some local publications and enjoy a nice, stable relationship with them. She is doing great and really likes it. As for me, I am eight weeks away from finishing teacher's college

JoannaC seems to be referring to a specific editorial line, probably freelance copyediting small pieces.

There are many different kinds of editors and specialties, several of which I've done: copy editor, production editor, photo editor, acquisitions editor for journals and books, managing editor for journals and magazines . . .

Literature, for the average career editor, pays the least. Some fields pay pretty well: medical editor, scientific and technical editor, production editor for high-volume periodicals. The most prestigious editorial job is acquisitions editor for literary fiction and nonfiction for a big house. If you want a career in publishing, you should think about relocating to a city where the action is, like New York or London.

I had a long career as an editor, starting as an assistant editor in acquisitions (pretty standard), and then moving through the ranks. At one point I managed nine journals and did all the acquisitions and negotiations and advised on marketing for them. I also was a freelance copyeditor and writer for a long time.

Starting salaries are low, but if you want the career, the best place to start is an entry level job (assistant editor or editorial assistant) where you'll have an opportunity to take on more responsibility quickly. A love of literature is a lot less important than fanatical attention to detail and serious respect for deadlines. You're really not allowed to make mistakes in print, and you have to live with that.

novella said:

You're really not allowed to make mistakes in print, and you have to live with that.

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Yet there always are so many!

I honestly don't think I'd be cut out for this kind of thing. My friends and family usually rely on me for "editing" their papers, letters, etc. and I love doing it, but if there are deadlines and stress...

What other jobs could I get with a degree in English? Are teaching, editing, and writing the only things available?

lovermuffin,

I majored in Comparative Literature in college because I, like you, have a real love of books and reading. I also thought about becoming an editor (Read and judge books for a living! How sweet is that?!?) but then I took a student proofreader/all-purpose gopher job in a little publishing house and worked there for a year. During that time I found out that Novella is TOTALLY right - it's not so much a love of literature that you need or that will prepare you for the job; what you really need is excruciating attention to detail. Getting caught up in the story actually inhibits you in this regard, and I could never resist this. So I ended up leaving the proofreading job (they actually nudged me out the door, but I was ready to leave anyway).

What am I doing now? I'm studying to be a librarian! Not only do I get to help people find stuff and explain things (both activities I love!) but also there's a great aspect of librarianship called Reader's Advisory, which is basically matching up people with books they'll like. You get to talk about books all day, heaven! So I have definitely found my niche

Honestly, I never thought about becoming a librarian... how weird of me. I don't know if any of these jobs would be my thing, but there's not much I know about the field anyway.
What kind of attention to detail are we talking about here? Grammar? Typo's?

lovermuffin said:

Honestly, I never thought about becoming a librarian... how weird of me. I don't know if any of these jobs would be my thing, but there's not much I know about the field anyway.

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I know a teacher-librarian and she says that it is less about reading books than dealing with administrative details. But I still think she gets a huge kick out of seeing kids reading and being able to recommend and purchase titles for the voracious readers.

If you truly want to be immersed in literature for your life, there is always the academic route, whereby you can aim to become a professor of literature. But that is very high level. I had a wonderful literature teacher in high school - incredibly well read - who injected a spark into the literature we were reading. He was also a writer, and headed up the school Writers Club.

If you're currently planning for university, I would recommend taking whatever you like and seeing what falls out - you may be surprised with what actually interests you when you look around a little. Also remember that your hobby/passion does not have to be your career. I made this error for years. I enjoy what I do, but it's the things outside my work which are my life. By having a steady job you can afford to pursue your pleasure, and separate your work from the rest of your life.

lovermuffin said:

Honestly, I never thought about becoming a librarian... how weird of me. I don't know if any of these jobs would be my thing, but there's not much I know about the field anyway.
What kind of attention to detail are we talking about here? Grammar? Typo's?

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They should make t-shirts that say:

LIBRARIANS NEVER HAVE TIME TO READ

Yep, it's true... we're all so busy making sure everyone else is reading we hardly have time to get it in our own busy schedules! But it's a good life (or will be once I graduate).