Last week, I shared several career paths copyeditors can take and helpful resources to get you started. Keep reading for more more ways to develop your skillset and expand your professional horizons in the publishing field.
I Love Words, But …
Just because you love words doesn’t mean you can’t love other things, too. I know many wonderful editors who are also gifted crafters that run successful craft businesses. You might be a great musician or a talented woodworker and build a second career based on something you once considered a hobby.
If you’d like to stay in publishing (you have the insider knowledge and contacts, after all), you still have plenty of choices. The following are just a few publishing-related jobs and training resources.
Designer
This seemed like a left turn to me, but I’ve known more than a couple of copyeditors who have switched over to layout at newspapers. I know others who have learned to design books and periodicals. It might be tough to work in production and editing for an in-house editor, but production tasks can be a natural add-on in an editing business.
Where to get training
Team Manager
They may seem like a mirage, but there are still teams of copyeditors out there. With the right skill set, you could be the person who manages them. As a copyeditor, not only can you help with editing during the busy times, but you can also coach your staff along. You’ll want to be comfortable with managing people: training, dealing with personality issues, and supporting each member of your team so that they feel valuable while keeping upper management happy—usually by keeping the budget under control and getting well-edited copy out the door, fast.
Where to get training
Project Manager
Project management is shepherding a project through its production process. You’ll want to be good with scheduling, budgets, and negotiating. Each stage will have its own particulars that have to work with those in other stages. In-house, you might be the only project manager or one of many. Freelancers could manage one project for a client or an ongoing series of projects.
Where to get training
Where To Next?
This is just a quick overview of some career options for copyeditors. If 2025 is the year you plan to reevaluate your career choices, spend some time finding out what these and other jobs are really about, what other types of training might be available, and what pay ranges look like in your geographic area. Whether you’re looking for a career change or just adding to your skill set, there are jobs you can do that will enhance the skills you already have.
A version of this article originally published in the February–March 2016 issue of Copyediting newsletter.
