So You Want to Be
an Editor ...
But Can You Edit?
Editing and proofreading are among the most popular services in the gig economy. Getting paid to read sounds like a dream job, and for a lot of people chasing it, that's exactly the problem.
The sad truth is that many of these individuals lack the skills and experience needed to do a proper job of editing or proofreading text for publication. They hang out their shingles far too soon, despite suffering from imposter syndrome (or unsubstantiated confidence, in some cases), and charge too little for their presumed expertise. They lack familiarity with style manuals or style sheets, add more errors than they fix, and edit out the author's voice, failing not only their client but themselves as well.
stetBut Can You Edit?
But how do you know if you can't edit? Who can you trust in this industry to tell you if you're not ready, or how to improve?
In So You Want to Be an Editor ... But Can You Edit?, Tia Ross, 35-year veteran editor, mentor, and coach, offers straight talk laced with humor. Ross shares insightful tips, thought-provoking scenarios, and sage advice, shining a light on salient focal points to help you find footing in your career and become your professional best.
This book is for you if you want to learn:
- What kind of editor you actually are, versus what kind you think you are
- How to build a style sheet that protects a client's voice instead of flattening it
- What separates a professional editing business from a hobby with an invoice
by Tia Ross
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Get a sneak peek into So You Want to Be an Editor ... But Can You Edit? with actionable tips and expert insight to help you determine if editing is your next big move.
Download the free excerpt"A blueprint for editorial character, filling the gap between 'I want to be an editor' and 'How do I become one?' Tia addresses the questions whose answers direct a new editor's initial efforts and determine what kind of editor they will eventually become. Highly recommended."
"Ross pulls no punches. This veteran editor shows the wannabe freelancer why being a professional editor isn't a quick-fix career switch. If you want to be an editor, this is the book you read first to ensure you don't make mistakes later."
"Tia Ross clearly and succinctly explains the many nuances of effective editing, backed by her vast knowledge and experience in the profession. If you are considering a career in editing, read this book."
"Tia explains what editors need to know and what experience they need so they can succeed in self-employment. Readers, pay special attention to the checklist in her last chapter about how to determine you're ready."
"With a clever blend of hard-earned wisdom and dry humor, Ross keeps it real as she shares her career journey and lends her expertise to inspire and instruct aspiring editors. A gem for both freelancers and full-timers."
"Tia is the real deal. Well-written, strongly convicting, and a must-read for editors who want a real shot at winning in this market."
Tia Ross
Tia Ross is an editor and coach with more than 35 years of experience assisting authors with their manuscripts. She has coached and mentored both writers and editors toward mastering their crafts and launching professional and freelance careers, and she specializes in helping editors create and streamline thriving freelance editorial businesses.
As a sought-after copyeditor, Tia works with "Big 5" publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster, as well as tech, nonprofit, hospitality, tourism, marketing, training, and consulting entities. She is the founder and CEO of WordWiser Ink Editing, a company of editors specializing in copyediting and proofreading. She previously curated Writeful Retreats, global getaways blending beautiful destinations, luxury venues, and programs to inspire creativity in written expression and rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit, and plans to bring writing retreats back under a new name down the road.
Further aligning her passion for nurturing fellow wordsmiths, Tia is founder of Black Editors Network, a community and top-ranked directory of Black editorial professionals, and Black Writers Collective, a network of support groups and programs for Black writers. Tia has mentored editors through Black Editors Network and Professional Editors Network and mentored writers through The Young Writer's Initiative and Black Writers Collective. She has served as a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association's board of directors, as EFA's conference co-chairperson, and as a planning consultant.