How to become a book editor?

How to become a book editor!?

• Need some advice for a career path. i love reading and would like to become a book editor. Any advice?

• Answer:

  Book editors do largely what you would assume: They edit books. If you love to read and you already have an eye for catching mistakes and misprints in books, newspapers and magazines, you may have considered a career working as a book editor. Book editing can be a competitive industry, but the rise of the Internet has made editing not only more necessary than ever but also more accessible than ever. With the right education and training, you can create your own unique path to become the book editor you have always Skills & Education Book Editors Have: Most editors have at least a B.A., usually in English or literature. Some have graduate degrees, but it’s not a requirement. More important than the specifics of your education are a passion for literature and an aptitude for editing. Educate yourself on a variety of genres of written works as well as all modern acceptable publishing formats. While a college degree is not always required for an editing position, an English degree with a concentration in writing and publishing is generally considered an acceptable prerequisite in the editing industry. Enroll in a degree program if possible, or begin taking community classes that focus on the publishing industry or manuscript editing. Study the formats utilized in the publishing community. You can invest in books from the bookstore which deal with the guidelines of the AP (Associated Press) style, the MLA (Modern Language Association) style and the Chicago style. Chances are if you find work for a book publisher, you will be asked to work within the guidelines of one or all of these formats as you edit works. You will need to know each format inside out, so be sure to read the books completely and become familiar with how to use each format. Work as an editor or proofreader of a newspaper or magazine to start establishing a base of experience in the field. Your experience can begin within the newspaper of your high school, college or local town. In some cases, you can even volunteer your services as a non-paid editor in an effort to gain valuable experience that you will be able to use down the road. Keep track of all the editing projects you contribute to, such as editing a paper for a friend or a letter for a co-worker. Make note of this experience on your resume. Apply for work as an assistant editor or proofreader. You may not be able to find work at a highly competitive publishing house right away, but you could find work with a smaller publishing house that will provide you with industry training and support as you gain experience in the field. Over time, you will be able to work your way up in the company or find work with another agency based on your experience. Specialization Among Book Editors: Another important thing an editor needs to bring to the table is an awareness of, and interest in, the subject matter. The reality of book publishing today is that it’s very specialized. There are imprints at the publishing houses which focus on specific genres of literature, everything from science fiction to romance to cookbooks to literary fiction. So you need to keep this in mind when applying for jobs. While entry-level candidates are not expected to know everything about a subject, it’s probably not a good idea to try to get a job editing romances if you’ve never read one and hate the genre. The "Big Six" Book Publishers Profiles of the biggest North American trade publishing houses, also known as the "big six." Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins This house, under the News Corp umbrella, is based in midtown Manhattan and publishes a lengthy list of bestsellers, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House Simon & Schuster, Maxwell Perkins One of the most important things book editors do is acquire books. Book editors read manuscripts (aka unpublished drafts of books) and decide whether the work should or should not be bought and then sold to the public. That decision usually comes down to taste and an eye for the market. (While an editor’s fate isn’t entirely dependent on how many bestsellers he delivers, the people who get ahead in this field almost always have some big name books under their belt.)