Things You Must Do to Become an Excellent Copy Editor
Copy editors are mostly employed by publishing companies, newspapers, writers, or business professionals who deal with text on their website in advertising or their fieldwork. Your job as an editor will be to go through the writing and then pick out errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation as well as finding sentences that are wrongly phrased.
Copy editor additionally should have in thoughts the answers a client may looking for that are not talked of in writing or also to discover the possible loopholes in reasonable view and to ensure all of these issues are rectified. However, there are some factors that you need to look at so that you may get started in case you are interested in this kind of job.
You should not think that having a bachelors or any English course will get you a job. Many successful copy editors don’t have a degree at all. Academics never make good copy editors, they are made from experience and also good work history. If you do not possess any degree certificate doesn’t mean you are not qualified or doesn’t mean the degree holder having higher chances of landing a job more than you.
Some people will try to go directly into freelance editing to familiarize or get a knowhow of what copy editing needs. You are not supposed to take that step. It is challenging to land an editing job if you lack experience, references, or samples when you choose to be a freelance editor. An inexperienced copy editor is more likely to make to make careless mistakes than an experienced one even if he luckily manages to get a job. Testimonials and references are important in freelance work because a simple mistake when reviewing might eliminate your chances of getting any future job.
The first place you should go looking for work as a copy editor is a local paper or other local publication. If the job turns out to be unsuccessful on you or if you decide copy editing isn’t for you, the local job will help you to remain flexible. Sometimes these editor jobs are listed on local newspapers and if by chance you come across them, apply them and if you fail consider calling them. Local papers don’t look for experience as strictly as those hiring a freelance editor do. Many times a newspaper or other publishers will prepare an exam in which all copy editor applicants must do, and if by chance they pass, they are taken into consideration for the copy editor position. Editing style and grammar doesn’t make you a good copy editor. It is your duty to additionally make sure the information cited in the documents you’re reviewing are accurate and clear.