What's the best way to find an editing job in the industry?

[Mirth]

I believe the title says it all.

I'm faced with probably having to find a new job sometime after Christmas and I'd really like to break into the industry.

Without going into too much unnecessary detail, I am a creative and thoughtful writer who really excels at editing (although I'd like a crack at brainstorming and developing as well). I've been playing RPGs for 24 of my 34 years. I've had some sort of job (or two or three) since I was 14, usually in a managerial or supervisory position. I (almost) have a Master's Degree in Literature (only the thesis remains). The only caveat is that I can't really relocate from my western NC mountain home at anytime in the forseeable future.

Is this a workable situation? Is there anyone out there who freelances as an editor and is able to make a decent wage doing so? Would it be better to try to get on staff somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Jay Myers

 

[Khan the Warlord]

Is there anyone out there who freelances as an editor and is able to make a decent wage doing so? Would it be better to try to get on staff somewhere?

While I make "decent wage" with my editing, I wouldn't consider it as something to try as your only income source. Freelance at first, then cross your fingers and hope to whatever higher power you recognize that you can be brought on full-time as an editor somewhere.

The first thing you should do is click here and peruse those boards. You'll even find a forum there devoted to job opportunities.

Good luck.

 

[Mirth]

Chester,

I've been reading and rereading Sue & Monte's boards since I read your post and totally forgot to reply and thank you for the amazing tip.

While I've got your ear ... do Mystic Eye and Natural 20 provide editing tryouts for newbies like me?

Thanks again for the great suggestion,

Jay

Edited to correct Natural 20 press' name.

 

[RangerWickett]

First of all, it's Natural 20, not Natural d20.

Secondly, we don't put out enough books for it to be economical for us to hire a full-time editor. With only one book coming out every month, some of them outsourced, editors wouldn't be working too much. Also, I have to admit that I like to have a lot of control on the structure of books Nat20 works on, so before I'd let someone else be primary editor, I'd have to be very comfortable and familiar with someone's ability to edit a book and put all the pieces together consistently.

If you want to volunteer to help out with editing Asgard magazine, that might be an easy way to try to break in, though it will pay nothing. Do you have any prior experience or some sort of portfolio.

I know Sue Cook (Monte Cook's wife, editor of all of Malhavoc Press's products) ran an editors' seminar at GenCon, so you might want to look at the Malhavoc site, but aside from that I don't really know too much about how editors might can get involved with publishers.

Good luck, though, and if you do want to help out with Asgard, I'll sing your praises and put your name in lights.

 

[Mirth]

First of all, it's Natural 20, not Natural d20.

Secondly, we don't put out enough books for it to be economical for us to hire a full-time editor. With only one book coming out every month, some of them outsourced, editors wouldn't be working too much. Also, I have to admit that I like to have a lot of control on the structure of books Nat20 works on, so before I'd let someone else be primary editor, I'd have to be very comfortable and familiar with someone's ability to edit a book and put all the pieces together consistently.

If you want to volunteer to help out with editing Asgard magazine, that might be an easy way to try to break in, though it will pay nothing. Do you have any prior experience or some sort of portfolio.

I know Sue Cook (Monte Cook's wife, editor of all of Malhavoc Press's products) ran an editors' seminar at GenCon, so you might want to look at the Malhavoc site, but aside from that I don't really know too much about how editors might can get involved with publishers.

Good luck, though, and if you do want to help out with Asgard, I'll sing your praises and put your name in lights.

Ryan,

Thanks for the reply. I edited my post above to correct Natural 20 (I knew that's what it was, but I blame sleep deprivation ).

Also, thanks for the chance to edit Asgard magazine. This foot-in-the-door offer is exactly what I was looking for, so I will DEFINITELY take you up on it.

I can make a more formal resume for you if you like, but I'll quickly run down my specific editing experience here. As a graduate student, I worked as an assistant to a professor who published three scholarly texts while I was there. On all of these, I acted as a proofreader, assistant copyeditor and bibliographic fact-checker.

The Dark Fantastic

Young Adult Science Fiction

The Mabinogi: A Book Of Essays

I worked as an assistant editor on the Children's Folklore Review, a scholarly journal. Graduate students are able to teach courses, so I taught the two introductory college English courses - Composition & Rhetoric and Argument (one of which was an honors class). My job at the college newspaper was as the Editor of the Lifestyles section (think Arts & Entertainment), where my responsibilities included hiring staff, writing articles, copyediting, proofreading, page layout, etc. I was an assistant for the Eastern NC Folklore Archive, where (among many other tasks) I did page layout and editing for their newsletter. Finally, I worked as a tutor for the English department.

I've also had 20 years of retail experience in the book and music industry. I currently co-own my own book & music store in Black Mountain, NC.

I hope that's enough info to get started and again thanks for the kind and generous offer.

Jay Myers
mirthcard@yahoo.com

 

[Mirth]

Bumping for RangerWickett...

Ryan,

I sent you an email, but haven't heard back. Just thought I'd bump the thread as a reminder.

Thanks,

Jay

 

[philreed]

Steve Jackson Games

The company is always looking for freelance editors. Check the General Info section of the site.

www.sjgames.com

 

[Mirth]

Re: Steve Jackson Games

The company is always looking for freelance editors. Check the General Info section of the site.

www.sjgames.com

Thanks Phil for the lead. I'm heading there now.

Jay

 

[Mirth]

RangerWickett / Ryan,

YGeM!

Jay