Becoming a book editor

Q. 'How do I go about becoming a book editor ' asks dogfrank.

A. Publishing has to be one of the most popular professions around, and particularly among that large group of people who wander away from university clutching an arts degree with no firm idea about what they want to do with their lives. What most of them won't know is just how many of them are thinking the same thing and just how badly those who do land a job will be paid.

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However, the answerbank's been asked how to get into book editing, so here goes.

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Q. What kinds of editorial work are available

A. The term editor is kind a blanket term in publishing. So, for instance, you have desk editors (a relatively junior post, involving copy-editing and proofreading), picture editors, project editors (who oversee projects - obvious ), commissioning editors (who are responsible for seeking out and commissioning work), editorial directors (who are not always directors in the sense that they're on the board, nor are they likely to be doing much actual editing, it's more a managerial thing) and just plain editors (who do anything and everything).

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Q. What's a copy-editor

A. Someone who edits copy, that is the raw text supplied by the author. This is the first stage of dealing with a book once it arrives at the publisher.

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Q. How do you learn the job

A. The best way is, without question, as an employee in a publishing house. If you're starting later in life or just can't secure that job, then there are courses aimed at the novice editor, especially those who intend to work freelance. In Sunday colour supplements and literary magazines you'll see adverts telling you how you can earn �500+ per week just reading at home. Don't be fooled. It's a very competitive market and most publishers expect some experience before they'll give you any work. Which isn't to say don't go on a course; just don't expect to walk straight into work.

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Failing everything else, put yourself forward for work experience. Publishers are always skint - some of the very big boys excepted - so the offer of free help is rarely turned down, and it looks good on your CV.

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Q. Do you need a degree in English

A. Not necessarily, though you do need to have a solid grounding in written English, and a knowledge of literature is helpful. However, some employers will expect some formal qualifications, particularly with younger applicants.

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Q. Is it better to work freelance

A. It is often - though by no means always - better paid, and there is the advantage that you can work from home in your own time, but you will need to consider whether you feel you can earn enough to cover any fallow periods. It also gives you an opportunity to go for the less bookish - and often better paid - work. Bear in mind there are hundreds of thousands of freelances out there, all going for the same work, and most of them will have had experience working in house, which gives them an advantage.

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Q. Is it a good way to earn a crust

A. It's a civilised way to make money, albeit hardly the best-paid job in town. Junior editors can be expected to earn as little as �12,000 per annum to start with and, unless you move into senior management or board level - in which case you're not really working as an editor any more - you're unlikely ever to break the �35,000 mark.

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As a freelance you can expect to earn anything between �9 and �25 per hour depending on your level of specialisation and how much rewriting you're expected to do. Don't go in demanding �20 per hour if you're relatively inexperienced, however. A realistic expectation will be around �10 to �14.

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Money aside, there's a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that you've achieved something when a book comes off the press - though you do get to read an awful lot of rubbish and authors aren't always appreciative of your efforts to save them from themselves. If competing on a financial level with your friends in the City or in the law is your thing, don't go anywhere near publishing; but if money isn't your first consideration, there are far worse ways to make ends meet.

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For information on editorial courses available have a look at the Society of Freelance Editors and Proofreaders site at http://www.sfep.org.uk

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For possible grants and funding for training see the Paul Hamlyn Foundation site at http://www.phf.org.uk

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By Simon Smith