How to Become a Book Editor

Do your friends and family always come to you for help with editing or proofreading? Are you the one they ask about grammar rules or spelling? Do you secretly (or not-so-secretly) enjoy spotting typos in books, websites, or menus?

If so, you might have the makings of a professional editor.

But how do you know if editing is the right career path for you—and if it is, where do you even start? In this post, we’ll explore the skills that make a great editor, the different types of editing careers available, and the steps you can take to break into the industry.

Is editing right for you?

While writing and editing may go hand in hand, they’re still two different skills. Just because you love to write doesn’t necessarily mean editing will come naturally (or that you’ll enjoy it). So, how do you know if editing is a good fit?

Ask yourself if any of these sound like you:

• You have strong language and writing skills.
• You’re constantly spotting errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.
• People often ask you to review or proofread their work.
• You instinctively rewrite sentences in your head to make them clearer or stronger.
• You’re comfortable giving constructive feedback and have good communication skills.
• You love reading, and can read large volumes quickly and critically.
• You’re familiar with tools like style guides or editing software.

If you said “yes” to several of these, editing could be a great career path for you! So, how do you get started?

Types of editors and editing niches

Before jumping in, it’s helpful to understand the different types of editing roles and how they match your skills and interests. Editors generally fall into one of three categories:

Developmental Editors (also called structural or content editors): Focus on big-picture elements such as story structure, theme, pacing, and character development.

Copy Editors: Refine the writing at the sentence level, ensuring clarity, consistency, grammar, and tone.

Proofreaders: Catch surface-level issues like spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors just before publication.

Which type is right for you? If you’re drawn to shaping stories and working closely with authors, developmental editing may be your calling. If you have a sharp eye for detail and love polishing sentences, copy editing might be a better fit.

If you’re still unsure what type of editor you want to be, focus on your desired niche. There’s a variety of editing work niches you can get into. A professional editor may work with written material such as:

• Books (Fiction or Nonfiction)
• Journalism (News and Magazines)
• Technical Writing
• Web Content
• Academic Papers
• Legal Documents

Book or fiction editing allows you to work closely with authors or writers to help bring their vision to life. If you get into book or fiction editing, you’ll want to make sure you understand the different genres and age categories in book publishing, what elements are necessary for each genre, and what the common tropes and conventions used are.

News or magazine editing provides the opportunity to work in journalism, stay current with world events, and hone your skills. Technical editing requires an analytical mind and knowledge of specific industries or technologies, while web editing requires you to be familiar with SEO and marketing strategies.

Academic editing is a specialized field that requires familiarity with various styles and citation formats, and legal editing requires knowledge of legal language and the ability to spot inconsistencies and errors. Regardless of the type of editing you specialize in, it is essential to stay informed and engaged in the industry, as this will enhance your skills and contribute to your success.

Develop your editorial skills

If you’re interested in a career as an editor, keep in mind that writing and editing are two different skills that require different techniques and mindsets. While having a degree or certificate in editing is definitely a plus, it's not a requirement to become an editor, especially if you’re launching your career as a freelance editor. Let’s look at a few ways you can develop and hone your editing skills.

Learn the Style Guides

Familiarize yourself with standard style guides like:

• Chicago Manual of Style (used for books and fiction)
• AP Stylebook (used for journalism)
• APA, MLA, or AMA (used for academic writing)

These guides help ensure consistency and professionalism in your work.

Take Courses

Consider taking online courses in:

• Editing and proofreading
• Writing and grammar
• Communication and copywriting

Sites like Udemy, Skillshare, MasterClass, or even YouTube offer great options.

Join professional organizations

Organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) offer resources, editing job boards, and continuing education opportunities to help you grow your skills and connect with others in the field.

Read often and widely!

Reading helps you stay sharp. Read in your niche or genre, but also explore other styles to broaden your editorial range.

Get to know editing software, tools, and more

As an editor, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the various writing, editing, and publishing software tools that writers and other industry professionals use.  Learning how to use them will make you more efficient and more valuable to clients.

Editing and proofreading software

• Grammarly
• ProWritingAid

These tools help catch common issues and suggest sentence-level improvements.

Development and structure tools (for fiction editors)

• Fictionary
• Plottr

These are especially useful for developmental editors working with story structure and character arcs.

Other tools to consider

• Content Management Systems used to manage and publish content (like WordPress or Joomla)
• Adobe InDesign (for layout and print publishing)
• Adobe Acrobat (for editing PDFs)

While you don’t need to master every tool out there, familiarity with key platforms can give you a competitive edge.

Build a freelance portfolio

One of the best ways to get started is by building a portfolio that showcases your editing skills. Here’s how:

• Volunteer to edit newsletters, blogs, or promotional materials for local organizations.
• Offer to proofread for friends, writers’ groups, or community clubs.
• Take an internship or entry-level role at a publishing house or content agency.
• Show “before and after” editing samples (with permission) to highlight the impact of your work.

Even small projects can help demonstrate your skills and build client trust!

Start networking

Launching a new career in editing can seem overwhelming, but with the right networking strategy, it doesn't have to be! Networking is key to building a successful editing career, especially if you plan to freelance.

• Reach out to your network. Let friends and family know you’re available for editing work.
• Join industry groups. The EFA, ACES (The Society for Editing), and writing communities are great places to connect.
• Attend conferences or writing workshops. These events offer chances to learn and meet potential clients.
• Create an online presence. Build a website or blog, grow your social media channels, and start an email list.

The more visible you are, the easier it will be for writers and publishers to find and hire you.

Ready to become a book editor?

Whether you dream of working with bestselling authors, polishing academic papers, or helping brands tell better stories, editing is a rewarding and flexible career path.

Start by identifying your strengths, choosing your editing focus, developing your skills, and building your network. With dedication and persistence, you can build a thriving editorial career—one polished sentence at a time.