Beyond the Degree & How Education Shapes the Editorial Perspective
Taking on renewed education as an author and editor with over a dozen years and numerous publications behind me sounds like an exciting journey. Choosing between a degree in English or journalism ultimately hinges on your goals and the specific skills you wish to hone. As I delve into this series focusing on editing, it’s essential to recognize how an editor’s educational background can profoundly shape their approach. It has and will continue to do so to yours as you work toward advancing your skills and broadening your experiences.
Both English and journalism degrees offer valuable skills that can significantly enhance your editorial expertise.
Editors with backgrounds in English or journalism each bring unique strengths to the table, offering distinct skills that cater to various editorial needs. Despite differing primary focuses, essential skills such as solid writing and adaptability unite both groups. With their deep dives into literary theory, English majors become the artisans of style and structure. Their extensive training in critical analysis and classic literature equips them with a refined eye for narrative flow and tone consistency, making them particularly adept at editing for stylistic nuances and structural coherence. These editors ensure every piece of writing maintains a harmonious and engaging narrative, acting as guardians of the literary aesthetic.
English majors often excel in:
Literary theory and critical analysis: This helps in understanding and improving narrative flow and tone.
Stylistic nuances: Their training allows them to refine the aesthetic and coherence of a piece.
In contrast, journalism majors bring a practical, hands-on approach to the editorial process. Their education, steeped in reporting, interviewing, and writing for diverse media formats, enables them to craft straightforward, concise, and factual content. This background makes them invaluable in producing timely and relevant material and adept at distilling complex information into digestible pieces — a crucial skill in today’s fast-paced digital media landscape.
Journalism majors bring:
Practical, hands-on experience: Skills in reporting, interviewing, and writing for various media formats.
Conciseness and clarity: They are adept at distilling complex information into accessible content, which is crucial for today’s fast-paced media environment.
Despite these differences, English and journalism-trained editors share common ground: their adaptability and strong writing skills. These qualities enable them to thrive in dynamic environments, whether working under tight deadlines in a newsroom or ensuring the narrative integrity of a literary manuscript. By leveraging their unique educational backgrounds, editors contribute significantly to the quality and effectiveness of the content they oversee, each bringing their expertise to the craft of editing.
Both paths emphasize adaptability and strong writing skills, enabling editors to thrive in diverse settings, whether under tight deadlines or ensuring narrative integrity.
While English majors often become writers or educators, journalism graduates work in communications and media. Both paths involve writing, though the types and foci differ. Regardless of background, editors choose to edit full-time or freelance, driven by education, necessity, or passion.
I wanted to share a brief list of books for anyone interested in learning more about editing or seeking assistance with self-editing. While I recommend working with an outside editor for your writing, I understand this may not always be feasible. If so, I encourage you to use the following resources effectively!
Enhancing Your Editing Skills: Essential Reads
What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing edited by Peter Ginna
- This comprehensive collection of essays from various editors offers insights into the multifaceted world of book editing, covering everything from developmental editing to the business side of publishing.
The Chicago Manual of Style
- This manual is an indispensable resource for copy editors and proofreaders. It provides detailed grammar, punctuation, and citation style guidelines, making it a cornerstone of the editing profession.
The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande
- This guide simplifies punctuation rules across different style guides, offering quick-reference sections perfect for editors needing fast answers.
The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman
- A valuable tool for editors and writers alike, this book helps portray character emotions vividly, avoid clichés, and enhance the emotional depth of narratives.
The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself by Susan Bell
- This book provides a thoughtful approach to self-editing and balancing technical precision with creative insight, encouraging editors to refine their work and others.
The Copyeditor’s Handbook by Amy Einsohn
- A practical guide filled with exercises and answer keys, this book is ideal for those working in book publishing and corporate communications, offering hands-on practice in copyediting.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
- This book, with a humorous yet informative approach to punctuation, underscores the importance of proper punctuation in clear communication.
On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
- Though focused on writing, this classic book provides invaluable advice on crafting clear and compelling prose, which is crucial for any editor.
These books cover various topics, from the technical aspects of editing to the more creative and stylistic elements, making them excellent resources for any editor looking to enhance their skills.
Happy editing!
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