College major for career in editing?

[linnylu]

My dd will be a senior next school year, so we are lining up our college visits.
She really isn't sure what she wants to major in but enjoys englis, latin and spanish classes. She also loves her position as an editor on her school newspaper. She wondering if she get make a career of editing for textbook companies? I am wondering if she can make a living? Does anyone know what major she would choose to be an editor? She'd also like to be a librarian, but those jobs seem hard to come by and I am not sure she could support herself on a librarian salary. Any thoughts for us?

 

[Cindy B]

A friend of mine is an editor at a medical publishing company. She has a Bachelors in English, and a Masters degree in Teaching. She really thought she wanted to be a teacher, but it just wasn't for her.

She's been working at the same company for ten years, but did not start as an editor. I think she either began as an administrative assistant or proofreader.

I will say I have a Bachelors Degree in Writing Arts, and a Bachelor's degree in Teaching. My Writing Arts degree was heavy on the "commerical writing" classes. I had to take a publication layout and design class, a journalism class, electronic writing class, business writing class and other classes like that.

I would not opt for a journalism degree, since the newspaper/news industry is changing so much . I also would not opt for a Creative Writing Degree either. If you can find a Commerical Writing program, or something like mine-- Writing Arts-- this major was a hybrid with the English Department and the College of communication, so it was NOT a Communications degree and it was NOT an English degree.

Because this major was so writing intensive, I was still able to receive teaching certifications for Middle School English Teacher and I am also eligible to be a High School English Teacher. (I currently teach 8th grade English)

 

[Christine]

My friend's daughter got her Bachelor's in English with focus in technical writing versus, say, literature.

She now works as a technical editor for a defense contractor and edits government manuals and other stuff. She loves her work. She will be going back for her master's but not in English--more like some international degree of some sort that will help in working with Dept. of Defense.

While she was in college she worked for the college newspaper and was editor in her senior year.

 

[tvguy]

Just include a lot of computer classes since knowing that these days is almost more important that editing skills.
I would also suggest getting as many internships as possible. Get exposed to how things are really done, not how the textbooks say it is done. Frankly, so many companies have their own styles when it comes to editing and writing style, the ability to adapt is also a huge skill. And most of the things you learned in grammar classes, toss it. In this world of BRB, and LOL, get used to your work being marked down for not fitting a style guide, even if it is 100% gramatically correct.

 

[Kitzka]

I work in publishing and all of the editors I know majored in just about everything. English being the most common.

You mentioned she is interested in being a librarian. You would b surprised at how much someone with an MLIS degree can make. I have many friends who are librarians. Salary varies by geography but the starting salaries are in the mid 40s-mid 60s. I have a friend in CT who makes nearly 100k and has only worked in her system for 7 or so yrs.

LP

 

[erincon23]

My degree is in journalism, and I would agree with a PP that this is probably not the best for someone who wants to be an editor -- but more because the degree is focused on a style of writing that probably isn't suited to editing most things you'd work on. I would also suggest that if she is interested in a specific field that she minor in that field -- business, pre-med, history, whatever.

And don't steer her away from library science -- I saw a statistic a couple of years ago that the library field is "graying" in a major way -- huge number of retirees compared to the number of people going into the field. I know that school librarians (in most states you have to have an education degree with a special focus on library) are hard to find.

 

[castmember19]

I was editor of my own high school paper and really enjoyed it. I planned for four years of high school to major in Journalism and then bam- All of a sudden I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I have not regret it since then. I'm happier teaching than I was writing, strangely.

I would say that Journalism is probably your best bet if she wishes to work in editing. Although an English major would work if they had some sort of concentration for technical writing and not literature such as a PP said. I personally think that Journalism sounds more suitable, but I think either major would work in that field. I see that other PPs disagree and I would go with their opinion over mine- they lived it.

I did find, however, that many colleges did not offer a Journalism-specific major but a Communications. That's just in my area though, it could be different over there.

 

[klacey1]

I am a book editor at a large publishing house. I work primarily with adult trade fiction (some non-fiction). I have a double BA in English and Communications. The English degree was more valued when I was applying to jobs, but I think the Comm has taught me great speaking/interpersonal skills, which leads to workplace success after securing a job.
Academic editing (college/high school textbooks) is a huge, pretty secure field. I make a decent living (in one of the most expensive areas of the country) doing what I do and so would she if she entered the academic world. Please feel free to PM me if you or your daughter have any specific questions about publishing/editing!

 

[MrsPete]

My dd will be a senior next school year, so we are lining up our college visits.
She really isn't sure what she wants to major in but enjoys englis, latin and spanish classes. She also loves her position as an editor on her school newspaper. She wondering if she get make a career of editing for textbook companies? I am wondering if she can make a living? Does anyone know what major she would choose to be an editor? She'd also like to be a librarian, but those jobs seem hard to come by and I am not sure she could support herself on a librarian salary. Any thoughts for us?

Editor jobs are tough to get. No one STARTS as an editor.

I think more people work in textbook SALES than in textbook EDITING. Textbook salespeople travel around to schools promoting their books and extras. They educate the teachers/administrators about their products. Many people who do this type of job were originally teachers. I know someone who does this, and I think he does pretty well.

I do think librarian jobs are going to chanage significantly in the next years. Our local libraries have had significant cuts in hours, and e-readers are going to make a bigger and bigger impact on the pleasure reading world.

 

[RitaZ.]

Editor jobs are tough to get. No one STARTS as an editor.

I think more people work in textbook SALES than in textbook EDITING. Textbook salespeople travel around to schools promoting their books and extras. They educate the teachers/administrators about their products. Many people who do this type of job were originally teachers. I know someone who does this, and I think he does pretty well.

I do think librarian jobs are going to chanage significantly in the next years. Our local libraries have had significant cuts in hours, and e-readers are going to make a bigger and bigger impact on the pleasure reading world.

It's already happening. My friend got her MLS over a year ago and hasn't been able to find employment in that field. Our public libraries have undergone deep budget cuts. Same problem within public schools, also colleges and universities. The librarian jobs/positions simply aren't there. She was an elementary school teacher before she had children and decided to stay home. She is now a substitute teacher in the public school system.