Ah man, I love my job. It has become my passion, my identity, my purpose. And as I look back on the past seven years in business, I’m filled with gratitude. But few people know that I didn’t always plan soon becoming a book editor. In fact, the whole thing just kind of fell into my lap, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
The backstory . . .
It was 2012. I was two months away from graduating Boise State University with a degree in English and writing. In one of my courses, our task for the semester was to critique and edit each others’ work. Each week, one student in the class was assigned to write a short story, and the rest of the class would edit it and provide suggestions for improvement. The focus of the course was to be a part of a writing community, but I had found my passion: editing others’ work. I was hooked.
I was working at a local car dealership at the time, writing vehicle descriptions that would appear on the dealership’s website. I loved the structure of the office setting (I felt so professional sitting at my own desk), but unfortunately it didn’t last long: After my being there only six months, the dealership was making cutbacks and I was laid off.
I went home, distraught. This was my first job in the writing industry, in my career, and I was officially unemployed. I had failed. My boyfriend (I married him!) handed me the book Freelancing for Dummies. I was sitting on the couch, unemployed. I had nothing better to do. I opened the book and started reading.
Two days later, on a Sunday in late September, I started my business. It was the start of a long journey. So many late nights, early mornings, and a ton of hours invested in my business.
The 7 best things about being a book editor
That was seven years ago, and I can confidently say that being a freelance book editor is the best career path. (Okay, I’m biased, but still.) To celebrate seven years in the business, I’m sharing seven of the best things about being a book editor.
1. I love when people ask me what I do for a living.
I love meeting new people. My husband is a wholesaler, so when he tells them about his job I can see their eyes start to slowly glaze over. (LOL, and I can’t blame them.) Then, people turn to me, and when I say “I’m a book editor,” the majority of people light up. “Oh, really?” they say. “How does that work, exactly?”
And then I get to bask in their interest—people who really like to read are more interested than others—while I tell them about the process. (“How do authors find you?” and “Do you work for a publishing house?” are the most common questions.)
2. I get to set my own hours.
I’m big on schedule, so I usually follow a normal timeframe (at work by 9:00, lunch at 12:00, off by 5:00), but if I had a late night before and need to sleep in, not a problem. If I’m just not feeling like working on a Monday, not a problem. If I want to take a few hours off to catch a matinee . . . not a problem! And working in pajamas? You betcha.
3. Hello, introversion!
I’m a major introvert, and I seem to be getting worse as I get older, so being a book editor (work from home!) is absolutely perfect for me. Interacting with clients on social media, via email, and the occasional coffee date for an in-person meeting is A-OK. I thrive making connections in a one-on-one setting, so collaborating with authors and working on their manuscript is perfect for my skill set. It’s like I was made for this job.
4. I read for a living.
I mean, come on. What better job is there than that? Sure, there are some books that come across my editing desk that I don’t dig as much as I’d like, and there are some I like more than others.
But honestly? To get paid too read books, provide feedback and hands-on edits to make them better? It sounds cheesy but I’m going to say it: I’m living the dream.
5. I’m making a difference.
There are two parts to book editing: the objective (where there’s a clear right and wrong, like grammar, punctuation, and spelling), and the subjective (the story’s plot, pacing, and character development, which is more of an art and based on individual opinion). I approach each book individually, determining what is needed to elevate it to market standards.
Editing a book is a lot of work, so being able to hold a published paperback after spending weeks wading through edits is such a reward. And I know that my edits are making a difference to bring an unfinished manuscript to a published book. This book will exist forever, and I’m a part of that. Cool!
6. I help authors shape their writing style.
There are many gray areas in writing. Should you italicize or quote? Use an em dash or a comma? There’s no one right or wrong answer, and that’s a BIG part of what makes my job so fun.
Working with authors to help develop their unique writing style is a unique experience, and it’s fun to give feedback and suggestions for improvement.
7. I make real connections with authors.
So many times, brand-new authors come to me with absolutely no knowledge of the publishing industry. To me, it’s so fun to educate first-time authors on the nuances of publishing, whether they’re pursuing self-publishing or traditional publishing, and I love the look in authors’ eyes when they know they have someone in their corner.
In fact, a lot of authors I work with end up being friends. And that is the best thing of all.
Rest assured, I’m living my best life as a book editor. Here’s to the past seven years, and many, many more!
This article was originally published in September 2019.
Book editor Kristen Hamilton is the owner and sole employee of Kristen Corrects, Inc., where she provides manuscript editing services for traditionally and self-publishing authors. Several authors whose books she has edited have won awards and have topped Amazon’s best sellers lists.
Reading is Kristen’s passion, so when the workday is over, she can usually be found curled up with a good book alongside her four cats. She loves watching cat videos and scary movies, eating pizza, teaching herself French, and traveling, and she is likely planning her next vacation. She lives outside of Boise, ID.