Maintaining Your Joy as a Copy Editor

In February, the academic editing book club will host author Jamaal D. Pittman for a 60-minute Q&A about The Copy Editor’s (Life)Style Guide: Maintaining Your Joy (and Sanity) in a Rapidly Changing Profession. This book club is run by the Academic Editing Special Interest Group(SIG), a collaboration of Editors Canada and the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). 

Pittman’s book, The Copy Editor’s (Life)Style Guide: Maintaining Your Joy (and Sanity) in a Rapidly Changing Profession, is useful, inspiring and entertaining. It is part memoir and part editor’s guide, and his movie and pop culture quotes are especially amusing. Who doesn’t love a chapter titled “Editors Just Wanna Have Fun”? 

Pittman states that he wanted to write a book for copy editors rather than on copy editing. This distinction drives the book’s heartbeat and sets the stage for themes that speak directly to the emotional, ethical and professional challenges that academic editors may face. Having read plenty of editing guides, some inspiring and many clinical, I found this one to be different. Pittman reveals more about the life of an editor than any rulebook could, by reiterating that copy editing goes beyond commas and correctness. It’s about people and the sometimes imperfect, emotional reality of making language work.

A key theme is Pittman’s exploration of criticism, growth and the myth of editorial perfection. An ongoing challenge is that academic publishing still demands accuracy. But Pittman’s reflections dismantle the belief that editors must be infallible. He observes that perfectionism stifles growth rather than enhancing it. His story invites editors to embrace mistakes, approach feedback with humility and create kinder editing cultures. 

However, academic editors understand that perfection is a myth. Pittman reminds us that perfection in copy editing was built on a faulty foundation; that our work should focus on improving writing, ensuring clarity and retaining author voice. This is what sets us apart from artificial intelligence.

As a freelancer, Pittman was burnt out, having experienced the reality of the feast-or-famine cycle. Freelancing offers freedom, but it can also be unstable and exhausting. Freelance academic editors often face constant deadlines, shifting expectations and workloads that exceed available hours. Yet Pittman’s journey reminds us that a sustainable editorial life includes fulfillment beyond editing, through mentoring, sharing knowledge and volunteering. His creation of a scholarship fund in honour of his two aunts is just one example of giving back as a source of joy.

As a manager, Pittman opts for an empowerment-focused approach, encouraging editors to view responsibility as recognition of their expertise and to support authors through clarity, generosity and shared growth. Pittman offers explanations for edits, even when they seem obvious, which strengthens trust and makes authors more receptive to changes, underscoring that strong collaboration is as important as technical skill.

Pittman also recognizes that accessibility and ethics must guide editorial decisions. For instance, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act is an act of empathy that ensures academic work can be used by diverse readers. By integrating accessibility checks into everyday workflows, promoting inclusive design and keeping current with standards, editors ensure that scholarly writing is both well-edited and accessible to all.

The Copy Editor’s (Life)Style Guide is not a manual. It is a love letter to copy editors on identity, compassion, resilience and the deeply human craft of shaping meaning. It’s timely for academic editors who are navigating burnout, shrinking budgets, rising expectations and a rapidly shifting publishing landscape. Pittman doesn’t promise quick fixes; he offers the perspective and encouragement that editors need to move forward with integrity and joy.

For academic editors, this book validates our work, challenges the myth of editorial perfection, offers practical guidance for communication and mentorship, and repositions editing as an empathetic and ethical craft. Beneath the commas, deadlines and tracked changes lies the quiet, beautiful work of those who make others’ words shine.

Join the discussion

The Academic Editing SIG will be discussing The Copy Editor’s (Life)Style Guide: Maintaining Your Joy (and Sanity) in a Rapidly Changing Profession. Join Alicia Chantal on February 24 at 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET. for what promises to be an exhilarating conversation. You can purchase this book online and RSVP here to join us!

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