From Chaos to Confidence: Advice for New Editing Students

I was updating my LinkedIn profile, something I strive to do once a month (well, maybe once a quarter, if I’m being honest), when I decided to look at the list of courses I’ve taken over the past few years. And … it appears I may have a light-hearted love affair with editing courses.

Now, before you start imagining me surrounded by heaps of textbooks and teetering pyramids of printed PDFs  — which isn’t far off — let me clarify: it’s a special interest. I enjoy being up to date on everything freelancing and fiction editing. Some folks marathon-watch Netflix, but me? 

I marathon-learn.

Seeking knowledge

It wasn’t always this way. I was a writer before becoming an editor. A hopeful, passionate and slightly (well, maybe not so slightly) chaotic writer. I also absorbed books like they were oxygen, believing that if I read enough, I’d become a literary magician overnight. But here’s the kicker: while I learned a lot, my learning was completely unstructured. It was like trying to put together IKEA furniture without the directions or the little Allen key.

The skills I’ve acquired since beginning to take editing courses are on a whole other level than what I was attempting to put together on my own. Webinars like “Oops! Finding and Fixing Bloopers in Fiction” and “Macros for Editors: Expanding Horizons Recording” introduced me to not only the art and technique of editing but also the intricacies of business management. I mean, I had no idea how much administrative work goes into freelance editing until I took a few of these courses. 

Suddenly, I felt prepared to handle everything from contracts to client management. It made me realize that I was more than simply an editor — I was a business owner.

If you’re an aspiring editor preparing to start your first class, here are some tips from one course enthusiast to another.

Tip 1: Get to know your classmates

Don’t be a fly on the wall. These are your future colleagues. You never know who will have the answer to that difficult inquiry or who will become an influential networking contact later on. Plus, freelancing can be lonely. It’s more enjoyable when you’re part of a community.

Tip 2: Ask for resources 

As someone who is neurospicy, I understand that taking notes might feel like trying to catch rain with a sieve — you simply miss things. So, whether you’re neurodivergent or not, feel free to ask presenters if they’re able to share class slides, transcripts or other resources that will allow you to revise later. Trust me, your future self will be grateful when you need to refer to something in a pinch.

Tip 3: Be curious

You don’t know what you don’t know (this was a tough lesson for me). So go ahead and ask those questions, even if they seem “obvious.” If you don’t ask, you won’t learn, and learning is the whole goal, right?

I could be on a mission to break the world record for the most editing courses taken. But you know what? It has served me well. So accept the adventure, rely on your fellow editors, and continue to expand your toolkit. You’ll be surprised at how much you progress — not just as an editor but as a professional ready to take on the world (or at least the publishing industry).

Building community

When I decided to join Editors Canada’s student affiliate program, it was like somebody switched on the lights in a dark room. Everything became clearer and more structured. Best of all, I was no longer alone. I was a member of a community that I could contact at any time with a query, a worry, or simply to nerd out over a particularly difficult comma placement.

I feel like I’ve met my people: other word nerds who secretly enjoy stuff like style guidelines and precise em dash usage. The connections I made as a student were invaluable, and they have remained with me even after the courses finished.

Happy editing (and course-taking)!

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