Copy Editing
The vast majority of my technical skills as a copy editor have come from my position with J-PEER, an academic journal on engineering education. As Editorial Assistant, I edit articles for flow, grammar, and readability; review and send proofs to authors; submit weekly updates of submission logs to track changes in the backend of production; and draft templates of decision letters and deadline reminders for authors and reviewers.
My position with J-PEER has provided me with the technical skills I need to be an effective copy editor—for example, knowing the difference between an en-dash and em-dash, and how to use Track Changes in Word. However, I have also been able to develop valuable soft skills, including remote and in-person communication, as I contribute ideas to boost production in monthly meetings and correspond with authors via email. |
Acquisitions Editing
I was fortunate enough to intern with Sycamore Review, an internationally acclaimed literary magazine produced by Purdue's MFA students. As an intern, I screened ten submissions weekly in the genres of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. For each submission, I was required to submit a reader's report in Submittable accounting for the piece's mission, style, themes, and originality. I was also instructed to take each piece on its own terms, and avoid comparison between submissions. This was a lesson which has stuck with me ever since, through classroom workshops and my personal readings.
This was my first foray into literary publishing, and it was exciting to participate in the publication process for the kinds of works I love to read. However, it was harder than I expected to screen submissions—reading is highly subjective and a lot of my opinions were instinctive. It was therefore hard to put into words why a specific piece did or did not resonate with me. However, by the end of my semester with Sycamore Review, I was confident expressing my opinions and sharing my decisions with my supervising editors. |
Peer Editing
Unlike my other experiences with editing, tutoring students in Purdue's Writing Lab requires a less directive approach. In fact, I am explicitly instructed not to edit other students' work but to provide them with the tools they need to proofread their own papers. I've found that having to explain grammatical rules has drastically increased my own understanding and breadth of knowledge. As a lifetime reader, I subconsciously knew how to structure sentences and organize paragraphs, but it wasn't until I had to explain these mechanisms to other people that I fully understood them.
Additionally, at the Writing Lab we value the voice of each student and much emphasis is placed on preserving individual styles. We don't approach writing with a formulaic, "one-size-fits-all" attitude, and are especially careful not to encroach on the cultural ideologies that impact the writing of non-native speakers. We have many international students who want us to "fix" their papers for a good grade—instead, we collaborate to improve the clarity and structure of their paper, while still preserving their unique voice. My experience tutoring has taught me that in addition to recognizing grammatical errors or awkward sentences, a good editor also recognizes and appreciates the value of each individual writer.
Additionally, at the Writing Lab we value the voice of each student and much emphasis is placed on preserving individual styles. We don't approach writing with a formulaic, "one-size-fits-all" attitude, and are especially careful not to encroach on the cultural ideologies that impact the writing of non-native speakers. We have many international students who want us to "fix" their papers for a good grade—instead, we collaborate to improve the clarity and structure of their paper, while still preserving their unique voice. My experience tutoring has taught me that in addition to recognizing grammatical errors or awkward sentences, a good editor also recognizes and appreciates the value of each individual writer.