Q: I’m a studio art (photography) major and a computer science minor, yet I have this strange yearning to become an editor. I find myself compelled to proofread, adjust, reorganize, and retype anything my peers will give me — anything from English compositions to math papers — and, worse yet, I enjoy it.
Please, give me your opinion; am I deluded, or should I pursue this unexpected passion? Any advice would be much appreciated.
S.B., Indiana
A: Go with your heart. It helps that, in this case, your heart is telling you that you may find fulfillment in an area where newspapers have a rather frantic need. (This is nothing new. For more than 10 years, editors were wailing about the shortage of copy editors.) Find out more about whether you like the work and how good you are. Approach the student paper, if you’re in school, and ask for a shot at rimwork. Approach a local paper and ask to be tested (copy editing skills are among the easiest to test), or for a week-long tryout on the desk.
Because copy editors have a tough time showing clips, editors have to rely more on tests and tryouts. Ask for them. Most any newspaper of any size has a copy editing opening at this very moment, so you face a good job market.
The experience you already have in photography and computers could be a real boon to many copy desks, too, so you’re not really starting from scratch. Go for it!
