How do I gain experience in editing?

Question

After years of critiquing fiction as a hobby, I feel like I've gained some skill at editing. I'm now wondering how I can try my hand at actually editing fiction.While I've got a decent sense of how one starts out as a writer, I have no idea how one starts out as an editor. Editing seems to require a venue to edit for, and writers submitting publishable stories.Is there a typical development path for editors? Where do I begin? And how do I gain actual, hands-on experience?

Answer 1

Critiquing fiction is a fun hobby and it's great that you are looking to turn your skills into something more than a hobby! You are absolutely right in that getting hands-on experience will help you start and grow as a writer and editor. I suggest three simple ways to gain experience, build your resume, and enhance your skill set.

1. Visit your local college or community-college: Identify an instructor particularly for a creative writing or beginning English course and ask can you volunteer as a teaching assistant and review students' materials.
2. Identify new/beginning writers who are self-publishing on sites such as Amazon or Craiglists, and offer your services.
3. Look for writing groups in your community. Writing groups allow you to meet fellow writers who may also need help proofreading and editing.

I hope these suggestions help! Good Luck!