How to become an editor is quite a popular question. Although there are various steps that one can take to become an editor, I have found that everyone’s journey is different.

My personal journey to becoming an editor was a long and meandering one. As voracious bookworm my entire life, I found myself taking several career detours before ultimately pursuing my passion, the world of editing.

 

What Steps Did I Take?

Over the years, I took certain steps to accomplish my eventual goal. I studied English Literature and Political Science. I also completed Certificate programs in Editing, as well as Plain Language.

In particular, during my Editing Certificate, these editing-specific courses focused on refining my skills in the various stages of the editing process, such as developmental editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, and proofreading. In terms of the Plain Language Certificate, I studied the mechanics of plain language and plain design. Although I could talk about this topic for hours, put simply, this discipline can be defined as improving the clarity of the message for your intended audience.

As the years passed, I continued with my profession development. I have taken various courses that have further honed my skills, such as fiction editing. In addition, I have also taken courses that have helped me learn more about the nuances of language, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate.

 

Inclusive Language and Accessibility

In addition, in recent years, I have increasingly focused on two additional sub-specialties, namely inclusive language and accessibility. These two subjects are something that I am very passionate about. I completed various certifications and attending numerous webinars and workshops, including those by various editing organizations, such as Editors Canada, Editors Toronto, and ACES: The Society for Editing.

 

Volunteer Work

In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering for various professional editing organizations, which allows me to learn from fellow editors. It also allows me to stay connected to recent changes in editing standards and norms.

A full list of my volunteer experience, professional development, and education can be found on my about me page.

I currently serve as the assistant to the editor-in-chief of BoldFace blog, the official blog of Editors Toronto.

 

What About Natalia Iwanek Editing?

As for this website? This is also a result of my educational journey! This may come as a surprise, but I very much enjoy editing!

For this reason, I enjoy refining my connect regularly, including my blogs. Having a background in WordPress and SEO makes updating this website regularly much easier.

 

Find Out More About Me

Apart from education and continuous professional development to keep up with ever-evolving languages and changes in the editing world, I enjoy reading in my spare time. In particular, I focus on a variety of genres, including romance, horror, science fiction, mystery, literary fiction, historical fiction, international relations, political science, and history.

Some of my favourite authors include Miguel Ángel Asturias, Fyodor Dostoevky, and Juan Rulfo.

What did you think of how to become an editor? I’d love to hear from you! To learn more about me, please visit my about me page, which lists my full experience and rates. Contact me for more information about your project needs.