The Chameleon Editor: How Editors Adapt Between Projects

Since the start of my editing career, I’ve explored how editors adapt. I began by editing website copy and blogs, then academic papers, corporate documents, fiction, and magazine articles. As my career progressed, it quickly became clear that to navigate the industry with ease, I had to learn how to adapt with confidence. So that’s exactly what I did.

This approach feels more relevant than ever. The editing industry just keeps getting more competitive, so standing out requires more than skill. It demands versatility. How do we do this? We keep learning. When we upskill and master the art of changing our colours, we become assets in the crazy world of editing.

Ready for the challenge? This is my two cents on how you can become a confident chameleon editor.

Table of Contents

    How to Shift Your Editing Mindset

    Transitioning to a different editorial mindset requires three core skills: understanding different editorial styles and genres, filtering your editing approach accordingly, and knowing how to use editing tools and technology to your advantage. You obtain these skills by:

    Keep Your Resources Nearby

    No matter how long you’ve been in the industry, good editing resources are your best friend. I like to use a combination of analogue tools and AI. Some of my favourites include:

      • Grammarly: An AI writing assistant that anticipates your needs and quietly helps you achieve them in action. Simply adjust the settings to suit the tone and style you’re aiming for, and it will prompt you accordingly as you edit.
      • Hemingway Editor: If you need to edit for conciseness and readability, Hemingway Editor highlights hard-to-read sentences, weakeners (including passive voice), and difficult words. Depending on your subscription, it can suggest improvements.
      • Brand bibles: Many clients will have their own style guides or ‘brand bibles’. Publisher guidelines are also common (adhere to them strictly when editing a potential submission!).
      • Implement review checkpoints: Set intervals in the project to review what you’ve edited and double-check that you’re following the right editing conventions.

    Recognise Your Preferred Editing Type

    Knowing your strengths and weaknesses goes a long way in the editing game. I’ve found that editing media content like non-fiction articles for magazines and websites comes naturally to me, while academic editing requires a bigger mental shift. Once I realised this, it became easier to recognise when I was slipping into this mode at the wrong time and quickly switch back to the type of editing required. It’s essential not to let your preference take over and influence your editing negatively, so be aware of what feels natural and what takes more of a concerted effort.

    Avoid Blending Editing Styles

    Many editing styles overlap, and this is where it gets particularly tricky. Besides the obvious advice of following the dos and don’ts for the type of editing you’re conducting, I recommend these steps to avoid unintentionally blending editing styles:

      1. Highlight anything you’re unsure of during your first read-through of the text and consult your resources for clarification.

      2. Make a list of keywords that help you channel the right mindset. Put them up at your desk or wherever you’re working. For example, when editing blog articles, some helpful keywords are ‘readability’, ‘credibility’, ‘active voice’, ‘verify facts’, and ‘compelling headings’.

      3. Take regular breaks to clear your mind and refocus your attention. When your mind gets tired, it can easily slip into a different editing mode. Taking five minutes to grab a refreshing beverage, rest your eyes, or move your body can make all the difference.

    It comes down to staying alert with the help of simple and effective tools. I find it easier to dedicate at least a day at a time to a specific editing type, rather than switching between two or more within 24 hours. The break gives my brain a chance to process and adapt, and my work is always better for it.

    Pro tip: While you’re still getting into the rhythm of a new style, remind yourself of the text’s purpose at the beginning of each new page. Making this a regular habit will help you stay focused on the appropriate type of editing throughout the project.

    The Practicalities of the Editing Process

    Although each type of editing requires a different mindset, the first step remains the same: read through the text once before you start editing. From here, your approach will vary depending on the type of project.

    Determine Your Approach with Care

    Based on your knowledge (and with the help of your resources), begin your editing process by determining what approach is most suitable. Ask yourself: what does the text need? I often consider this question very literally, because it really is that simple (despite how complicated we sometimes make it for ourselves).

    Here’s a not-so-proud moment in my career to demonstrate:

    I once edited a press release for a design brand. I was brimming with full confidence that I knew what I was doing. I completed the edits and was just about to send off my work when I realised I didn’t consult the client’s brand bible (I read it once when the job started, which was not nearly thorough enough). When I checked the brand bible, I saw I left in multiple ‘forbidden’ words. I also changed all the single quotation marks to double quotation marks, and the tone was far too boastful. I spent an hour fixing my own mistakes, all because I assumed I knew what I was doing.

    The moral is that a seemingly flawless text can still have faults if you didn’t adhere to the style requirements. Always double-check that your approach fits your understanding of the text and the client’s style needs.

    Manage Editorial Expectations

    Part of being a good editor is having patience. Experienced editors know there are realistic expectations and then there are client expectations. Many people don’t understand that different types of writing require different approaches to editing – they only know that editing needs to happen. This means you may have to provide clarity so everyone is on the same page.

    The best solution to any potential misunderstanding or unrealistic expectation is to clear things up from the start. Ask your client questions: What is the purpose of the content? Who is the audience? What level of editing are you expecting? You have a right (and perhaps even an obligation) to gently educate them on the different types of editing and which type they need. After all, you’re the professional in this realm. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but their understanding of the process will make your job much easier and ensure a happy client once you’ve sent the final draft. 

    Adapting Priorities to Suit the Project

    Similar to switching between specifications in grammar, punctuation, and format according to a text’s style, your priorities for each text will also differ. When working on a document like a brand sponsorship proposal, your editing should switch into marketing mode. Your priority is to sell the brand to potential sponsors, so you need to provoke an emotive response from the reader. You also need to make sure that the emotion becomes action, which you can achieve by appealing to the reader’s needs with an alluring and practical solution.

    On the other hand, editing a non-fiction essay will ask something very different of you. You’ll need to prioritise the essay’s message, ensuring it’s communicated effectively for a broader audience while still using skilled creative writing. You’re not trying to sell something here. You’re already giving it to the reader in a neat package from the very first word.

    At the Heart of the Edit

    That is perhaps where the editor’s responsibilities come into play the most. Beyond our obligation to the writer, we owe it to the audience to refine the work with them in mind. I try to remember that my dedication lies in enhancing the text to its fullest potential, and part of that is to keep it authentic and appropriate. It’s not always easy. Marketing and commerce can be brutal for the honest editor, but I still push for it every time. The audience deserves that much, no matter the platform they’re reading on.

    ‘To write is human, to edit is divine.’ – Stephen King

    Where Editing Worlds Collide

    Most of the time, you’ll want to avoid different editing types and styles converging (that is, after all, the key to how editors adapt). However, there are times when skills benefit you in the broader scope of your work and you get to incorporate them into other styles.

    I’ve found that my experiences in editing corporate documents largely influenced my ability to edit a trade architecture and design magazine. Initially, I needed to hone in on my experience in media, but as I grew in the role and learned more about writing for a professional audience, I realised that the jargon and tone used in business could be beneficial here, too. I found ways to incorporate this approach into magazine editing where it would serve the text, and the result was better content for business professionals that was still creative and compelling.

    Your Way Forward as a Chameleon Editor

    If you’ve arrived at this point and feel ready to branch into a new field of editing, you’re in for an exciting and fulfilling journey. But as with any new challenge, you may feel anxious about the future of your career, wondering if branching out will make you less specialised and will disadvantage you. Finding a niche is undoubtedly valuable, but in my experience, diversifying has also opened many new doors and launched my career into areas I never imagined. The key here is that whichever path you choose, the common denominator is learning. As long as you’re dedicated to growing, new opportunities will continue to present themselves.

    A Final Word on How Editors Adapt

    Understanding how editors adapt can be the greatest skill you acquire on your editorial journey. What makes it even more exciting is that it isn’t just a professional asset. It’s a mindset that keeps your craft sharp and your career flexible. Every project is a chance to grow your skillset and refine your editorial instincts. Yes, there will be challenges, but with the right tools, awareness, and commitment to learning, you can successfully move between genres and styles.

    My journey as a chameleon editor has taught me that editing isn’t about picking one lane forever. It’s about embracing the desire to be dynamic. So, lean into the unknown, trust your instincts, and remember: versatility is powerful.

    Caitlin Hancocks

    Caitlin is a writer, editor, and artist from Cape Town. With an Honours degree in Theory of Literature from UNISA, her passion and experience extend across the industry as she continues to explore the world of language and literature.