Sharpening Your Editing Skills: Why Continued Learning is Vital

An editor working on sharpening your editing skills through continued learning

The content creation and editing industries have turned on their heads. Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of clients, from individuals and startups to large corporations and international marketing agencies.

During this time as an editor, proofreader, and writer, I’ve seen tectonic shifts in the content types that appeal to audiences and how that content is created. With change being the only constant, the best way to survive is to change with it.

So, what changes do you need to make as an editor, and how do you go about making them? The key lies in continued learning. With the first seven years of my career spent in the education sector, I’m probably biased here. However, I’ll explain exactly why sharpening your editing skills is so important. I’ll also walk you through what you should focus on learning and the best ways to approach it.

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Table of Contents

    What Skills Make an Editor Exceptional?

    Effective editors don’t merely have a strong command of grammar rules. They’re also able to:

      • Clarify ambiguity
      • Strengthen arguments
      • Enrich descriptions
      • Correct the slightest of language nuances
      • Move readers to act or react

    But these skills alone don’t set the exceptional apart. Truly great editors are also able to:

      • Self-reflect to recognise areas needing improvement
      • Adapt their perspectives and processes as changes in the industry unfold
      • Continue learning to hone their skills and stay relevant

    Most importantly, it's editors' refusal to rest on their laurels and their commitment to sharpening their editing skills that separates the elite from the competent.

    Why You Can't Afford Not to Continue Learning

    While you’re cringing at the double negative in the heading, let me explain the five primary benefits of sharpening your editing skills:

    1. You’re More Productive

    Technology, especially AI tools, is your best friend for increasing productivity. These tools automate workflows and handle mundane editing tasks. By mastering these technologies, you can accomplish more in less time, enhancing your work-life balance and potentially increasing earnings.

    2. You Gain a Competitive Edge

    In the ever-growing field of content creation, staying ahead means continuously upskilling. Editors who don’t adapt risk falling behind. Broadening and improving your editing skills sets you apart and future-proofs your career.

    3. You’re More Employable

    The effort you put into continued education shows potential employers your commitment to ongoing professional development. This, along with your increased efficiency and competitive edge, will likely win over prospective employers or clients.

    4. You Develop Expertise

    Pursuing specialised training in areas of interest can transform you into a subject-matter expert. This expertise allows you to command higher rates for niche services.

    5. You Maintain a Stellar Reputation

    Continuous learning improves editing accuracy and helps avoid major blunders. It ensures your work remains sensitive and respectful, safeguarding your reputation against the pitfalls of outdated or offensive language.

    What Editing Skills Exactly Do You Need to Learn?

    With all the hype around why you should continue your editing education, you’re no doubt wondering what you should be learning. While not exhaustive, this list serves as a solid starting point:

    Make Time for Tech

      • Editing software: Whether it’s Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or specialised platforms like Copyediting.com, mastering the latest editing tools and programmes is a must. Plus, learning keyboard shortcuts and advanced features saves valuable time.  
      • AI writing tools: AI-powered writing assistants like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor provide another layer of error-catching. Knowing how these tools work helps boost productivity, especially when you’re editing online. Understanding the nuances of AI tools like ChatGPT will help you catch inconsistencies. 
      • Other technology: It’s beneficial to familiarise yourself with platforms like Asana and Monday.com for project management, Dropbox for file sharing, and Zoom, Teams, and Slack for remote collaboration.

    Supplement Your Skill Set

      • Research and fact-checking: Advance your research abilities by studying search techniques, source verification, and background context gathering. With the rise of AI-generated content, it’s also vital that your fact-checking skills are on point.
      • Social media mastery: This in-demand skill allows you to assist clients in crafting compelling and share-worthy posts for platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Learn best practices for visual aesthetics, caption writing, and hashtag optimisation.
      • SEO savvy: Understanding search engine optimisation is essential if you work in the digital content arena. Upskilling in this domain involves keyword research, incorporating keywords naturally, and optimising metadata to attract relevant traffic.

    Refresh and Revise 

      • Style guide changes: Style guides are the roadmaps for writing consistency, but they change over time. It’s crucial to stay updated on the latest editions of style guides like the AP Stylebook and adapt your editing to align with these updates.
      • New content types: From TikTok videos to podcast scripts, content formats keep evolving. Getting familiar with emerging content types opens new avenues to capitalise on.
      • Grammar knowledge: Even the most experienced editors need to keep their grammar knowledge fresh. Regularly reviewing grammar rules and staying informed about changes or debates in grammatical best practices is essential for maintaining content quality.

    How Should You Go About Sharpening Your Editing Skills?

    Unfortunately, there is no single course or degree you can take once off to become a great editor. It requires what I'd like to call 'immersive learning'—an ongoing process involving formal educational opportunities and informal, self-guided learning.

    The Formal Route

    Formal education includes degrees, courses, programmes, workshops, and seminars that provide structured learning opportunities targeting specific growth areas. Subject areas could cover topics like copyediting methodology, grammar brush-ups, content formatting, and genre-specific editing.

    While you’ll likely have to pay tuition fees, they often have payment plans. Plus, once you’ve completed the programme, you’ll typically earn a certification that’ll look great on your CV. 

    Some highly rated online courses for editors include:

    The Informal Route

    My advice on how to become a better editor is never to underestimate the power of learning on the fly. 

    Small habitual improvements can make a sizeable difference over time. The key is to find 'learnable moments' in your daily work.

    When reflecting on his abilities, Einstein simply remarked, ‘I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.’ Let your curiosity motivate you to research terms and concepts you’re unfamiliar with.

    Stay engaged with language itself through reading, writing, and mindful observation of expertly crafted content. Spend some time each week exploring the rabbit hole of free resources for editors available online.

    Informal learning also happens through collaborations and connections with colleagues and peers. Ask for editing feedback, exchange ideas, and share editing tips. You can also follow established editors, writers, publishers, and marketers on social media or subscribe to email newsletters.

    Another option is to join online editing communities, forums, or even professional associations like the Professional Editors’ Guild or the Publishers’ Association of South Africa.

    How I Approach Professional Editing Development

    Sharpening my editing skills and developing my professional prowess involves several components.

    Raising the Writing Bar

    Having taught for several years, I firmly believe the best way to learn is to teach. Similarly, the best way to edit is to write.

    Over the past few years, I’ve been enhancing my writing abilities through self-directed learning, dabbling in everything from copywriting and UX writing to digital content creation. Even activities like journalling and creative writing have surprisingly enriched my editing skills.

    Web Workshopping

    I’ve found Eventbrite invaluable in developing my writing and editing skills. It’s an event management platform brimming with online workshops, lectures, and webinars on topics like writing, editing, SEO, and content marketing, many of which are free.

    Testing AI Tech

    In the last few months, I’ve really focused on exploring AI software, testing as many free trials and plans as possible. While many AI tools come highly recommended, I’ve found that they fall short of my particular work requirements. It’s just about finding which ones work best for you.

    Keeping a Paper Trail

    Balancing my tech-forward learning, I also embrace the traditional method of note-taking. I jot down anything related to grammar, editing, proofreading, or writing that I encounter in my work, whether it’s from reading, a colleague’s insight, or a curiosity that leads me to research.

    Exploring E-Learning

    This year, I aim to deepen my technical knowledge of digital marketing and SEO. I’ve signed up for Reliablesoft’s Digital Marketing Course Bundle, which offers 10 self-paced online courses covering topics from Google Analytics to social media, complete with two certifications.

    Why Mindset Matters Most

    Your mindset has a central role to play when exploring how to stay current in the editing industry. Although it requires commitment and dedication, sharpening your editing skills shouldn’t be seen as another responsibility or chore on your to-do list. Instead, view continued learning as an opportunity to open yourself up to more possibilities.

    Exposing yourself to new information, alternative perspectives, and novel tools and techniques can go a long way in keeping you mentally stimulated, engaged, and excited to tackle your daily grind.

    To quote Doris Lessing, ‘That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.‘ Now’s the time to see the value and importance of editing through fresh eyes, reimagining your role as an editor and the limits to what you can achieve.

    Download Editing Tools & Resources
    To Sharpen Your Editing Skills

    Kirsty Mac Dougall

    Kirsty Mac Dougall is a psychology and linguistics graduate and qualified English teacher. She moved from a comfortable seven-year occupancy in academic work settings to the relatively unpredictable and dynamic world of writing and editing. Now Kirsty enjoys the daily blend of left- and right-brained thinking, navigating the shift between the big picture and fine details. When she's not at the beck and call of her cat, you'll find Kirsty immersed in music, lyrics, and poetry.